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Here are some answers to some general questions.
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Q: What is relational, or systemic, therapy?
A: Without getting too complicated, systemic therapy is an understanding of how a person functions in connection to all that is around them. Although we each are on our own journey it is quite heavily influenced by the people around us: our parents, our significant other, our children, co-workers, hair dresser, and the list goes on! A systemic therapist will take into account not only your journey but the influence these other people have made on your view of life and your approach to the problems you are facing today.
What is HIPAA?
A: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. The purpose of this act is to protect a client's Personal Health Information (PHI) from being used/taken by outside parties. This includes keeping/respecting your confidentiality, only sharing your health information with who you authorize, and maintaining any information obtained through sessions/interactions to the highest standards of security. HIPAA rules must be applied by any state licensed therapist and these rules regulate how we communicate outside of a therapy session, how we conduct therapy, and how we store your information.
Q: What is the difference between individual and systemic family therapy?
A: In its simplest form, individual therapy observes the person's personal experience while the approach of family therapy takes into consideration interactions within your family and your social environment. Systemic therapy can be used to work with individuals, as well, since our curiosity will be about the relationships any person who comes to therapy experiences. Yes, we investigate an individual's experience and history but we also discuss how that experience has been shaped by the relationships each person has had in the past as well as the ones they continue to maintain.
Q: What should I look for in a therapist?
A: Therapy is not an easy process and it's important that you feel comfortable with who you are going to meet with. It's important to be sure that the therapist you work with is someone you are comfortable with. While you should not look for a "friend" in your therapist you should feel as though your opinions are respected and you trust them. A good therapist will challenge you and you should feel comfortable enough to be open to getting uncomfortable. Take advantage of any free consultations therapists offer to get an idea of how they would work with you. Most importantly, ask questions! If they are good, this will be a deeply personal and enriching experience. Your therapist should impress you enough to be worthy of this honor.
Q: My partner/child is the one with the problem. Do I need to attend therapy?
A: Systems Family Therapy approaches therapy through connection and relationships. We work to discover how relationships in a person's life have been useful or hurtful in a person's development. As systems therapists we encourage family members to attend in order to get a richer perspective of the problem that exists in the family and how to best handle it. Many viewpoints can help provide clarity in the challenges being faced.
A: Without getting too complicated, systemic therapy is an understanding of how a person functions in connection to all that is around them. Although we each are on our own journey it is quite heavily influenced by the people around us: our parents, our significant other, our children, co-workers, hair dresser, and the list goes on! A systemic therapist will take into account not only your journey but the influence these other people have made on your view of life and your approach to the problems you are facing today.
What is HIPAA?
A: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. The purpose of this act is to protect a client's Personal Health Information (PHI) from being used/taken by outside parties. This includes keeping/respecting your confidentiality, only sharing your health information with who you authorize, and maintaining any information obtained through sessions/interactions to the highest standards of security. HIPAA rules must be applied by any state licensed therapist and these rules regulate how we communicate outside of a therapy session, how we conduct therapy, and how we store your information.
Q: What is the difference between individual and systemic family therapy?
A: In its simplest form, individual therapy observes the person's personal experience while the approach of family therapy takes into consideration interactions within your family and your social environment. Systemic therapy can be used to work with individuals, as well, since our curiosity will be about the relationships any person who comes to therapy experiences. Yes, we investigate an individual's experience and history but we also discuss how that experience has been shaped by the relationships each person has had in the past as well as the ones they continue to maintain.
Q: What should I look for in a therapist?
A: Therapy is not an easy process and it's important that you feel comfortable with who you are going to meet with. It's important to be sure that the therapist you work with is someone you are comfortable with. While you should not look for a "friend" in your therapist you should feel as though your opinions are respected and you trust them. A good therapist will challenge you and you should feel comfortable enough to be open to getting uncomfortable. Take advantage of any free consultations therapists offer to get an idea of how they would work with you. Most importantly, ask questions! If they are good, this will be a deeply personal and enriching experience. Your therapist should impress you enough to be worthy of this honor.
Q: My partner/child is the one with the problem. Do I need to attend therapy?
A: Systems Family Therapy approaches therapy through connection and relationships. We work to discover how relationships in a person's life have been useful or hurtful in a person's development. As systems therapists we encourage family members to attend in order to get a richer perspective of the problem that exists in the family and how to best handle it. Many viewpoints can help provide clarity in the challenges being faced.
Q: I’m a single parent. Can Hope in Healing help me?
A: Absolutely! Our team has vast experience working with single parent families. Regardless of how many parents are in the home, there is still a family and if you are facing challenges our trained team can assist with handling those relationships.
Q: How many sessions do I, or my family, need to attend?
A: In order to give yourselves an opportunity to see if therapy works for you, a minimum of three one-hour sessions or more is recommended. During the first session, your therapist will go over the particulars of the therapy relationship and what you can experience each session. The second and third sessions will allow more time to get information and start working on issues. Our goal is not to keep you in therapy for the rest of your life but want the length of therapy should be long enough to make sure you can see solid steps towards a better future life.
Q: Are there different types of family therapists?
A: Yes. Aside from individual differences and the perspectives we each bring, there are different models (or approaches) of family therapy. Each model of therapy approaches a family in similar, yet distinct, ways. Ask your therapist what model they subscribe to and how it helps them view your situation.
Q: What makes Hope in Healing different from other therapies offered in the community?
A: Simply put, we are focused on proactive ways to find mental wellness for the long term. And we focus on connection. Our focus is on how connections are a strength - or could be strengthened - for the person/family attending a session. From counseling during critical changes in life to conducting a Mental Physical, our primary focus continues to be proactive long term tools to handle relationships and changes that will continue to occur. In short, we work with you to build resources that will be applied long after therapy ends.
Q: Do you accept health insurance?
A: No, and it is a conscious decision to not accept insurance at this time. We are more than happy to discuss the reasons and invite you to ask us why. However, we are also aware that money is tight and in order to help offset the concern of costs related to treatment, pricing for services are approximated to the cost of many family's current insurance deductible.
Q: How do I initiate contact if I want services?
A: If you are interested in services you may contact our staff via phone, e-mail, or simply by filling out the "Contact Us" form. You can also sign up through our client portal under the "Let's Talk" page. We will be sure to contact you to arrange an appropriate time to meet or answer any questions related to the services offered. Please note that, unfortunately, we do not work 24 hours a day and may typically be in session or with clients when you call. We do, however, make every effort to contact any messages within 24 hours of receipt.
Q: Is filming the sessions a requirement to receive services?
A: Absolutely not. Filming of sessions is a way for therapists to continue on their self development and training which keeps us within our goal to strive to continue to grow and be of service. If you do allow filming your information will remain confidential and will be used only in therapeutic arenas unless you provide alternative consent. Again, filming is optional and all clients are entitled to decline.
A: Absolutely! Our team has vast experience working with single parent families. Regardless of how many parents are in the home, there is still a family and if you are facing challenges our trained team can assist with handling those relationships.
Q: How many sessions do I, or my family, need to attend?
A: In order to give yourselves an opportunity to see if therapy works for you, a minimum of three one-hour sessions or more is recommended. During the first session, your therapist will go over the particulars of the therapy relationship and what you can experience each session. The second and third sessions will allow more time to get information and start working on issues. Our goal is not to keep you in therapy for the rest of your life but want the length of therapy should be long enough to make sure you can see solid steps towards a better future life.
Q: Are there different types of family therapists?
A: Yes. Aside from individual differences and the perspectives we each bring, there are different models (or approaches) of family therapy. Each model of therapy approaches a family in similar, yet distinct, ways. Ask your therapist what model they subscribe to and how it helps them view your situation.
Q: What makes Hope in Healing different from other therapies offered in the community?
A: Simply put, we are focused on proactive ways to find mental wellness for the long term. And we focus on connection. Our focus is on how connections are a strength - or could be strengthened - for the person/family attending a session. From counseling during critical changes in life to conducting a Mental Physical, our primary focus continues to be proactive long term tools to handle relationships and changes that will continue to occur. In short, we work with you to build resources that will be applied long after therapy ends.
Q: Do you accept health insurance?
A: No, and it is a conscious decision to not accept insurance at this time. We are more than happy to discuss the reasons and invite you to ask us why. However, we are also aware that money is tight and in order to help offset the concern of costs related to treatment, pricing for services are approximated to the cost of many family's current insurance deductible.
Q: How do I initiate contact if I want services?
A: If you are interested in services you may contact our staff via phone, e-mail, or simply by filling out the "Contact Us" form. You can also sign up through our client portal under the "Let's Talk" page. We will be sure to contact you to arrange an appropriate time to meet or answer any questions related to the services offered. Please note that, unfortunately, we do not work 24 hours a day and may typically be in session or with clients when you call. We do, however, make every effort to contact any messages within 24 hours of receipt.
Q: Is filming the sessions a requirement to receive services?
A: Absolutely not. Filming of sessions is a way for therapists to continue on their self development and training which keeps us within our goal to strive to continue to grow and be of service. If you do allow filming your information will remain confidential and will be used only in therapeutic arenas unless you provide alternative consent. Again, filming is optional and all clients are entitled to decline.
Questions YOU Should Ask of Any Therapist You are Interviewing...
Get to know the therapist who will be getting to know you! Here are some starter "interview" questions to ask them to get a better feel for knowing if they are a good fit for you!
- What is your background on individual therapy?
- Can you describe your background/training in marriage(family) therapy?
- What is your attitude towards saving a marriage vs. letting a couple go their separate way?
- What is your approach when one partner wants to save the marriage but the other does not?
- How do you approach step-children and co-parenting?
- What percentage of your practice is marriage (family) therapy?
- What percentage of your couples stay together/keep working?
Some Resources You May Find Useful!
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Relationship Support Domestic Violence Infidelity Marital Preparation Children/Thinking of Children |
Family Dynamics
Teenage Peer Support Bullying
Suicide Awareness
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