Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
Telehealth Supports at Ally
How are co-pays paid without coming into the office?
Do I need to come into the office first before telehealth can start?
Is it available for children and adult?
Is Telehealth private and secure?
How can Therapy Help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is Therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders requires therapists to report to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
What Is Telehealth?
For mental health counseling, Telehealth is a platform providers may utilize to see their patients remotely. This is most commonly done via a secure online video conference between the providers and their patients. This allows the provider to speak with and also visually assess the patients in session throughout the duration of the meeting. For the provider, this is offered typically in an office setting that is private and remote, thus offering patients the same level of confidentiality as they'd receive in a traditional office. Most telehealth sessions are between 45-60 min long.
How it works:
Patients receive a secure link to access a virtual office by their provider. This can be communicated to the patient via email or a text message on a cell phone. At the designated appointment time, the patient will click this link to access to the virtual office where the video conference will take place. In the session, the therapist and patient will be able to see each other and communicate just as they would in an office setting. For patients, this can be done in the comfort of their own homes, or any preferred location that offers privacy. At the end of the session, the patient simply closes out the browser and this will automatically terminate the session. No client information is shared electronically during the session, nor are sessions recorded.
Does my insurance cover this?
Federal mandates, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, have required most private and public insurance providers to reimburse for mental health counseling services delivered via telehealth platforms. This comes to greatly limit contact among individuals to reduce and curb the spread of COVID-19. At Ally Behavioral Health, we can provide telehealth services for members with most private and public insurance plans.
How are co-pays paid without coming into the office?
Ally Behavioral Health utilizes a secure online system that allow for patients to receive invoices for co-pays and deductibles directly via email. This is a safe and secure means to ensure that co-pays and deductibles can be promptly paid, without having to mail a check or call to make payment. Co-pays can also be paid in person during live telehealth conferencing at the beginning/end of your session.
Do I need to come into the office first before telehealth can start?
No. All paperwork required to authorize services can be provided electronically where patients can view and electronically sign documents. Prior to an initial appointment, the office will verify all documents and insurance to ensure that initial meetings are best utilized for treatment.
Is the available for children and adults?
Yes. Telehealth supports is available to children, adolescents, and adults. Telehealth also allows for couples counseling as well as family counseling supports.
Is Telehealth private and secure?
Yes, if the telehealth platform is secure and encrypted. Many video conferencing services are not secure platforms for telehealth and should not never used. At Ally Behavioral Health, the office uses SimplePractice Telehealth Support Systems and specific HIPAA compliant Zoom accounts. These state of the art systems utilizes bank-level encryption to ensure that all videos calls are anonymous and that no personal health information is available or retained during sessions. This is done to meet and exceed HIPAA and state guidelines for treatment.
If you have any questions about telehealth services, please contact our office at 508.455.2877.