Is therapy confidential?
Yes and no. A great deal of your session information is confidential but there are exceptions. A disclosure of child abuse is required to be reported to the authorities, even if the person reporting is now an adult. If a client informs me that they want to hurt themselves or someone else, I also need to take steps to ensure their safety. If I receive a subpoena for court proceedings I can be required to appear and produce records, but this is a rare occurrence. Insurance companies may also require certain information be provided to them and for this reason, some clients choose not to use insurance to pay for services.
What is the difference between counseling and therapy?
Many people, including myself, use the terms counseling and therapy interchangeably. In most cases therapy is viewed as a longer option, with counseling being a term used for a shorter approach or by many professions to designate helpers that may or may not refer to mental health.
How do I know if I need therapy?
Therapy is a good choice for anyone that has recognized areas in their life that they would like to improve upon, or feels that they have lost direction and need clarity. Some may choose therapy to push through a difficult situation using at as an additional support. Therapy can dramatically improve self-awareness and expand our view of ourselves and the future.
How long does therapy last?
How many sessions depends on the client and therapist working together. Ultimately, therapy is a choice and therefore completely up to the client, but a therapist would provide a discussion on the potential sessions estimated for the issue at hand. There would be check-ins on progress and the client decides when they have moved forward or have another goal to set.
What credentials do therapists have?
There are several type of professional therapy licenses. The two most common are LCPC’s, which are licensed clinical professional counselors, and LCSW-C’s. which are licensed certified social workers with clinical designations. There are also LCMFT’s, which are licensed marriage and family therapists. All of these professions require a state license in order to provide services in Maryland. These types of therapists are not medical doctors, so no medication is prescribed. If medication needs arise, a consult with your physician or a referral to a psychiatrist would be necessary.
How long until I have an appointment?
Appointments can normally be scheduled within two weeks of initial contact. Get started today by clicking Getting Started
Do I need to make an appointment?
Yes. It is important I schedule the time you need to discuss your problem, and unfortunately do not have walk in hours. Get started today by clicking Getting Started
Do you take insurance?
Currently, I take Carefirst, Magellan and PHCS/Multiplan. I am in the process of working with several other insurance companies. If you have questions about your insurance or if it will cover therapy, it may be helpful to call the number on the back of your card with any questions. Insurance can be very confusing, so it is important to understand how much services may cost.
Is my information private?
Your personal information is protected unless you specifically sign a release to another individual. If you are paying by insurance, the insurance company does have the ability to access basic information about your treatment. This can be very confusing. Click here to download my privacy policy.