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Most insurance companies do cover the cost of mental health outpatient office visits. Give us a call and a member of our support staff can assist you.
Therapy sessions are approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your insurance coverage.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in understanding how medications for mood disorders interact with the body and other medications you may be taking. Psychologists, on the other hand, are doctors who specialize in understanding mental health. They provide counseling. However, they do not prescribe medication. A therapist is someone who has received at least a Master’s level degree in therapeutic interventions to manage a variety of psychological symptoms.
The length of therapy is variable, and the final decision regarding the length of therapy depends on several factors related to the client and therapist. Some clients stay for as short a time as two or three sessions, while others are in therapy for two or three years or more as they continue to pursue goals and practice skills. Typically, the time in therapy is somewhere in between.
A major goal in therapy is utilizing the therapeutic relationship to explore inner thoughts and emotions that you may not feel comfortable talking about or exploring with others. Therefore, some questions may feel uncomfortable to ask. Consider making a list of questions you would like to know about yourself, the process of therapy, and about your therapist training and be prepared to explore these questions in therapy. Here are some good resources to get started:
The most important positive changes an individual will experience in their life will occur in everyday experiences outside of the therapist’s office. To help you make these real-life changes, the therapist may assist you in designing homework assignments. These assignments will explore you how to apply the ideas and skills learned within the therapy sessions and how to transfer these skills in the moment.
A mental health professional is someone who can assist you in approaching your situation in a new way-. They may be able to teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Therapy is completely confidential. While speaking to friends and family members are crucial in maintaining social interaction and feeling supported, friends and family members may not always be objective or may not have the training to assist in addressing certain concerns and problems in your life in the manner in which a mental health professional can help.
For many people, talking about ideas and concepts that are bothering or upsetting you may become extremely uncomfortable at times. However, part of moving forward from pain and upsetting situations in our lives involve processing and overcoming these ideas and concepts we hold inside of us. Therefore, while opening up and talking about unpleasant experiences may be painful at first, the therapist is a resource to help guide you through these negative emotions and support you in moving forward to your goals. The therapist is trained to gently move you towards progress and will check in with you during the sessions to ensure that you these experiences do not become too overwhelming.
Hugh S. Smith, Ph.D. & Associates, P.C.
Main Office: 1831 Lititz Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: (717) 391-6808
Fax: (717) 391-0709
E-mail: HSSA@hssmithassociates.com
© 2021 Hugh S. Smith, Ph.D. & Associates, P.C. All Rights Reserved.