FAQ
Frequent Asked Questions
We understand that finding a therapist during difficult times can be overwhelming and stressful. For this reason, we’ve listed some of our most frequently asked questions below to ease the process and help you decide if our services are right for you.
If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for below, please reach out to us at (206)327-3111 or fill out our contact form at the bottom of this page, and we will do our best to answer any questions you might have.
New to Therapy
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Therapy is a confidential, safe space to process emotions, thoughts, and experiences. One does not have to be in crisis or at their lowest point in life to seek therapy. It can be beneficial for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to: life transitions, ending/beginning a relationship, family conflict, personal growth, identity exploration, behavior change, etc. If you are still unsure if you need therapy, feel free to reach out and schedule a phone consultation. This will give you a chance to ask any questions you may have and decide if therapy is right for you.
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Growth can be uncomfortable, and therapy involves healing and changing in a way that might spark feelings of discomfort; this is completely normal. Your therapist will work with you to create an environment fostering safety, openness, and trust in ways that matter to you. Everyone has different preferences and needs when it comes to processing and unpacking difficult emotions, and your therapist will encourage transparent conversations with you about how to structure session time, what you want to discuss in session or leave out of it, and how to strengthen the therapeutic relationship to reduce any feelings of unease.
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The first session is mostly focused on the therapist getting to know you and understanding your therapeutic needs. Your therapist will ask questions about your background, history, support network, presenting challenges, goals for therapy, etc. The main objective in the first session is to create a strong foundation within the therapeutic relationship and to understand what you want and need out of therapy. Thereafter, the pacing and depth of sessions will be guided by the your comfort level and the therapeutic goals you and your therapist have created.
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It is not uncommon to feel challenged or overwhelmed in the first few sessions as you are organizing thoughts and sharing your story with someone new; your therapist is there to help you identify thoughts and emotions and to better understand your experiences. As you build rapport with your therapist, the work will become increasingly collaborative and the conversation will begin to feel more natural.
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Depending on your presenting issues and goals for therapy, it is difficult to predict exactly when feelings will change or improve. However, what you put into the therapeutic experience will be significantly tied to what you get out of it. The more authentic, honest, and vulnerable you are willing to be within the therapy space, the more you will progress and learn about yourself. It usually takes at least a few sessions of meeting with your therapist to identify core thoughts, behaviors, and patterns that are keeping you “stuck” and preventing you from growing.
Session Questions
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Therapists understand that there may be periods of time when you are experiencing particularly challenging issues with a loved one and/or may want a loved one to join a session to help support you in achieving your therapy goals. On some occasions, inviting a loved one to join a session may be an appropriate option if you want a loved one to understand something that you feel is best expressed in a therapeutic setting with a professional present. Typically, you can bring a guest into therapy sessions up to 2 or 3 times at most, but the sessions will always be geared towards supporting you in your efforts towards communicating with your loved one and meeting your therapy goals. If you would like to invite a loved one to a session, please speak with your therapist before doing so, so that they can support you in creating a plan for those sessions.
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We recommend starting off with weekly sessions to build rapport with your therapist and foster a consistent space to create and work towards your therapy goals and personal growth. Your therapists will check in with you periodically to discuss your progress and recommendations for reducing or changing your appointment frequency. Ultimately, your therapist will work with you to create an appointment schedule that feels comfortable and works best for you.
Treatment
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While many people receive a mental health diagnosis through therapy, it is not always applicable and depends on the severity of symptoms. Generally speaking, it is recommended to be in weekly therapy for 6-10 sessions before expecting a diagnosis. This gives your therapist time to get to know your full story and rule out any external factors that may influence your behaviors and moods. Diagnoses can be really valuable and beneficial for someone who is trying to better understand themselves, find appropriate treatment/medication, or seek a community of others with similar experiences. An accurate and thorough diagnosis requires evaluation, honesty, and authenticity during sessions.
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Yes, although it is recommended that you attend therapy for at least 6-10 sessions to allow your therapist sufficient time to gather enough information and assess if an emotional support animal would be beneficial to your therapeutic treatment. If you are looking to register your pet as an emotional support animal, you can consult with your therapist on reasons why this may be beneficial, and your therapist will begin the evaluation process. If your request is approved by your therapist following the evaluation, they can then write you an ESA letter.
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Garden Counseling and Wellness Group does not directly prescribe medication, but we are partnered with other medical providers with whom we frequently refer clients out to for medication management. What we can do as therapists is discuss relevant symptoms and reasons why medication might be beneficial for you. We also administer screeners that can help medical providers understand your symptoms and experiences to prescribe medication accordingly.
Therapist - Client Relationship
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Confidentiality is one of our utmost priorities in the therapeutic relationship. In the event that a client and their therapist happen to see each other outside of appointments, the therapist will allow the client to initiate contact if they wish to do so. Please keep in mind that therapists refrain from accepting friend requests on their personal social media pages for HIPAA and confidentiality compliance reasons and to maintain respectful and appropriate boundaries within the therapeutic relationship.
Billing & Rates
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We are excited to share that some of our providers are now accepting Premera, Regence, Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Choice, and Lifewise insurance!
For any other insurances that we are not in-network with, we are happy to provide a statement of service for you to send to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
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Yes, some of our providers accept Lyra, Wellspring, and Spring Health EAP benefits. Please contact us to be matched with a provider who accepts your benefits!
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Consultations consist of a 10-15 minute phone call with one of our providers to see if therapy with the selected provider will be a good fit for you. The selected therapist will ask you a few questions about yourself, and will share about their therapy experience and focuses. This is your chance to share a little bit about your reasons for seeking therapy and what you hope to achieve through the therapeutic process. This is also a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the process and the selected provider’s approach to therapy.
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For individuals paying for their services out of pocket, our therapy services are $175 for a 50 minute session (our most common service) and $250 for an 80 minute session.
We offer a limited number of subsidized rate appointments based on need. If you are in need of subsidized services, please contact us to see if we have any openings available.
In-Person or Virtual
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While Garden Counseling and Wellness Group primarily offers virtual Telehealth services, we do offer some in-person sessions. If you are interested in seeing one of our therapist in person, please reach out to inquire about in-person availability. Virtual sessions take place through a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform called Simple Practice.
Discontinuing Care
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There are a few reasons why you might decide to discontinue therapy. Maybe you are feeling much better or life is too busy and you need to take a break. No matter the reason, you have the right to begin and end your care at any time. We welcome you to discuss this matter with your therapists or to contact our scheduling specialist to discontinue your appointments.