Should I see a psychotherapist?

There are various situations in which psychotherapy is recommended. The best indicator is your own feeling that you need help. Sometimes people who are close to us will encourage us to seek help. If you are reading these pages, you may be considering therapy as an option to help you with whatever may be going on in your life. Making the first step is not easy. It is a step that requires courage. This means making ourselves vulnerable. Usually, however, once a connection is made with a therapist, the feeling is one of relief and comfort at the prospect of moving forward with our lives.

How do I know if a therapist is right for me?

When looking for a therapist it is helpful to know that the therapist is professional, licensed and experienced. It is helpful to have a recommendation by a trusted source such as a friend or physician, or that the therapist is affiliated with a mental health institution or organization. Yet the most important indication is how you feel with the therapist when you meet with him or her. It is important that you feel comfortable with the therapist and that you feel he or she is someone you can work with.

Do you take insurance?

Please contact Michal regarding specific insurance coverage. If your insurance carrier provides out of network insurance, you may be eligible for reimbursement for the cost of psychotherapy with an out of network, licensed professional such as myself. You can check with your insurance carrier and I can provide the necessary invoices and paperwork to facilitate your reimbursement. We can discuss this at the initial consultation.

Why can’t I just talk to a good friend?

Talking to friends is invaluable. Friends are our surrogate families, the people we rely on for support in good and bad times. Yet when we are faced with troubles, feelings and patterns that may be overwhelming, friendship is not enough. Our friends love us and care for us, but they can’t always help us with such problems. Often our friends will feel as frustrated and as overwhelmed by our problems as we do.

Having a professional who is outside of your social circle is different. You can say things and be frank in a way that you may not be able to with a friend. The purpose of the relationship with the therapist is to work and resolve the problems that are keeping you in a state you don’t want to be in or that is bad for you. This is unique to psychotherapy: a relationship that is all about you and helping you.

How long does psychotherapy take?

It depends on you. The duration of treatment varies from individual to individual. Sometimes people are satisfied with their work in therapy within a short while and feel they have achieved what they came in to achieve. Others reach their goals in treatment within a period of time but find the process so helpful that they work on new goals and choose to continue. Sometimes people are in treatment for a while, reach their goals, end the treatment, and months or even years later will return to work on something that has come up in their life. The relationship with the therapist can be a short one or a lasting one, depending on your choice and needs.

What if I want and need medication?

Clients may obtain medication through their PCP or a psychiatrist. For some clients, a combination of psychotropic medications and psychotherapy is an optimal treatment venue. The decision of whether to take psychotropic medications is a topic that is discussed in treatment.

When to call?

If you are struggling with relationships, the end of one or the lack of one, if your own family or your family of origin is giving you pain, if you are frustrated with your work life or career, if you find yourself feeling low and blue more than you’d like, if you are having trouble sleeping and are working too hard, if you depend on alcohol or drugs to get you through the day, If you feel that you exercise, shop, eat, work or have sex excessively, if you are stressed out by the demands of life, if you feel stuck.