How long will therapy take?
This is the most common question about therapy and depends on several factors. The first is what you want to focus on. Improving communication skills is a different process than addressing a marriage on the brink of divorce after a serious betrayal. The time frame can vary depending on these key questions about therapy.
The biggest factor, however, is how motivated you or your partner(s) are to work on issues outside of sessions. Some clients struggle to implement the tools from therapy. This can extend the time needed as they may need guidance with behavioral activation for different questions about therapy.
How is couples therapy different from individual therapy?
Couples therapy often feels more immediate and intense than individual therapy, but it can yield quicker results. In individual therapy, you rehearse new thoughts, insights, or behaviors to apply to your life.
In couples therapy, you work in the present moment. You aren’t practicing conversations with your partner(s); you’re having them. You experience all the emotions that come with those interactions. It’s one of the crucial questions about therapy for couples.
The good news is you’re not alone in these moments. I’m right there, actively guiding the conversation to keep it productive and supportive for all questions about therapy.
Why don’t you take insurance?
Since I primarily work with couples, and most insurance companies don’t cover couples therapy, I don’t accept insurance. They often don’t see it as meeting “medical necessity.” I also value your privacy and autonomy. There are many questions about therapy and insurance that come up frequently.
When insurance is involved, they control the length of therapy and what can be discussed. Your private information becomes part of your medical record. Instead, I provide a “superbill”—an itemized invoice you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients use this option. Once set up, it’s easy to maintain.
Why is the relationship with a therapist different?
In both parenting and therapy, care flows one way. When you begin therapy, your feelings, needs, and goals are the focus. These are important questions about therapy relationships.
If the relationship becomes reciprocal like a friendship, it loses its healing potential. So no, we won’t be friends or follow each other on social media.
What makes you unique as a therapist?
I play an active role in our sessions. I’m not the type of therapist who only asks, “And how did that make you feel?” My clients don’t leave wondering, “What is Kevin thinking?”
I believe in speaking kindly while addressing what needs to be said. It’s often said among therapists that insight is the “booby prize” of therapy. Insight alone isn’t enough. Change happens when insight leads to new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Let’s explore your questions about therapy to help you become even more of yourself.
What‘s it like to begin therapy at Courageous Couples Counseling?
When you reach out, we’ll schedule a free 15-minute consultation. This will help you get a sense of how I work, while I learn what you’re hoping to achieve in therapy. This is often one of the first questions people have about therapy.
In our first session, we’ll dive into the history of your relationship, your therapy goals, and the context behind your concerns. The second session at CCC is special—it’s a two-hour session where we discuss your and your partners’ childhoods. This helps me understand how your emotional needs were met (or not) during your formative years. It provides insight into the unconscious patterns behind conflict or disconnection. After these two sessions, we’ll focus solely on your goals.
There’s no need to prepare for these assessment sessions. This is among the important questions about therapy preparation that you might have.