FAQ
How much will my visits cost?
Visits range from $240 to $130 per session.
What qualifications does my therapist have?
The providers have different qualifications and are all licensed in Oregon. They are Psychologists (Phd and PsyD) and Licensed therapists (LMFT, LPC and LCSW). Many of them also have extra certification in things like in marriage counseling, addiction and trauma. They also use different modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Focused Therapy, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc. If you are looking for a specific type of therapy, please call our office at 503-342-2510 and we will gladly tell you if we have a therapist for you.
How long will my sessions be?
Sessions are typically about 55 minutes long.
What happens in the first session?
The first session may be slightly different than future visits. You and your therapist will get to know each other. You may find it helpful to have some thoughts on what you want to accomplish. Give some thought to what makes things worse and what makes things better. It’s helpful to know when things started to get worse, and who you can call upon for support. We will be working together to create life-long solutions to help you create the life you really want.
How often should I come in for treatment?
If you are in some distress, weekly appointments will be most effective for you. Why? Because the mind needs practice and repetition to change gears. You may start feeling better right away, and to sustain this state may take regular practice . . . like learning to play a musical instrument.
How long do people attend therapy?
Most people find that 10 sessions can help them make important changes, when they are coming in for a tune up. If you are working on a major overhaul of your life, or a long standing pattern, 6 months may help you make lasting change. Every person is different. Our work together is designed specifically for you. No cook book methods in our work together. We talk about your goals, and we use those to chart our way through the changes you want to make. When you’ve accomplished your intended changes, we’re done.
What if it’s really urgent?
We can usually see you within 24 hours. Your safety and well-being is very important to us. If you are having severe panic, anxiety or depression, please go to the nearest emergency room. Portland also has excellent crisis telephone lines, staffed by caring people:
- Metro Crisis Line 503-988-4888
- Women’s Crisis Line 503-235-533
What if I don’t start to feel better?
You will start seeing small changes after your first few sessions. If you don’t we will help you plan the next step of treatment. You might need a different type of treatment. You might benefit from group therapy. You may need to see your doctor to rule out medical problems. You may also benefit from working with other holistic practitioners, such as Acupuncturists who work with your body’s imbalance, Naturopathic doctors for nutritional counseling, homeopaths, etc. We collaborate to help you get the results you want.
What if I feel that my therapist is not the best fit for me?
We understand that it is difficult to talk about what is going on, but calling us is your first step to entering therapy. We therefore ask that when you first call to make your first appointment please try to give us as much information as you feel comfortable doing to pair you up with a therapist that will best fit your needs.
If you get into therapy and you feel that you need to change therapists, you can either let your therapist know, or you can call our intake coordinators and they will find out what didn’t work for you and how they can pair you with a better fit.
“Remember it is your therapy and your wellbeing that is driving the process, so if something isn’t right or you just don’t ‘click’ with your therapist, talk about that with them and consider trying a different therapist or type of therapy. That said, sometimes therapy can be a difficult and uncomfortable process – it’s very common to have weeks where you just don’t want to go or to have periods where you feel angry or upset with your therapist. Often this is when the best ‘work’ gets done, so try and stick with it and work through your feelings with your therapist.” Clinical Partners, UK.
Please Note: Sometimes you are paired with a therapist because of the insurance you have and not their specialty, especially if you cannot afford to pay for an out-of-network provider.
Can highly intelligent and gifted people make use of therapy?
Many gifted individuals have trouble adjusting to their environment. They may feel like it’s hard to fit in socially and find the right school or job. Exceptional endowments may feel like liabilities instead of assets. People with exceptional skills may have developed a few key areas, and my find that emotional intelligence remains underdeveloped. Exceptionally gifted individuals may be seen by others as powerful and charismatic. Being revered and admired rather than isolated and rejected can also cause emotional conflicts. We have experience working with clients with high IQs and know the challenges you may face. With us, you are not alone and can be yourself.
How do I get the most out of therapy?
You can make the most of your investment of time and money by doing a couple of things:
- Be an active participant in the process. Speak about what is going on for you, ask questions
- Organize your schedule in such a way that you can come to your appointments and be on time
- Budget for your investment in psychotherapy
- Catch yourself doing things right
- Catch yourself doing things differently
- Practice what you are learning
- Set small attainable goals, either daily or weekly, report on your success
- Meet your inner critic and chuckle at the rule book your inner critic uses to indict you