Some Answers

Therapy vs Counseling

Therapy is different from counseling in that therapy includes more formalized, evidence-based clinical interventions that will often include “homework” to be conducted outside of therapy between sessions. 

Counseling involves more talk therapy and discussions about what is, why it is, how it could be, and how to get where it could be.  Both serve the same purpose but involve slightly different ways to get there.

Initial Session

The initial session is to discuss what brought you to therapy and what you hope to accomplish by engaging in the therapeutic process.  The initial session is often the hardest because it’s my time to learn your story, which can feel invasive and requires you to vocalize hurts, disappointments, and fears.  We will talk about the good stuff too, though, because that also is an essential part of the process.  And, trust me, there really is good stuff.

Therapeutic Process

I believe the therapeutic process is a partnership and collaborative in nature.  It takes both of us fully engaging in the process in order for you to feel that the process is working. You may not always like what I have to say, and you may not agree with suggestions I make regarding interventions or homework.  And, not only is that okay it is to be expected. 

If you think about the number of hours in a week or a month, I am only spending a very small fraction of that time with you and making recommendations based only on that time and what we discuss during that time.  It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it.

Frequency of Visits

The frequency of visits will depend on the significance of the presenting concern and where you are in dealing with that concern.  Sessions may begin weekly and then move to bi-weekly as you feel more confident in managing whatever brought you in for services.  Perhaps we begin meeting bi-weekly, but we realize that weekly meetings are necessary.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, so we will work together to determine the frequency of visits throughout our work together.

Cancelling and No-Shows

Life happens.  There may be times that you need to cancel an appointment at the last minute or you forget completely.  I get it.  As long as this is not a regular occurrence, I don’t feel the need to charge you for a session we didn’t have.  If it becomes a regular occurrence, I think we should take time to discuss whether counseling is right for you or whether I am the right counselor for you.

The Therapeutic Relationship

You are the most important part of the therapeutic relationship.  The whole process is about you and what you hope to get out of our meetings.  Honesty, openness, and authenticity are integral to your success.  I may not be the right therapist for you or for the concern that brought you to therapy.  And, please hear when I say that is okay if I am not the right person for you.  If I am not the right person for you, then you should look for the right person.  And, I will support you in that search.  

Billing Insurance

I will bill insurance for your sessions, and you are responsible for your co-pay.  If your insurance does not pay, you will be required to make full payment.  Should this happen, and you have a concern regarding the ability to pay, please contact me to discuss a solution.

Ability to Pay

I don’t want your ability to pay to be the barrier that keeps you from seeking therapy.  If you have a concern about the ability to pay, please contact me to discuss sliding scale fees or other solutions that may meet your needs.

Crisis between Sessions

If you experience a crisis between sessions and need immediate assistance, please contact 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.  If you have to use one of these solutions to meet a crisis need, please notify me once you have stabilized.  If you are experiencing a crisis between sessions, please text me at (360) 830-6679 or email me at susan@apricus-counseling.com. 

How long will it take for me to get an appointment?

Right now, I am practicing part-time.  I will do my very best to return your email within 48 hours, and my availability to conduct the consultation is flexible.  I can do early mornings before 9am, so if you are also available, then we can likely chat fairly quickly.

Do you work with youth under the age of 18?

I am a child mental health specialist, so the short answer is yes.  I think there are counselors and therapists, though, who provide that specialization and that you and your child would benefit from someone who focuses primarily on serving youth.  However, I will do a consultation with you and/or your child and then we can make a decision together on whether I am the right person to work with your child.

We want to do couples counseling, but we can’t meet for a 90-minute session.

I recommend that you seek counselors or therapists who can accommodate a shorter session.  In couple’s work, it is essential that each person be given the opportunity to share during the therapeutic process.  If we don’t give ourselves sufficient time to discuss, process, and plan then we may leave the session feeling more conflicted than we did prior to the session.  A 90-minute session gives us time to try and ensure this does not happen during the therapeutic process and allows for you to do the necessary work between sessions.

I didn’t do my homework and don’t know if I should come to my next session.

Yes, please come to your next session.  We can talk about why you weren’t able to do the homework.  And, maybe the homework wasn’t the right homework.  We can figure that out together, but we can’t figure it, or anything else, out if you don’t come to your session.  Remember, no judgement here!