Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child or family would benefit from therapy or counseling?
There is always something that can be gained from therapy. A therapist can help teach you behavior management techniques to help shape your child's inappropriate behavior into more appropriate behaviors. A therapist can help you to differentiate between typical childhood behaviors (that may be annoying, but still developmentally appropriate) and inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors. Is your child unhappy, lonely, anxious, failing at school or just giving up, having a hard time adjusting to changes in his life such as divorce, if so he would probably benefit from therapy. As a child, adolescent, and family therapist my goal is to help the family live together as a cohesive unit that knows how to support each other and take care of each other. Finally, if you are still unsure if therapy is right for you or your family, I offer a 30 minute phone consultation at no charge.
What should I expect from our first contact?
When you first contact me we will set up a time for a free 30 minute phone consultation. During the consultation I will find out about what has brought you to seek treatment as well as some family background/history that may have contributed to the current difficulties. I will also give you an opportunity to ask me some questions about my practice and how I work. If you are interested in setting up an appointment with me, we can discuss scheduling at the end of the phone call.
What should I expect from the first session?
I recommend that both parents and the child come for the first session. I will spend some time with everyone together as well as alone with the child. Depending on the age of the child, I may also spend some time alone with the parents. This first session is 75 minutes in length as opposed to the 45 minutes of a typical session. The extra time allows me to start getting to know you and your child, take a thorough history, and answer any questions you have about the therapy process.
What is your theoretical orientation (therapeutic approach)?
I find that the best way to describe my theoretical orientation is integrationist. I use a variety of techniques including behavioral, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, relational, family systems, psychodynamic, and of course play therapy with young children. I find that it is important to try to understand the root of an individual and how his experiences and relationships have shaped him and his behaviors before the maladaptive behaviors can be treated.
Why do you assign homework between sessions?
The work that we do together in session should not end the moment you walk out my door. I assign homework so that the process can continue throughout the week.
How often will we need to come to therapy?
I typically see patients once a week. At times it can be helpful to meet with the child once a week and the parents (with or without the child) also once a week or every other week.
How long will treatment last?
It is important to remember that therapy is a process. Parents usually bring their children to treatment once the children begin having significant problems either at school or at home. These problems typically did not develop overnight, and it will take some time to alleviate them. Although it is hard to tell at the beginning of this process how long it will take, I will give you regular updates about the progress your child is making. By the third session I will share with you a treatment plan targeting the problems that you identified on our first meeting. Included in this treatment plan will be target dates for the goals outlined. Once we agree that the goals have been met, I recommend that we set up a couple of monthly maintenance sessions to ensure that things continue to move in the right direction. After these maintenance sessions, if we agree that your child is where you would like him to be, we will terminate treatment. And of course, you are always welcome to come back in the future should the need arise.
Why don't you bill my insurance company directly?
In order to be reimbursed by most insurance companies, the therapist needs to provide clinical information including a diagnosis and in some instances, treatment plans and summaries. In rare cases the insurance company may request the entire record in order to pay for my services. This information will then become part of the insurance company's record and although insurance companies claim to keep this information confidential, I have no control over what they do with the information once it is in their hands. I prefer to bypass the insurance companies in order to protect your confidentiality and to avoid having a third party try to dictate how I do therapy. Although I do not bill insurance companies directly, I will be happy to provide you with an invoice after each session for you to submit directly to your insurance company.
What is the difference between a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, and a licensed professional counselor?
One of the main differences between the above professionals is education. I am a Licensed Psychologist (33016 Texas) which means that I have earned a doctorate degree in psychology, have passed the three licensing exams that the State of Texas requires, and have completed my 2 years of post doctorate supervision. Once these requirements have been met, the State of Texas grants a license which entitles me to work independently. A psychologist's license must be renewed annually and there are yearly requirements for continuing education. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental illness and psychopharmacology (medication). A social worker and licensed professional counselor typically have masters degrees and have their own licensing requirements.