We understand that individuals seeking counseling for the first time may feel nervous about what to expect. We want to help ease any concerns by providing answers to some of the more commonly asked questions.
If you have further questions, reach out to us directly.
Mental health therapy is administered by licensed mental health professionals to clients who are experiencing mental health concerns. Therapists address somatic, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional aspects of mental health in order to promote a healthy lifestyle, identify stressors, and preserve or restore mental health.
Counselors may specialize in different types of evidence-based therapeutic practices or diagnoses based on their interests, experience, or training.
Some common conditions that clients seek treatment for include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. Salvéo providers are trained and skilled in treating many concerning issues.
Mental health therapists will often work alongside medical providers in order to provide more holistic treatment.
Consider the following questions to determine if therapy is the next right step.
Are you enjoying your relationships with friends, co-workers, and family members?
Do you feel like your life is productive and functional?
Are you able to maintain emotional balance and feel in control when in stressful situations?
Are you able to work through disagreements with others and resolve conflicts quickly?
Are you sleeping and eating at regular intervals and in healthy amounts?
Do you abstain from or use low to moderate levels of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs?
Are you usually content and satisfied with your life and relationships?
If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, it might benefit you to meet with a mental health professional.
Keep in mind that clients don't need to wait until they are in crisis to see a therapist.
During the first session or "intake session", clients will have the opportunity to share their concerns about the issues they are dealing with. The therapist may ask about their life now, their childhood, and the circumstances which brought them to where they are emotionally. Clients are also encouraged to ask their therapist about their professional opinion on specific mental health topics.
According to the American Psychological Association, about 75% of people who start psychotherapy experience some benefit. There have even been studies, like this one published in the National Library of Medicine, that show that therapy can alter the patterns of your brain.
Like many health-related endeavors, therapy is a journey. Therapy gives clients the tools to better their lives, and if they implement those tools regularly, they’ll be able to let go of old, destructive patterns of behavior and thought.
The length of treatment depends on each client's unique needs and history. Some clients attend a few sessions to gain insights and tools for a particular situation. Others may wish to continue treatment for extended periods of time in order to work through deeper patterns, or have a regular opportunity to express themselves during difficult seasons of life.
With a large variety of therapists in convenient locations, clients are sure to find a therapist who is able to assist with their concerning issue. Our Intake Coordination Team can help match clients if they’re unsure what type of therapy would work best.
There is no technical difference between a mental health therapist and mental health counselor. In the state of Washington, the term is interchangeable. You may also see the term provider, practitioner, or specialist to describe a mental health therapist, depending on the setting.
Most counselors are trained in dozens of therapies and specialize in a few because of their personal interests or preference.
It may be more productive to focus on locating a therapist who has experience dealing with issues similar to a client’s concerns.
In most cases, if a doctor's visit is covered by insurance, so is therapy. Our Intake Coordinators work with clients to make sure they understand their insurance benefits prior to the first therapy session. Clients should have their insurance cards handy when scheduling the first appointment.
Yes, we do. Clients can let the office know if they are struggling financially. We will make every effort to accommodate situations or refer clients to therapists who can.
Therapy sessions are around 50 minutes in length. The first intake session with the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will be 90 minutes, and follow-up ARNP sessions will be 45 minutes.
Yes, clients can extend sessions by making arrangements in advance. Keep in mind that there may be an additional cost associated with extending the length of the session which is not covered by insurance.
It is advised that clients come in weekly, but for more acute issues, twice weekly may be needed. Ultimately, it will be something that clients and their therapists discuss based on their personal issues.
Yes, we understand that sometimes making the first step requires the help of a friend or family member. People can help their loved ones walk through the process of making the first appointment.
Yes, clients may attend part or all of the first session with a loved one. It is advised that clients see their therapist on their own after the first session unless the client requests support, or unless special circumstances are discussed in advance.
Yes, loved ones can send a private email to the office, and this will be forwarded to the therapist. However, keep in mind that the therapist will not be able to respond to these messages due to HIPAA and PHI laws.
An important part of therapy is the development of a trusting therapeutic relationship between a client and their counselor. If a client does not feel that their therapist is a good fit for whatever reason, they are welcome to reach out to our friendly front desk staff to be set up with a new therapist.
Yes, many insurance companies allow for up to 7 sessions per week. Clients seeking extra support during a difficult time may want to create their own intensive experience by seeing their provider more than once per week.
Be engaged and an active participant in treatment.
Share what you hope to get out of therapy.
Focus on the most concerning problem you need help with.
Be open with the therapist about how treatment is helping or not helping you.
Be honest and vulnerable.
Share frustrations with relationships, self-esteem, school, and work life.
Keep an open mind.
Take therapy home and practice in your everyday life.
All licensed therapists are mandatory reporters. This means that if a client expresses a plan to harm themselves or others, their therapist is required by law to file a report to keep clients and others safe.
