How can therapy with a cognitive behavioral therapist help me?

My goal is to help my clients uncover their core dysfunctional or irrational beliefs, and, subsequently, to dispute these beliefs.  I employ both a combination of cognitive and behavioral techniques in accomplishing this goal.  I have found that pronounced changes occur in my clients when they can actively dispute their belief systems in and outside of the therapy sessions.   Some behavioral techniques I have employed are behavioral rehearsal, as a means of assisting clients in dealing with stressful interpersonal relationships, and assertive training.

What is your approach in couple's counseling?

Without a doubt, the most common complaint that couples have in coming to therapy is a lack of communication with their partners.  My goal is to help couples identify the negative cycle of communication that has caused them their grief.  By uncovering the primary emotions often masked by the negative emotions of anger and anxiety, I can have each partner begin to engage the other in a healthier pattern of communication.   I find that when my clients begin to recognize their demon dialogues that have both permeated and poisoned their relationship, they can begin to look at each other as partners rather than enemies.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
   
     Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
     Developing skills for improving your relationships
     Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
     Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
     Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
     Improving communications and listening skills
     Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
     Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
     Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

What is therapy like?
 
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual.  In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapy.  Generally, appointments are on a weekly basis, but on occasion, I have seen individuals more than once a week if necessary, or less frequently.

 It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.  The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in the session back into your life.  Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some tasks you can do outside of therapy to support your progress.  People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.   
   
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
 
 It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.  Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
 
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
 
 To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them.  Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.  Here are some helpful questions:

     What are my mental health benefits?
     What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
     How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
     How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
     Is approval required from my primary care physician?
 
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but in the therapist's office.  Under the Forms section of my web site, please print and review the: Consent for Treatment Form.  This form will spell out the legal limits of confidentiality.  
We, as therapists, are mandated to share the information on this form and, any questions you may have, will be discussed in our first meeting.  If you wish me to share information from our therapy sessions with another professional or private party, you will need to sign the Authorization to Disclose Information Form.