Question 1

What can I expect from individual therapy?

Accepted Answer

In your first session, I will ask about you and your life. Some questions might include:
What brought you to therapy? Have you been in counseling before? 
What do you want to change? Some personal history and information about your current situation. Any current symptoms, like sleep issues, trouble at work, uncontrollable crying, etc.

Question 2

What should I be doing in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Therapy is a team effort. Together we set the path to explore what your goals are and what you want to change.  Being open and honest is the best way for me to know what questions to ask, and how I can help. Be ready to share and explore your feelings and motivations. Asking questions is the best way to understand and become more comfortable with the process.

Question 3

Why choose online therapy?

Accepted Answer

Online therapy is private, convenient, affordable, and portable! It is the best of both worlds; you can get great care, keep your privacy, and have the convenience of meeting with me in the comfort of your home or a private area with internet access anywhere in Texas. Whether you call it online therapy, internet therapy, telemental health, or counseling it’s really easy to get started.
Are you going out of town last minute? No worries… you won’t have to reschedule or miss your appointment. Not able to drive to an office, but have a session scheduled? No problem! Online therapy makes worrying about traffic, weather, or missing appointments due to sickness or emergency a thing of the past.
This format is especially nice for clients with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or concerns about privacy. My separate online therapy site is HIPAA compliant, which means your privacy is 100% guaranteed. I have heard numerous people say, “I could never get my partner to go to therapy!” or ” I don’t want anyone to know that I am in therapy.” Well, now you do not have to leave the comfort of your home. We can talk more about the convenience of therapy in your home when you call. I will go over it in detail during our first session. I want to make sure you understand the process and are comfortable with the online therapy format.

Question 4

What are the advantages of online therapy?

Accepted Answer

1. Texas is HUGE and it can be hard to find the right therapist in your area. Online therapy brings the therapist to you.
     2. Physical limitations can make getting to or keeping appointments difficult.  Sometimes surgery recovery or other physical situations can get in the way of keeping a session. Online therapy can bridge that gap.
     3. Online therapy is convenient!  Getting health care taken care of with all of the traffic and the distance involved in getting around the area can be challenging. No more panic attacks or anxiety about not getting to the office in time.

Question 5

Are there disadvantages to online therapy?

Accepted Answer

1. Online therapists have trouble responding immediately in a crisis situation. For instance, I will always make note of your location and a contact number before sessions because this mobile format means you can log-in to sessions anywhere in Texas. I need to be able to get emergency personnel to you if any kind of health event occurs (like an asthma attack).
    2. Online therapy is not always recommended for serious psychiatric illnesses. There are instances where online therapy is not as beneficial and healing for clients. Some cases need coordinated care with a local provider.
    3. Online therapy can sometimes miss important information. The missed information is primarily body movements that are important keys in the conversation that we have together. For instance, an uncomfortable topic might make you fidget or tense up. These are clues that I need to know so that we get the best conversational experience. We learn together to talk more about what is happening when we talk together (bodily sensations and movements.)

Question 6

How do video sessions work?

Accepted Answer

Video sessions take place on through the client portal. Upon registering on the client portal you will see your appointment time. To attend the appointment simply use a device with a camera, microphone, speakers, and screen. If using video conferencing on the client portal simply click on your appointment and then click on “start session”.

Question 7

How do phone sessions work?

Accepted Answer

Phone sessions simply take place by you calling me at 214-668-6058 at your appointment time.

Question 8

How do email sessions work?

Accepted Answer

Email is not the best method for ongoing counseling.  If you feel the need to shared information with me between sessions, using the client portal is a convenient and secure way.  Unfortunately, even though I have HIPAA compliant email, there is no way to guarantee the security of information through email.  The best practice is to only share minimal information through email.

Question 9

How should I manage technology issues?

Accepted Answer

Technology issues are not unexpected. However, if you do encounter technology issues when trying to attend your session you can call me at 214-668-6058 to work through the issue.

Question 10

Are there limitations for video therapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

Video therapy is only available to Texas residents at this time due to legal limits to my license.

Question 11

How do I know my call with you will be confidential?

Accepted Answer

All communication between us is designed to either take place via a phone call, the client portal, or by using strong encryption. All records are also kept using strong encryption and security procedures. Paraclete Counseling Center follows all local, state, and federal laws as it relates to client information.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions