Common FAQs about Therapy or Counseling Services In South Pasadena
In Southern California, there is no area richer in diversity than the many cities in Los Angeles county. In fact, even the many neighborhoods in Los Angeles have become mini-cities with their own culture. But we all share that same laid back attitude, welcoming smile, enjoy the sunshine and- hate the traffic! Yes, that is something that we can all agree on! So, when you notice yourself or a friend/family member struggling with life’s obstacles or even something more serious, it can be jarring in comparison to what we all assume everyone is experiencing- pure bliss and happiness. But this is just not true! Depression and anxiety rates have been higher than ever before. But, whether you are looking in South Pasadena, Pasadena or the surrounding L.A. neighborhoods, there are many behavioral health providers who provide varied services. You may have even found some that you think are great online or nice enough on the phone.! This now means that the task of narrowing down a good fit will involve a lot of questions. But where do you start? As a transplant myself I assure you that I understand all too well how difficult it is to find a specific service provider, least of all someone whom you are supposed to open up to and talk about all your secrets and embarrassing moments. It is difficult to take that leap of faith. But, you are never going to feel safe, happy & successful unless you take that step. There are many ways to heal and I truly believe this is the way most people can. Don’t just trust my word, look at the tons and tons of research on this. What we know is therapy, counseling and even coaching works. When I first start exploring career options in college (don’t ask- way back when!) I wish there was someone who could’ve explained what therapy, counseling services, or coaching is really like. I learned it firsthand sitting on both sides of the couch. So, in an effort to bring you one step closer to starting therapy, dispel any myths, and to shed light on some of the well-kept secrets in this field, I have put a list of commonly asked questions:
What is the difference between therapy, counseling and coaching?
Therapy is generally defined as a treatment by a professional that leads to healing or relief for a particular condition or issue, without the use of drugs or other invasive procedures. Counseling is generally understood to be a type of professional guidance around personal, social or psychological problems or dilemmas that leads to resolution. So when it comes down to it, therapy and counseling are often used by people interchangeably. The distinction between therapy & counseling is one that delineates that a counseling relationship is short-term or time-limited (ex: a certain no. of sessions or a specific amount of time). Counseling ends at the time that was initially discussed regardless of whether your problems persist or now. Thus, counseling usually happens in educational institutions like schools and colleges, where students are seen only briefly and then referred out to therapists in the area for further support. Therapy, on the other hand, can be short-term, long-term or ongoing for years. Other than that, the format, topics and boundaries are often similar if not the exact same.
In contrast, coaching is the term given to the process that aims to improve performance or skill by focusing on the ‘here and now’ instead of the distant past or the future. You can clearly see by definition then, that in counseling or in therapy you can focus on issues that plagued you in the past, continue to trouble you in the present and are creating issues or worries in the future. In coaching you would only focus on the current skill or performance and not on any issues, problems of areas of improvement within your like that are non-skilled based.
2. How long will my therapy take?
This is a questions that almost everyone has when they start therapy. Usually, concerns of affordability or feeling impatient or not yet trusting the therapist is the root cause of this query. The answer is: its different from person to person. I know, not satisfying. The truth is, everyone has their own flavor of issues, with their very own specific life experiences that have brought them to this juncture in therapy. It’s going to take a little bit of time to fully understand who you are, what you want to change, how to go about changing it, and lastly to put those insights into action. Some therapies last a few months, while others take years. Remember, this is all-natural, without any magic pill (no meds here) or any drastic overhaul of your system. In therapy, you and your therapist figure out how to continue to be you and yet, change your life for the better! Patience is key.
3. So, I can expect to feel better right away? What about after a month?
Not necessarily. Often people get worse before you get better. You have spent a lifetime avoiding facing some painful things in your life, so you can’t expect to feel great about it when you first take a deep dive into your psyche. It’s analogous to working out: the first few times you are going to physically hurt. You r muscles haven’t worked out like this before and you may be out of shape. Building yourself up involves breaking down fat and old muscle to then build new stronger muscles. It gets easier after a while and you can finally start seeing a difference, even if you know you have a ways to go.
4. What is the difference between the various providers- Psychologist, therapist, LMFT, LCSW, Psychiatrists vs. Coaches?
This is the cardinal question on a lot of people’s minds because of all the different degrees and disciplines that provide therapy. I will speak in the most general terms here but would be more than happy to have a longer discussion about this. Psychiatrists maintain a monopoly on prescribing medications. There are a few that have trained themselves in providing therapy and thus also provide that service. But most don’t. Therapists- and that is the general term used for Psychologists (Doctorate in Psychology- Ph.D. or Psy.D.), Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), & Clinical Social Workers (CSW’s or LCSW’s). The latter two disciplines (MFT and LCSW’s) spend fewer years in training for therapeutic services than Psychologists. Additionally, Psychologists are the only disciple that can provide cognitive and psychological diagnostic testing. Be it for ADHD or any other issue. These tests can corroborate a diagnosis given at the clinical interview and can help the therapists define your goals. Plus, it’s an objective way of acquiring data on someone. Many times, if someone’s clinical presentation doesn’t really fit into any category, referral for testing is made. Brain injuries can be detected for instance, with these tests- paper/pencil or computer. Nothing invasive! Historically Social Workers provided social community services such as ensuring a person is connected with a provider, has a place to stay or a home, has a f/u appointment and connecting clients with other community resources. They have also served as advocates. But, the line of Clinical Social Workers started training in therapeutic services, as well. Similarly, MFT’s used to only provide family therapy and marital counseling, but that too has changed over time. Lastly, there is no degree or training to be a coach. Anyone can decide to start coaching about any particular skill or topic that they feel they have advice on. They are not a recognized healthcare professional and thus, not required to keep any documents, unlike all the disciplines listed above.
5. How much does therapy cost?
This varies and depends on whether you are able to use your health insurance or not. If you do use your insurance and found a good therapist in-network who sounds like a good fit, therapy can be a weekly copayment (ranges from $5-$45 depending on your plan). Since insurance companies don’t truly profit when clients get better, they are not invested in changing rates for therapists as inflation happens. The reimbursement rate to therapists hasn’t changed since the ’70s! Because of this, a lof of therapists that have specializations, extra training or years of experience under their belt, do not join insurance panels. In these cases, your fee is often based on the cost of living in your area. For example, a metropolitan area like DTLA will likely have higher therapist rates than a small town/suburb in Idaho. Additionally, therapists often have a couple of spots for sliding scale and thats for those financially unfortunate individuals. If you have a PPO insurance plan, it almost always provides you with a reimbursement check after therapy sessions. So, all in all it may not end up costing a whole lot more. Even a $300/hr therapy session is worth it if it works for you to get your life back in order and you attain success and happiness. On the other hand even $30/hr can feel costly if it doesn’t work and now you have wasted your time and energy investing in this, with no results. Often that defeat feels too much for people. Which is why one should consider finding a good fit therapist and see this as an investment into yourself. If you had a Ferrari and it broke down, wouldn’t you take it to the dealership to get it repaired instead of a cheap, rundown garage? If you are willing to shell out money for others or on objects, why would you consider yourself less important than a car?!? I don’t care what car that is
6. How long are therapy sessions and how often will I be expected to go?
Most therapy sessions last 45-50mins and likely meet their therapist weekly or twice/week. There are variations on this, so some people are in analysis and see their therapist 3 X week, but then some therapists don’t mind if you see them just once a month for a touch-up session, if you will. In terms of the time, there are some therapists that will do an extended hour session of 90 mins, if deemed clinically appropriate and necessary.
7. What will my 1st visit be like? Do I need to prepare? What should I bring?
Yourself! Bring nothing except yourself, unless the therapist has asked you to bring over the initial paperwork packet. Usually, these are now emailed back and forth, but on occasion, you may be asked to bring it in or fill it out in your initial Intake appt. Your 1st visit may last slightly longer than your f/u visits and maybe quite structured. The therapist will have a list of questions ready to ask you or at least, be more active in their queries. It’s good to have
8. A lot of therapists are doing virtual therapy? If there is a choice, is virtual better or worse than meeting in person?
If we ignore the pandemic piece, one is not necessarily better than the other. It’s just different and more about personal choice & fit. Of course during this pandemic, most if not all, therapists are providing tele-therapy.
9. What is the initial phone consultation like and how should I prepare?
If you are looking for Couples’ therapy, you will want to be together when talking to the therapist. For either individuals or couples’ this phone call is more for the Psychologist to get a sense of what your essential issue, problem, struggle or goals are. So, my recommendation is to try and have a clear idea of what your struggle is about, problem areas, any changes you want or any insights you may have about how you got here and/or what it is you need. This call is a quick assessment to ensure that there isn’t something specific you need that the therapist can’t provide. If what you discuss falls outside the purview of the therapists’ specialty, then they will likely refer you to a colleague who does specialize in providing the type of therapy you need.
10. I’m really nervous. Aren’t therapists usually judging their clients and thinking they are crazy or have some awful condition? Don’t they write down secret things in their notebooks during therapy?
Although this is the last question here, in some ways it is the most important. The short answer is NO. Therapists are not judging you. That assumption itself before even meeting your therapist shows us that you area likely projecting your own feelings of judging yourself. I.e.- You are the one that is being hard on yourself. It is not the therapist's place to judge or criticize nor can they tell you how to lead your life. The changes you want to make in your life come from you and you alone. But, it is the therapists’ job to facilitate the conversation so that you are clear on your goals and not conflicted. To bring things out of your subconscious into your realm of understanding. Lastly, therapists usually do not write things down during sessions because they are focused on being in the experience with you. On rare occasions, your therapist may jot down something you just mentioned, or your new medication, doctor’s name and so on. But, it’s something almost word by word about what you said. Since our documentation has to be backed by what is discussed in the session, this can also help corroborate your therapists’ memory of your session.
I hope this helps you find the right therapist in South Pasadena, Pasadena, DTLA or eastside Los Angeles neighborhoods. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (646)594-5353 for a free 20-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with relationships or couples’ therapy, depression, anxiety/stress, trauma, PTSD, LGBTQ+ or BIPOC issues such as racial trauma, adult children of immigration etc., you can read more about how I can help here: http://www.mentalwealthinc.com.