FAQs

On the contrary, people who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone goes through challenging life situations. You may already have the self-awareness needed to realize you need some help in discerning how to move forward. This is typically seen as strength not a weakness.

Therapists can help you approach your situation in a new way—provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies. Therapists have been educated and trained in helping you attain a better understanding of yourself, developing skills for improving your relationships, and finding resolution to the issues or concern that led you to seek therapy.

It is important to know that each therapy session is unique because each person has different issues and goals for therapy. We tailor our therapeutic approach to your specific needs. In general, it is common to schedule as series of weekly or bi-weekly sessions where each session lasts around 50 minutes. There may be times you are asked to do certain actions outside of the therapy session such as keeping track of certain behaviors or writing down feelings. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions.

Sessions are 50 minutes long. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular weekly sessions initially, and then space them out as you see progress. Longer session lengths are available upon request.

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in sessions back into your life.  Beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, if you are receptive to “homework”, I can suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your progress – such as practicing relaxation skills, journaling on a specific topic, reading a pertinent book, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.

We initially work with both of you together if you are concerned about your relationship and you both agree to couples therapy. There are times during the couples work the therapist may suggest seeing each individual partner in order to gain a different perspective but most of the couples sessions are done with both partners present.

Payment for services is due at the time of your session. The exception to this is if you plan on submitting a claim to your insurance company and we are certified as in-network providers for your insurance company. Please call our billing department at 651-738-8561 or email support@professionalservicesconsultants.com to inquire about your health insurance coverage and benefits.

Please contact our billing department to verify us as in-network and to understand your deductible and co-payment(s). In these cases we will submit a claim on your behalf directly to your insurance company.

Payments for fee for service, out of network claims and co-pays are due at the time of the session and can be made in cash or with any major credit card.

In order to use insurance, it will be necessary for you to receive a mental health diagnosis, which goes on record to pay insurance claims. Your therapist has no control over what happens to insurance records. Most insurance plans do not cover the cost of marriage counseling unless there is a mental health issue(s) associated with reasons for marital problems. For instance, if one partner has a mental health diagnosis that is contributing to the couple issue(s), your insurance may cover this cost.

When submitting services to your insurance company, you will be forming a record of your status and treatment, just like a medical record. That means that means that in order for insurance to cover this treatment, there must be an illness, or disorder, that is diagnosed and reported to the insurance company. Many people do not have concerns about this, or complications with either, but it is important for you to be informed.

When paying cash for therapy sessions, there is more confidentiality in the sense that insurance companies do not have access to the record of a diagnosis or of your treatment. In addition, you are also then able to seek counseling services without being required to have a diagnosis.

Daytime, weekend, and evening hours are available.

You may cancel or reschedule your appointment at no cost if you notify us more than 24 hours in advance. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours of your appointment time or do not show up for your scheduled time you will be required to pay the full contracted amount. (You will not be billed for cancellations due to inclement weather).

Therapists are bound by a code of ethics and the law to keep all information confidential unless released from this by written consent of all the parties in counseling. Limits to confidentiality include threats of suicide, suspected child abuse, dependent adult or elder abuse or harm to others and self, and reporting to your insurance company.

Psychotherapists are clinically trained to help clients with relationship and mental health issues. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of the mentally ill, usually with medication. A psychologist specializes in the testing and research of human behavior and may do counseling.

Usually, marital counseling takes at least six to twenty sessions to begin to see some change in a couple’s behavior. Obviously, each situation is different so you should discuss this with your therapist.