So You’re Thinking of Starting Therapy…
Since the devastation that COVID brought to our world, mental health has become a part of our daily conversations. Celebrities and other public figures have come forward with their mental health struggles, validating our own experiences. In my 20+ years of practice, I have witnessed positive trends that offer optimism and hope. More people than ever are coming forward to seek help and I am hearing more inclusive and accepting viewpoints, especially among young people. With this in mind, I hope to help you become a more knowledgeable, informed consumer of treatment.
How To Choose A Therapist
When choosing a counselor, it is important that you find a counselor that you like and can feel comfortable working with. A counselor can be an empathic listener, offer coping and relationship skills, provide support through difficult times, advocate for you, and collaborate with other professionals to improve your care. Every counselor has their own unique background, experience and approach to fostering mental wellness. All therapists learn foundational skills and theories and principles of counseling approaches. They are expected to continue to develop themselves professionally as they practice. I personally recommend trying a therapist out three times to decide if they are a good fit for your needs. It is also important to let your therapist know if you don’t feel like you are being helped. This will give you the best chance of receiving the quality care you deserve.
Is Therapy Confidential?
People commonly ask about confidentiality. Sessions are confidential, meaning that no one can receive information about your care without your written permission. This protection of confidentiality extends to children 12 and older. However, there are also limitations to confidentiality. If there is imminent risk of harm to a oneself or another person, counselors have a responsibility to take steps to intervene and help reduce or eliminate this risk. That being said, when you use insurance, you consent to releasing information pertaining to your diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and participation in care to the insurance plan which becomes a part of your medical record. When a therapist writes notes about your care, therapists have a responsibility to limit what is contained in the record to only what is necessary to process your insurance claim. Personal details of your session should remain confidential.
Will My Insurance Cover Therapy?
People also ask about whether insurance will cover their sessions. Insurance plans use the criteria of medical necessity in most cases to determine coverage of a session. This extends to individual, couples and family therapy. This criterion is evaluated by the therapist at the first visit where your symptoms and history are reviewed, as well as, how you are functioning at home, work and in your relationships. This is sometimes confusing for consumers of mental health care. It can be helpful to discuss this with your therapist if you have any concerns about whether your sessions will be covered. Although they may not be able to guarantee that a session is covered, they should be able to provide some insight.
Best wishes in your journey of seeking healing and quality care. I am often reminded of this quote by M. Scott Peck, “Our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
Yours Truly,
Gwen Ginski, M.Ed., LCSW
