What can I expect from my first in-office therapy session?

Your first session with your therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know one another and to get an overall idea how to proceed. Future sessions will be more therapeutic in nature.

Keep in mind that psychotherapy can be a long-term process and it is unrealistic to expect instant solutions to your problems the first day. Therapy is about equipping you with life-long solutions rather than a quick fix.

During the first session, you will be asked about what brings you to therapy. You will be asked about what you feel is wrong in your life, any symptoms you are experiencing, and your history. History-taking may cover such things as your childhood, education, relationships, your current living situation, and your career. You may discuss the length of your treatment, the methods to be employed and patient confidentiality as well.

What can I expect from subsequent in-office sessions?

In subsequent sessions, your therapist will work with you on clearly defining your issue and help you to set and work on the goals you want to accomplish. Depending on your comfort level, you may either sit or lie down in session. Your therapist will typically review events in your life since your last session and work with you on analyzing these events. Your therapist may also explore events in your not-so-recent past with you. In discussing your life, your therapist may allow you to take the lead, or may ask you questions, or may share ideas. In some instances, your therapist may assign you 'homework' tasks to accomplish in your day-to-day life.

What type or model of therapy do you practice?

Our therapists generally utilize traditional 'talk' therapy'. Practice methods may include discussion, role-play, art therapy, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and guided imagery. We practice evidence-based methods of psychotherapy, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.

How many sessions will it take to resolve my issue?

This is up to you, literally. Research has found that the effectiveness of therapy is determined by the client's willingness or resistance to change (40%), the quality of relationship between the client and the therapist (30%), the client's expectation or hopefulness that change is possible (15%), and the model or technique of treatment used by the therapist (15%)*.

How long you are in therapy before seeing results depends mainly on what your issue is and how much 'work' you are willing to do on your issue. Your rate of progress and change is primarily dependent on what you are willing to accomplish.

*M.J. Lambert, Psychotherapy Outcome Research:Implications for Integrative Eclectic Therapists, in Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration (1992).

What does 'LCSW' mean?

LCSW stands for 'licensed clinical social worker'. In Florida, it is a credential that signifies that the bearer has completed required graduate-level clinical coursework and clinical practice and has earned a masters degree in social work at a university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, has completed post-graduate experience under the supervision of a Board-qualified licensed clinical social worker, has completed training in laws and rules and prevention of medical errors, and has passed the national clinical level examination developed by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), professional social workers are the nation’s largest group of mental health services providers. There are more clinically trained social workers — over 190,000 in 1998—than psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined. Federal law and the National Institutes of Health recognize social work as one of five core mental health professions.*

*http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/features/general/profession.asp 

What is the difference between a LCSW, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an ARNP?

Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology and five years of graduate training in psychology. Psy.D. psychologists have the same training as those with a Ph.D., but there is less emphasis on research and experimental methods. Most states require one to two years of supervised experience after graduation for full licensure.

Psychiatrists have graduated from medical school and completed a resident program in psychiatric care. Some psychiatrists are board-certified, indicating they have received additional training beyond medical school and a psychiatric residency. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication to clients.

Advanced psychiatric nurses work as clinical nurse specialists or regsistered nurse practitioners and hold a master's degree or higher in psychiatric-mental health nursing. They are able to assess patients, diagnose disorders, provide psychotherapy, and prescribe medications in some states.*

*http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/therapistcert.htm