Frequently Asked Questions
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a fancy name for talk therapy. Also known simply as counseling, psychotherapy is a collaborative process that involves the development of a confidential, therapeutic, helping relationship between you and your therapist. In session, the therapist acts as a facilitator that helps guide you to open up, recognize deep emotions, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. Through conversation, your therapist will gently push you to develop knowledge and skills that help you to understand, cope with, and alter feelings, behaviors, and cognitions. Psychotherapy can help you to build resilience and preserve through a difficult period of your life, as well as with many chronic mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, chronic stress, low self-esteem, poor interpersonal relationships, and more.
What can I expect in a therapy session?
Everyone's experience in therapy is a little bit different. What happens during the course of your treatment may vary over time, based on your therapist's approach, your unique situation, and your progress. In your first session, called an "intake" appointment, you will review paperwork and be asked basic, informational questions by your therapist in order to collaboratively establish goals for counseling. Based on these goals, your therapist will develop a treatment plan listing objectives and interventions that can help you to reach your goals. In addition to therapeutic interventions your therapist uses in session, such as reframing, breath work, or mindfulness, they may also provide referrals to another mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist for testing or medication management, to a support group, or to another complementary health care provider such as a massage therapist, acupuncturist, chiropractor, personal trainer, or dietitian. Frequently, you will receive education on the topics causing you distress and be taught certain skills to practice as "homework." Homework can range from breathing exercises to worksheets, reading, or journaling.
It is normal to be nervous starting therapy, and we offer a free 15 minute phone consultation in order to fully discuss what to expect and answer any questions that you may have.
Will everything I share with my therapist be kept confidential?
Yes! With some exceptions . . . The communication between a client and counselor is considered privileged communication. This means that legally and ethically you have the right to have the content you share in session be kept confidential. The only circumstances under which a therapist can break confidentiality without your consent are as follows: 1. Your counselor has reason to believe you are a risk to yourself or others (suicidal / homicidal). 2. Your counselor learns of child/elder abuse in which they are legally obligated to report as all counselors are mandatory reporters. 3. There is a court order requiring a counselors testimony (in which case a therapist maintains as much confidentiality as possible, ideally sharing what you permit). Note: In the even that a client brings forth a malpractice lawsuit or complaint to the therapists licensure board, the therapist is no longer held to confidentiality as therapy notes may need to be shared with legal and regulating bodies.
How often will I meet with my therapist?
The frequency of therapy is mutually agreed upon by you and your therapist. How often sessions occur will be based on your presenting issues and goals. In most cases, it is best to begin counseling by meeting weekly and gradually increase the time between sessions as your level of distress is lowered and your goals are being achieved. Groups usually meet weekly or bi weekly, though this may also vary. It is important to be on-time for your scheduled appointments and to meet with your therapist consistently in order to make progress on your mental health journey. If for some reason you are unable to make it to your scheduled session, please call or text 720-255-1667, preferably 24-hours ahead.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and coaching?
There is some overlap between counseling and coaching. The biggest differences are found in the qualifications that are required for a psychotherapist versus a coach. Licensed counselors are required to have a master's degree, pass a national exam, a state jurisprudence exam, and go through a rigorous post-graduate supervision process to become fully licensed. Coaches often base their work on personal experience or an online certification but are not required to have any specific qualifications. Coaches are not regulated by the state or any board that sets legal or ethical standards for their practice. Many licensed therapists work as a coach as well as a counselor since coaching provides more flexibility and the ability to utilize their skills in a broader, less clinical way. In these instances, the differences between clinical therapy and a coaching session include:
1.) the focus and emotional depth of sessions
2. the amount of between-session accountability you have
3) the interventions, goals, and diagnosis (or lack thereof)
In mental health counseling, the focus of the work is most often a specific mental health issue that is pathological and can be diagnosed, such as general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, or adjustment disorder stemming from grief or another major life transition. A psychotherapist will help you to overcome these issues or to build the resilience needed to make it through a particularly stressful or traumatic period of life. To do this, your therapist uses evidence-based counseling modalities and may guide you to dive deeper into your emotions, identify and change unhelpful behavior, analyze and reframe your thinking patterns, evaluate the significance of your past, and/or visualize your ideal future. In this way, the focus for counseling goes wherever it needs to go- the past, future, or into your thoughts.
Coaching, on the other hand, is more short-term, focused in the present, and is very action-oriented. Coaching is centered around helping you change behavior and develop healthier habits by setting and achieving realistic goals, not assessing for or treating diagnosable mental health disorders. Which one is right for you depends on your goals and current level of mental/emotional distress. If you'd like to discuss which would be better for you, contact us for a free consultation.
Do you accept male or LGBTQ clients?
Absolutely! Her Time is a practice dedicated to meeting the needs of those who identify as women, but the integrative, feminist approach can be very helpful for couples or for men looking to improve their overall quality of life. Her Time is LGBTQ-affirming and welcomes clients of all genders, ethnicities, and spiritual/religious backgrounds. We also offer gender identity counseling and gender counseling required to attain letters for hormone replacement therapy or gender confirmation surgery.
How much does it cost?
Therapy is an investment in yourself. It is important that you feel the time you spend in therapy is well worth the money. Please see the investment page for more information about cost and insurance coverage.