Thinking about therapy? On average, it takes someone several years –  if not a decade – of considering therapy before making contact with a mental health professional. Why? It’s a complicated process and directions for each step are not always readily available. You may find yourself asking questions about how to find a therapist, knowing if you even need therapy, how to conquer the stigma surrounding therapy, and what KIND of therapy you need!  The answer to these questions is not simple. It requires a brief assessment of your current symptoms – what is causing you distress –  and how you have been managing thus far (what has worked and what has not). This assessment allows a skilled clinician to develop a recommendation for the most evidence-based treatment based on your specific set of symptoms –  whether they could meet the criteria for a diagnosis or not. It’s helpful for you to understand the treatment approach/modality so you know why this will work for you (with your therapist) and HOW this will work for you.

This is an age-old question! Let us help you delineate your plan of attack (treatment plan) and provide you with resources to get you started.

Here’s an example of the types of clients who could benefit from a needs assessment (these are made-up names with real scenarios): 

• Jim: Jim has had mild depression and anxiety on and off for many years. He had seen a therapist once before in college, which was somewhat helpful but seemed mostly like just “talking” with someone. Jim wants to use therapy to his advantage to alleviate his symptoms and learn how to do this for himself on an ongoing basis. He wants a therapist to teach him these skills but doesn’t know what therapy modality it is that he needs for his particular type of anxiety and depression/how they manifest for him.
• Kim: Kim has never seen a therapist before and has recently started having panic attacks. She isn’t sure why they are happening and doesn’t know where to start with treatment. She is looking to understand more about what causes panic attacks and the specific type of treatment/therapist that she needs. She does not want to spend precious time searching for the “right one”.
• Jamie: Jamie has been to many therapists in the past, each of which was helpful at the time, but she never knew about particular approaches or interventions and how they related to her concerns. Jamie is seeking a better understanding and explanation as to what treatment approaches are for what disorders and where she should go from here to maximize her recovery.
• Kyle: Kyle knows he would benefit from therapy, but given that his concerns aren’t too severe (he is able to go to work, maintain friendships, has a stable relationship, etc), he doesn’t know if therapy would be covered by insurance or meet medical necessity criteria. He is looking for advice as to whether his mental health concern meets the criteria without going through a full diagnostic interview.

What is CBT vs ACT vs DBT vs. psychodynamic vs humanistic vs relational vs interpersonal vs etc kind of therapy!? What types of PTSD treatment are there, which is best for you, and what to do when it feels like it hasn’t worked thus far? How long should I be in treatment? How frequently should I be in therapy? Do I need individual therapy or couples therapy? The truth is, the most effective type of therapy can look different for every individual. That’s why it’s important to work with an expert-level clinician to find the best therapy approach for you.

You may find yourself asking a lot of questions when trying to find the right therapist for you. How do you know if they are a good fit – is this based on a feeling or something more? What credentials does your therapist need to have? Master’s level of education or doctoral level of education? When is the right time to try a different therapist? Each treatment approach has different approaches that are based on the severity + complexity of your symptoms. Here’s what you need to know: therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach – and neither is your therapist. Luckily, you can be guided by an expert-level clinician to find out who your therapist should be in order to meet your needs.

Does it cover therapy? Does it cover online therapy? How do out-of-network benefits work? What are the pros and cons of using private pay? Insurance can be a confusing process and we’re here to help you navigate it. We are here to answer your questions and we have also created an easy-to-read e-book for your use.

The service cost is $100 for a 30-minute consultation. We provide you with our expert advice, evidence-based treatment course recommendations, referral to at least 1 therapist to work with for your specific concern, and self-help or self-study recommendations if we determine that you could adequately benefit from this and maybe even skip therapy altogether!

A traditional 15-minute consultation can hardly cover all of the questions + barriers that exist between you and evidence-based therapy practices. We also have the resources to consult with other experts and clinicians in order to find the most effective treatment options for you.

1. Request an appointment from our availability below.

2. Your expert consultant will confirm your appointment time through email.

3. You will be asked to fill out a brief form to tell us more about yourself in order to maximize consultation time.

4. Payment information is required in order to hold the appointment.

5. If ongoing treatment feels right for you, ask your consultant about our Design Your Own Therapy program.