How do I choose a counselor?

When looking for a counselor, consider your goals and what you want to achieve during your time together. Your current financial situation and your available financial resources to pay for your treatment are essential. Planning your finances in advance will give you a sense of preparedness and control. It is important to mesh with your therapist, so think about personality, culture, and if you feel validated and empowered when working together. Consulting with local resources, trusted online searches, and word of mouth are invaluable. Also, check for national organizations, such as Psychology Today or the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), for additional listings.

How do I know if therapy is what I need?

Therapy is an excellent support for those experiencing emotional stress, ongoing negative thoughts or behaviors that influence their daily life, relationship struggles, challenges coping with stress, history of trauma, or suicidal thoughts. Counseling can help you explore and build stronger skills.

What if I am uncomfortable with my therapist?

Therapy involves a level of vulnerability that can be challenging. However, openly sharing your emotions, fears, and anxiety with your therapist is a crucial step. This allows them to address the issues that make you uncomfortable. If you need a different counselor, your therapist is there to support you and will assist you in finding an alternative, ensuring you receive the help you need.

Is my therapy session and clinical record confidential?

Counselors must uphold professional, ethical standards and licensing laws in their respective states, protecting your private information. A written consent is required to share anything you discuss with another individual, including spouses or partners. Children and adolescents also have an element of privacy during their sessions. There are exceptions to privacy during treatment. For example, if you are not safe or are suicidal, others are not safe, if you are homicidal or expressing violence toward others, disclosure of specific abuse. In these situations, a therapist is required by state and federal laws to disclose relevant information to appropriate individuals, such as Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, or law enforcement.

What if I am concerned about my relationship with my partner or spouse; should we come together or separately?

It's important to remember that in cases of domestic violence, including physical violence, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial restrictions, stalking, and forced isolation from friends or family, couples therapy is not appropriate. In these situations, individual therapy is the best course of action.

What does confidentiality look like in couples therapy?

Emphasizing the critical role of the 'no secrets' policy in maintaining the integrity of the treatment is paramount. The clinician's responsibility to keep confidential information with partners underscores the need for total and complete openness between partners, as the relationship is considered the “client” and not the individual’s. This underscores the importance of addressing problems and concerns with the couple, ensuring that issues that could be detrimental to the family or couple are discussed in the session and not kept secret.