What is the difference between “counseling,” “therapy,” and “psychotherapy”?

Nothing. They are all words that mean the same thing when we’re talking about getting counseling. Lots of folks use them interchangeably, though that can be confusing for people! We generally use “therapy” or “counseling” in our practice.

What is my first counseling session like? 

We can’t speak for every therapist, but we’ll tell you how it works with us. We have you complete all the paperwork through our secure portal and we’ve already reviewed it before you come in. The session itself is a conversation. We want to get to know you and help you craft some goals for us to work on together. You might come with some goals in mind and we might share some we hear from what you’re telling us. The session itself is like a conversation. At the end, if we both think it’s a good fit and you can meet your goals then we’ll schedule your next session.

How long does counseling last? 

Here is the best response we can give – it depends. If you’ve had counseling in the past and are coming in to shore up some skills or work through a current issue it will take less time. If you’ve never seen a counselor before and you’ve had some really difficult experiences it may take more time. We encourage clients to plan for at least 12, weekly visits with us. We find twelve is enough sessions to get to know you and get you headed where you want to go. Sometimes by 12 sessions you’re done and you graduate and sometimes you need to come longer. We track your progress so we know for sure counseling is helping you. If it’s not we talk about it with you and, when needed, help you find someone who may be a better fit.

Do I have to take medicine to feel better? Do you prescribe medication?

Whether or not you take medication is a personal decision. Some people find it’s helpful and others prefer not to take anything. If we think it might be helpful for you to consider we’ll tell you. We don’t prescribe medications, but we can make a referral to an awesome psychiatrist who can do an evaluation and determine if medication might be helpful.

Is counseling confidential? 

Yes, it is with a few caveats. Nothing is shared about you without your permission – even with a family member. You have to sign a release form so we can talk to anyone about anything, otherwise what you say to us stays between us. The exceptions to this are: You are a danger to yourself or someone else, you are abusing a child, or you are abusing an elderly person. In those instances we are required by law to report these things to the appropriate authorities. One other time we may have to share information is if a court requires that we do so (like a court order).

Do I have to be “mentally ill” to get counseling? 

No, you don’t. Counseling can be very beneficial for a whole host of life’s struggles. Stress from changing jobs, sadness over losing someone close to you, struggles with relationships, and many other things lead people to seek counseling. We often recommend that most people go to counseling at least once in their lives. We all get caught up in our head and can use someone else’s perspective to help us sort through stuff. Counseling can give you a place to do that. And, when people come for counseling when something is just a little struggle it often does not become a big struggle. Think of it like preventive medicine.

Do I have to lay on the couch? Do you even have a couch?

Well yes, we do have a couch and no you don’t have to lay on it. Unless you want to. Then you totally can. A lot of therapists have couches in their office to help you have a comfortable space in which to work. What it isn’t, at least for us and many of the therapists we know, a sterile environment with us peering over our glasses at you. It’s a safe, welcoming space that’s more like a living room.

What else should I know? 

Counseling isn’t all about struggle. We celebrate victories. We laugh. Can it be hard? Yeah – change is hard work. Sometimes we’ve been through hard things and they hurt to talk about. But counseling also can be a great joy and can actually be a whole lot of fun. Our clients are often surprised by how much we laugh together. In our office, change happens and joy that may have been lost returns.

We hope these FAQs about counseling in Wake Forest was helpful in understanding the counseling process. We have more FAQs about counseling in our Wake Forest office here. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, feel free to reach out at 919-891-0525 to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation. We’d love to see if we are a great fit for you and help you get your journey back to joy started!

The post FAQs About Counseling, Therapy, and Psychotherapy in Wake Forest appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

Question 6 – Have you ever been to therapy yourself? 

I will tell you right now – the answer to this question should be yes. Every single therapist should go to therapy for him-/herself. If we believe counseling is helpful then we also recognize we sometimes need support. I would be extremely suspect of a therapist who has not been in therapy. How on earth could they understand what it’s like for you to walk through that door and share your struggles if they haven’t done it?

Question 7 – What license(s) and/or certifications do you have? What state(s) are you licensed in?

As shocking as this may sound, not all states require therapists to be licensed. If you want to see someone licensed or your insurance will only pay/reimburse someone licensed you need to know this information. Certifications, while not required, are helpful in understanding any specific areas of expertise for that therapist. Some locations offer therapy at reduced cost through interns. Interns can be wonderful (ours are and our clients LOVE them!), but you will also want to ask how they are supervised and how any issues would be addressed.

Question 8 – Do you take a religious or spiritual approach and, if so, what does that look like?

Some clients really want their religious beliefs and spirituality to be part of a session, while others like to know the therapist understands their faith. Some clients want no spirituality or religious perspective included.

Question 9 – Do you see people only at your office or do you offer video/phone sessions?

Research shows video sessions can be just as helpful as in-person sessions. That said, not all clients prefer that while others love it. The college-age individuals we see love the option of a video session so they can fit therapy into their schedule. Being able to do video or phone sessions are also a great option when it snows in Wake Forest! We know all things close here when that happens, but you don’t have to miss your therapy appointment with us!

Question 10 – What do you charge and do you accept insurance? 

Obviously you’ll need this information to make sure the therapist is a good fit. If you absolutely have to use insurance for therapy then you’ll want to ask if they are in network with your insurance provider. Don’t assume they are – the insurance landscape is pretty complicated and not all therapist take all plans and some take no insurance at all.

Final Thoughts

The last thing to really consider is how you felt talking to the counselor in Wake Forest NC. Did the therapist call you at the time scheduled (if you scheduled one)? Did they seem distracted? Did you feel at ease? Did you feel understood? Did you feel like they answered your questions fully?

All these things can help you find an amazing counselor in Wake Forest that will work for you and we hope we’ve helped you with some questions to ask a potential counselor. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, feel free to reach out at 919-891-0525 to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation. We’d love to see if we are a great fit for you and help you!

The post 5 More Questions to Ask a Counselor in Wake Forest NC appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

Question 1 – How often do you work with clients like me who are struggling with…? 

Hopefully it was obvious from their website they have experience with what you need, but how often do they work with people like you? If you’re struggling with anxiety how often do they see clients with anxiety? If you’re recovering from past abuse, how often do they work with clients who’ve experienced abuse? This should be an easy answer for a therapist. If you’re looking for help with depression and find the therapist you’ve contacted only ever worked with one client with depression you might want to consider whether they are the best fit for what you need.

Question 2 – What is your general approach to counseling? 

Whatever they say should fit for you. If they say, “During sessions we color the entire time as we talk” and that isn’t a style that gels with you the therapist may not be a good fit. On the other hand, that may sound amazing and exactly what you’re looking for!

Question 3 – Are you more directive or less directive?

There is not right or wrong answer here – it’s what works best for you. If you need a therapist who’s a bit more directive that style will work better for you. If you absolutely hate feeling controlled, very directive may not be ideal. Another part of this question is how are they directive or less directive. What does that mean to them and how does it look? Ask for some specific examples. “Directive” can mean different things to different people so getting more information on what that looks like from the therapist is super helpful.

Question 4 – How often are appointments? 

This is going to vary by therapist. Depending on the style of a therapist and the issues facing the client, there could be a different rhythm. For example, a therapist who sees primarily children may see the child one week and the parent/caregiver the following week. Also, ask why the therapist sees people at those intervals. We see clients weekly because research shows that is how you feel better the fastest and how you create lasting change.

Question 5 – What is a typical session like and how long are sessions? 

This can give you an idea of the rhythm of a counseling session. If the counselor you called only does 90-minute sessions and you’re hoping they’ll see your 5-year-old you might want to get more information because that’s a long session for a little kiddo! If you’re looking for marriage counseling and the sessions are only 45 minutes long how are they structured so the work can get done?

We hope these first five questions help you get started with a counselor in Wake Forest, NC. Next time we’ll cover five more questions to help you determine if a therapist is the best fit for you. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, feel free to reach out at 919-891-0525 to schedule your free, 15-minute consultation. We’d love to see if we are a great fit for you and help you get your journey back to joy started!

The post Counselor in Wake Forest NC – What do I ask? appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

Step 1 – Figure out what you need help with. 

Are you feeling depressed? Or feeling anxious? Do you need someone who can do testing for ADHD on your kiddo? Do you absolutely have to see someone in network with your insurance? Knowing what you need will help you narrow your search.

Step 2 – Ask a friend

Do you know a friend or colleague who raves about his/her counselor? That might be a great person to ask for a recommendation! We ask our friends what they think of the cable company or the new restaurant, why not ask about the counselors they like?

Step 3 – Consult Doctor Google

Seriously – we google everything. While I don’t generally recommend googling symptoms, a good web search for a counselor can help you find someone who might be a good fit for you. Try searching things like, “Counseling in Wake Forest”, “ADHD testing in Wake Forest”, “Anxiety counseling in Wake Forest”, “EMDR in Wake Forest”, etc.

Step 4 – Check out directories

Psychology Today is a great place to search for a therapist. Not all therapists have a listing, but this can be a great place to get a few names to consider. You can filter the listings by specialty, religious preference, preferred insurance, etc. (Hint – Google will pull up Psychology Today profiles when you search, so you don’t necessarily have to do a separate search of the Psychology Today site.)

Step 5 – Actually reach out 

Now that you have a list of folks who might be good fits it’s time to reach out to them. Shoot them an email or give them a call. I really recommend calling here. I know for some talking on the phone can feel as much fun as getting a root canal, but knowing if the counselor is a good fit is a whole lot easier to determine in a conversation. Don’t worry, the call shouldn’t be long – no more than 15 minutes. In our next blog we’ll talk about questions to ask during that initial call.

We hope this helps you find the right counselor in Wake Forest. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call us at 919-891-0525 for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. We’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. Click to find out how we can help with trauma or anxiety.

The post Finding a Therapist, Counselor, or Psychologist in Wake Forest appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.

1. What do I need?

Starting with what you need is important. Do you feel like you’re always about to jump out of your skin because you’re so anxious? Did you experience something terrible that still haunts you? Is your marriage or intimate relationship dying on the vine? Are you struggling to handle your strong emotions and, because of that, struggling to make and keep friends or even struggling to keep a job? Knowing a little about what you need will help you find a therapist or counselor that can help you address your problems.

2. Where do I look?

There are many great places to look for a therapist on the internet. You can check Psychology Today or Good Therapy directories. Each directory allows you to sort by various issues or styles of therapist. You can also do a simple Google search like, “Couples counselors near Wake Forest, NC.”

Friends also can be an amazing resource. Do they know anyone? Can they make a recommendation?

3. How do I pick from the ones I found? There are SO MANY OF THEM!

Some areas have a strong therapeutic presence, which is great! But that means picking the one for you can pose a challenge. Start by reading their descriptions on their Psychology Today or Good Therapy pages. Click through to websites of the ones that interest you. Does it look like they have expertise in the area where you need support? Make a list of the top 4-5 that look like they may be a good fit.

4. Okay, I have a list, now what? Call or email these therapists. Ask questions like:

What kinds of issues do you help people with?

What type of training do you have?

What does counseling look like with you?

What are your rates? Do you accept insurance? If so, how does that work? If not, what are payment options?

When emailing, be mindful of what you share since not all email is secure. If you want to share details about what is going on for you a phone call is more appropriate.

5. What else do I do while talking?

While you’re gathering information, notice how you feel while talking to the therapist. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel like he/she understands what you’re sharing? Do you get the sense that he/she can help you? If you feel like the therapist just does not get you then that may not be the right therapist for you. You need to feel comfortable sharing what’s going on for you so finding a therapist with whom you gel is really important.

6. I talked to therapists, now what do I do?

Now it’s time to make an appointment! You can do that by calling your preferred person back, sending an email, or even using their online scheduling tool if they have one.

What if I go to my first session and realize, “This person isn’t a fit after all?”

Find someone else. That is a-ok. A good therapist will understand and will even help you find someone that’s a better fit.

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in the Wake Forest or Rolesville area. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (919) 891-0525 for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with anxiety, traumatic events, or your marriage, you can read more about how I can help here and here.

The post Finding a therapist in the Wake Forest and Rolesville Area appeared first on Tabitha Westbrook.