How long does treatment last?
This will depend on the individual patient and the issues which are being addressed. Factors which affect the length of treatment include the severity of your symptoms, how long you’ve been dealing with your situation, if you’re experiencing ongoing stress, how much support you receive from family members and others, if new distressing events occur or new symptoms develop, and how quickly you make progress.
It may take only weeks to help you cope with a simple or short-term situation. Or, treatment may last 6 months to a year or longer depending on how much your functioning has been effected and what changes you want to see in your life. Some conditions may require long term maintenance treatment. We believe that you should seek treatment as soon as possible, for the best outcome.
How often do patients come for sessions?
Psychotherapy sessions are most often scheduled weekly, if possible on the same day and at the same time each week. Depending upon the circumstances more frequent sessions might be useful. After a period of time, as you make progress and your goals are met, you and your therapist might decide to schedule less frequently.
In the same way, appointments with a psychiatrist will likely occur more frequently such as monthly, or rarely bi-weekly, as you begin medication management. The doctor will assess your response to the medication and determines the the dosage adjustments. Once you are receiving maximum benefit and are on a stable dose, the frequency of medication management sessions generally reduce.
What will happen during my first appointment?
We will meet with you for an extensive interview and psychiatric evaluation where we will gather information such as your history, symptoms, and family dynamics. Within this first session together, we will then determine the best plan of action to move forward.
Will my treatment be confidential?
The law protects the relationship between a patient and a clinician, and information cannot be disclosed without your expressed permission. The only exception is in the instance where you are in danger of harming yourself or someone else, or suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse, where we are obligated by law to notify the authorities.
No information about your treatment will be provided to anyone without your expressed written permission. When treating a child or adolescent, parents are kept informed of the general progress of treatment, but specific and personal information is kept confidential. In the case of a divorce situation where medical custody is shared, consent and authorization regarding disclosure of any information is required from both parents.
How long are appointments?
The length will vary. First sessions usually require additional time. Typical psychotherapy sessions last 45-50 minutes, and sometimes as long as 90 minutes depending on the need and work of each individual. People sometimes find it helpful to arrive 10 minutes early, to collect their thoughts and consider what they might want to focus on during their session. Please note that if you are late to an appointment it will still need to end on time, as there may well be someone waiting for their own session to begin. If you are running very late contact the office to discuss if rescheduling the appointment might be more appropriate.
For psychiatric appointments, typically the initial evaluation is anywhere from 1-2.5 hours depending on the complexity and age of the individual. Follow up sessions could range from 30-45 minutes, and on occasion, hour long sessions are necessary depending on the services needed.
How can I prevent mental illness coming back?
We give you guidance and protocols to adhere to both inside and outside of our office. Follow the treatment regimen and plan of action that we prescribe. Make sure that you follow the medication regimen, attend the psychotherapy and counseling sessions, and keep your life as balanced as you can. It is very important to try and avoid stressful situations, let your loved ones help you whenever possible, and seek help the moment you feel like your mental illness is coming back or getting worse.
What determines if my mental illness will come back?
There are a few components that play a part in the recurrence of mental illness.
Coexisting stresses in life: often times, a mental illness will recur if there are additional life stressors (family or marital problems, starting a new job, losing someone close to you).
Age: more often than not, if someone is diagnosed with a mental illness earlier than later in life, there is a higher likelihood of the illness recurring.
Diagnosis: Some mental illnesses are more common to recur than others. These are mood disorders, anxiety and OCD, substance use disorders, eating disorders and psychosis.
Do you accept health insurance?
Because of the limitations, rules, and paperwork involved with insurance companies, our practice chooses to spend time investing in patients and their health by opting out of all health insurance plans. This level of care cannot be given within the time constraints imposed by insurance companies. However, if you do have out-of-network benefits, you may submit for coverage for the visits. Paperwork can be provided to submit to your insurance. You may also be able to use your Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Account to pay for fees and visits. Please consult with your accountant to make that determination.
What if I have an emergency or an urgent situation come up?
If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency, please immediately call 9-1-1 to be brought to the Emergency Room, or (201) 262-HELP for the crisis hotline. If you have an urgent situation, please call our office, and we will see you as soon as we can.
