FAQs About Counseling, Psychotherapy, Coaching, and Therapy in Bel Air, MD

Searching for a therapist in Bel Air, MD can be confusing. Do you search for a therapist or life coach? What is the difference between counseling and therapy? There are so many different words people throw around in regard to seeking help from a mental health professional and this can cause the process to be quite draining.

 What Key Words Should I Search For a Therapist in Bel Air?

Technically, counseling tends to focus on one issue for a short amount of time while therapy treats a broad range of more complex issues. But for the sake of searching for a therapist, typing counseling or therapy will usually get you the same results on a search engine. Don’t think too much about the exact words to use. The internet is extremely smart and you will usually find a list of therapists no matter if you type in therapist in my area, counseling in my state, or any other variation you can think of. For tips on how to search for a therapist who is the best fit for you, check out this blog.

Questions About Therapy in Bel Air, MD

So you’ve been thinking about going to therapy for some time now, but you still have questions. Maybe you aren’t sure about the process, or you feel like it will be awkward telling a stranger your business. Here are some common questions I hear from potential clients in consultations before we begin therapy or with new clients I begin to work with.

 How long do therapy sessions last?

Sessions typically last 50 to 60 minutes. There are some therapists who meet with clients for 30 or 45 minutes for a lower rate or 90 minutes for a higher rate.

 Why is counseling so expensive?

Therapy can be expensive. Going to a medical doctor can also be expensive, but since you go to your therapist on a weekly basis, the dollars can add up quickly. When you are paying for therapy, you are paying for:

·       The cost to run a business (phones, internet, software, salaries, therapy directories, etc.)

·       Annual renewal costs to maintain licenses to provide therapy

·       Liability Insurance

·       Continuing education to keep therapists abreast with the latest therapy techniques

• And much, much more!

 **Remember, therapy is a form of healthcare, and it is important to see your mental health as an investment that is well worth it. I see so many clients prioritize buying their loved ones everything they want and putting their own needs on the back burner (going to the doctor, clothes that make them feel good, or therapy). **

 What does a typical therapy session look like?

Every therapist brings their own experiences, training, style, and personality into their therapy sessions. So, a session with one therapist may look different than with another therapist. But typically, the first session consists of your therapist getting to know you. You will be asked a variety of questions pertaining to your relationships, childhood, physical health, and symptoms that brought you to therapy. These questions will help your therapist learn more about things that can contribute to the issues that brought you into therapy. Sometimes clients aren’t aware of things in their past that contributed to their present painful feelings.

 After the first session, your therapist will typically create a treatment plan with goals for therapy and diagnosis you. Many clients aren’t aware of this. Insurance companies require therapists to provide a diagnosis and treatment plan for their clients in order to cover the costs of therapy.

 Then, you will continue to meet with your therapist weekly until you begin to feel like you can manage your symptoms on your own. Therapy isn’t designed to last forever. Your therapist should check in with you often to assess if the current course of treatment is working or if they need to explore another approach.

 Should I look for a life coach, a counselor, or a therapist in Bel Air?

There are a lot of great benefits to meeting with a life coach, but it isn’t for everyone. The key difference between life coaching and therapy is life coach sessions are goal-driven and therapy focuses on improving mental health and healing from past traumas or pain. Although there are some aspects that are similar, therapy and life coaching are different. If you have already seen a therapist and worked to improve how you navigate emotions, a life coach may be able to assist with helping you to get unstuck and learn more healthy habits. Another benefit of working with a life coach is that a life coach can meet with any client in the United States while therapists can only see clients in the state they are licensed in.

 What if I feel like therapy isn’t working?

If you feel like therapy isn't working, talk to your therapist about it. I know this can be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but remember, therapy is an investment of your time, money, and mental energy. It is important to address these issues head-on. If your therapist has offended you in some way, it’s important to let your therapist know so they can either clarify their comments and let you know they did not mean to offend you, or you can make the decision that their approach isn’t right for you. Continuing to work with a therapist that you no longer trust will not contribute to your success in the therapeutic process.

Remember, you play a very important role in the therapy process. Honestly, your participation is the most important aspect of therapy. So if you aren’t feeling it anymore, it’s important to address it and not just go through the motions. Another option could be to write your therapist an email in between sessions. You can simply say that you’ve been thinking about something they said or reflecting on your comfort level in sessions and you would like to let them know how you are feeling. A good therapist will not make you feel like you have done anything wrong and support you in advocating for yourself.

What if I have nothing to talk about during a therapy session?

I hear this question all the time. So many clients give me stories about how they had no drama going on in their life and when they came to therapy, it’s awkward. If your therapist has a treatment plan, there should be plenty of things to talk about. Maybe there isn’t anything going on at the moment, but there should be topics to discuss relating to your goals. For example, if one of your goals is to decrease your overall anxiety, and you aren’t currently feeling a lot of anxiety. Something to discuss in a therapy session would be exploring why you aren’t currently anxious and how you can incorporate your current situation in the future to combat anxiety symptoms.

What if I find the perfect counselor for me, but I cannot afford them?

So you’ve done a consultation with a therapist and you feel like they are the perfect fit. But then you start to discuss fees and you cannot afford their services. Here are some options to consider:

·       Find a therapist who is cheaper or in-network with your insurance.

·       Look into your out-of-network benefits

·       Pay with an FSA account

·       Look into therapists with sliding fee scales

·       Look into your EAP benefits

·       Consider saving up to meet with your therapist in the future (consider using your tax refund or getting a side job)

·       Look into therapists who provide group therapy sessions. A lot of times, group therapy is cheaper.

**For more information about different payment options, check out my blog on finding a therapist in your area**

Should I look for a counselor, psychotherapist, social worker, or therapist in Bel Air MD?

The short answer is that it doesn’t matter what the title of your mental health professional is. What matters is that they have experience and training in treating the issues that you are struggling with. Make sure to focus on how the person can help and not too much on their educational credentials. As long as they are licensed to provide therapy to you, the title isn’t too important.

What if I can’t find a therapist that identifies with my culture or the same race as me?

Many clients seek a therapist whom they feel can relate to them. I hear often that clients don’t want to spend time explaining cultural norms in their sessions. While I understand the feeling of ease one can feel when working with a therapist that looks like them, I also caution clients to explore all their options. I have seen therapists in the past personally that are of a different race and I was able to get a lot out of working with them.

Sometimes we think that it will take a long time to make a therapist understand aspects of our culture. But in reality, if you explain an aspect of your culture and you let your therapist know that this is a cultural norm, they should be able to address this issue with cultural competence and it shouldn’t take much time to explain. To learn more about how to assess a potential therapist for cultural competence, visit my blog on questions to ask a potential therapist.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and psychologist, a therapist. and a counselor in Bel Air, MD?

A psychiatrist perscribes psychiatric medication. You may only see your psychiatrist monthly or every other month to discuss any side effects and to obtain another perscription. Many people are surpised to know that psychiatrists do not explore your feelings at length. They gain just enough information to treat your symtpoms with medication managememnt. Therapists on the other hand, will assess your relationships, feelings, and overall issues during weekly therapy sessions.

 I hope this helps you find a therapist in Bel Air, MD. If you need more assistance with finding a therapist that is right for you in your area, call me at 301-467-4735 and I will be more than happy to point you in the right direction. If you would like to learn more about how I can help you with relationship anxiety and childhood trauma, schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation for therapy in Bel Air, MD with me to learn more about how I can help.