What is experiential therapy and how is it different from traditional talk therapy?
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
How can Therapy Help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is Experiential Therapy and how is it Different from Traditional Talk Therapy?
Traditional talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy or counseling, typically involves verbal communication between the client and therapist. In a traditional session, individuals discuss their thoughts, emotions, and experiences with the therapist. This dialogue aims to explore feelings, gain insights, and develop coping strategies. The therapist may employ various therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy, during these conversations.
On the other hand, experiential therapy, like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), involves more than just verbal communication.
EMDR
EMDR incorporates bilateral stimulation, often in the form of guided eye movements. Clients focus on distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in these bilateral movements. This process is thought to facilitate the reprocessing of traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge.
IFS
Internal Family Systems involves exploring and interacting with different internal “parts” of oneself. Through visualization or guided imagery, clients connect with and understand these parts, working towards healing and integration.
Experiential therapy is considered by some to be more effective than traditional talk therapy for several reasons:
1. Direct Engagement: Experiential therapy engages the mind and body directly, providing a more immediate and immersive experience.
2. Access to Unconscious Processes: Techniques like EMDR and IFS can access and process emotions and memories that might be challenging to reach through verbal communication alone.
3. Holistic Approach: Experiential therapies often consider the whole person, incorporating emotional, cognitive, and somatic elements, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of one’s experiences.
4. Accelerated Healing: Some individuals may find experiential therapies to bring about quicker and more profound shifts in their emotional well-being compared to traditional talk therapy.
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
I am an out of network provider which means that I do not accept insurance. I will provide you with documentation to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. However, how much they reimburse you will depend on your plan.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders requires therapists to report to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.