Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect during the first session?

• We generally ask all clients to show up for their first meeting 10-15 minutes early in order to fill out initial paperwork.  The first meeting is an opportunity for your therapist to gain a better understanding of the circumstances that prompting someone to come in.  Some questions that are covered are current symptoms, history issues related to mood, use of drugs and alcohol, family history of psychiatric illness, and history of abuse.  Also the first meeting is a chance to begin discussing expectations for and possible goals for therapy. 

 I think I need medication. What should I do?

• We have two female psychiatrists capable of prescribing medications for psychiatric disorders when appropriate.   For new clients, you’ll be asked to meet with a therapist first before scheduling an appointment with a psychiatrist.  If you meet with a doctor they’ll evaluate your needs and make suggestions for you to try.  If prescribed medications, it’s recommended you continue seeing one of our therapists.

My insurance says I have a deductible, what does that mean?

• This means that you are required to cover a certain amount of the cost of treatment before your insurance company begins making payments for services.  For example, if you have a $500.00 deductible you would need to pay for $500.00 worth of services before your insurance would cover subsequent sessions. 

Do I need insurance to see someone for therapy?

• Not necessarily.  It is not required that you have insurance to see any of the therapist here at Plaza IF you able to cover the cost of treatment out of pocket.  In certain instances, we have some therapist that would consider reduced cost for individuals paying out of pocket and experiencing financial difficulties. 

Are there any restrictions on how many times I can see my therapist?

• Generally the only restrictions in place are the amount of sessions your insurance covers per year.  Some plans will cover between 24-30 sessions per year, which means if you go above that limit the expense per session would be the client’s responsibility.  If there are no limits either financially or due to insurance, this may allow for you to you meet with your therapist as much as necessary.  

What is therapy?

• Therapy can mean different things for clients and therapist.  For the most part therapy can be an opportunity for clients to discuss pressing issues and/or begin working towards goals that may be important.  Therapy can also be a place to gain support from someone who is removed and can remain objective throughout the course of treatment.  Generally here at Plaza, we see clients for individual therapy but there are also therapists who see couples and families. 

 How often do I need to go to therapy?

• This can be a decision that is made between you and your therapist.  Some factors that influence frequency can be severity of presenting issues, a client’s time availability, and finances (example: whether or not someone can pay their co-pay on a weekly basis). 

What if I don’t initially feel comfortable with the therapist I was paired up with?

• On occasion there may be instances when clients do not feel comfortable or there is not a match between client and therapist.  This can be something to be discussed between client and therapist if there can be things that could be shifted to increase rapport.  If not, the client can ask to be referred to another clinician with hopes that it is a better match. 

Do I have a choice of who I see for therapy?

• For the most part there are choices of who you see.  An example of this is some individuals prefer to see a female therapist versus a male therapist.  We will do our best to match clients with particular preferences such as these. 

How long does therapy take to work?

• This is hard question that does not have one specific answer since it dependent on the person and the issues they present in treatment.  Therapy can be very short-term (3-8 sessions) while others may need longer-term therapy.  This can be something to discuss with your therapist once a thorough evaluation has been completed.