FAQ

Where is your office located?

Why do people seek therapy? What can therapy do for me?

Some people have experienced unexpected and sudden changes in their lives, some people have experienced intense trauma at some stage in their life and are ready to work through it. Others seek self-exploration, or are experiencing struggles in their day-to-day living, and some people just want someone else to talk to who can be an objective listener.

People also seek therapy for their children, spouse, or family member(s) who could be experiencing any of the above.

What benefits can I expect from coming to therapy?

The benefits of coming to therapy are countless and are individualized based on the person. Often, it is beneficial to know that someone will listen free of judgment and without having an interest in being “right or wrong”.

You can say what you want, when you want, and don’t have to worry about hurting a loved one’s feelings. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective for you and/or your family on whatever issue may have lead you to come to therapy.

This may help point you in a different direction toward a solution or a healthier way of living. Many people find that therapy leads to deep personal growth, enhanced relationships, and improved family dynamics. Truly, the benefits of therapy will depend a lot on how you view the process, what you bring to the therapy room, and how you practice what you learn through the process.

To bullet point some benefits, they may include some of the following:

• Gaining a better understand of yourself, your loved one, or your child

• Allowing your child to gain a better understanding of himself/herself

• Developing skills for improving relationships

• Finding resolution to the issues that led you to seek therapy

• Finding new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

• Managing anger, depression, and other emotional pressures

• Improving communication skills (learn how to listen to others and have others listen to you)

• Getting “unstuck” from unhealthy patterns; breaking old behaviors and developing new ones

• Improving your self-esteem and boosting confidence

• Seeing growth, healing, and wholeness in your child, family, and in your world

What can I expect in a therapy session?

At MySpectrum, we are open to using a variety of expressive modalities so that you feel the most comfortable opening up and expressing yourself. We may use play, art, or any variation of creative ways that will help you “let go”.

How often will I need to come to therapy?

Most clients start with weekly sessions and move to every other week or monthly as things improve. Your therapist will recommend a rhythm based on what you are working on, and it can change as you go.

What if I don’t know what my goals are for therapy?

That is a completely normal place to start. Many people arrive knowing only that something feels off. Figuring out what you actually want to change is part of the early work, and your therapist will help you get there.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes — and we also welcome private-pay clients. We accept many major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid in Virginia (and some Medicaid plans in other states), EAP plans, and commercial plans. CareCredit is available as well. Coverage varies by plan, provider, and location, and acceptance is credentialed per individual therapist. See the full list of accepted plans and self-pay rates, or let our intake team verify your benefits before scheduling.

How does insurance work?

Your benefits determine what you pay out of pocket — typically a copay, coinsurance, or an amount toward your deductible. Our intake team can verify your benefits before your first session so there are no surprises. If you would rather not use insurance, private pay is always an option. It helps to ask your carrier:

• Do I have mental health benefits?

• What is included in my mental health benefits?

• Do I have a deductible and has it been met?

• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover per calendar year?

• Is a primary care physician referral required for me to go to therapy?

• What are my co-pays for therapy?

Is therapy confidential?

• If child, dependent, or elder abuse is suspected. The Therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities as a Mandated Reporter.

• If you as a client are threatening bodily harm to another person. The Therapist is required to notify local law enforcement and the intended victim.

• If you as a client intend to harm yourself. We will make every effort to safety plan and talk through a plan to harm yourself. However, if we feel that you are still a safety risk to yourself, we will need to pursue an evaluation to determine if you should be hospitalized. While this is not what we would want to do, we have to consider your safety first.

• If we are subpoenaed by a court of law.

• If a court of law has ordered you to participate in therapy, your participation will need to be reported to the court to show that you are doing what you need to do.

• If we are requested to complete paperwork for Disability determination, we may release information with your consent.

What is the difference between a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)?

• A Psychiatrist is a Medical Doctor. A Psychiatrist can prescribe medication.

• A Psychologist has a doctorate degree in a field of Psychology and is specifically trained to complete certain psychological testing. They cannot prescribe medication.

• An LPC has a Masters degree in a field of Psychology with residency hours in the field of counseling. They have passed a state examination to practice as a Licensed Counselor, which means they can provide therapy. They cannot prescribe medication.

• An LCSW has a Masters degree in Social Work with a clinical concentration. They have completed residency hours in the field of clinical Social Work. They have passed a state examination to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, which means they can provide therapy. They cannot prescribe medication.

Why should I choose a Therapist at MySpectrum?

At MySpectrum Counseling & Coaching, we are unique from other places that provide Therapy because we don’t put people into boxes or label anyone. We see each person as a unique individual with individualized needs. While you may have a mental health diagnosis, we will work with you on the symptoms that cause hardships in your daily life, but we will not only focus on a diagnosis. You might not even have a mental health diagnosis and are simply struggling in some area of your life.

We look at the whole person, realizing that there are many factors that contribute to why someone is coming to Therapy. We are also eager to work with individuals and families who are experiencing challenges across all spectrums, to include the mental health spectrum, substance abuse spectrum, and Autism spectrum. Many agencies will have narrow focuses, but we don’t.

You might not even know what spectrum you are on at this moment, and that is why you should choose us: Because you can say “MySpectrum” is all about my individual spectrum and no one else’s.