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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When do people seek
professional counseling?
· It
is helpful when considering mental health services to think of two factors -
intensity of your distress, and the duration of the problem. A general rule
is that two full weeks of moderate to intense upset is a good reason to seek
an assessment by a professional.
Q. Is this service
confidential?
· Yes.
Both ethics codes and state laws require confidentiality of identity and
information shared. Exceptions are in legal cases only. Your therapist
will tell you more about this.
Q. What ages do you serve?
· At
CVPCA, there are therapists specializing in every age from pre-school
children, to teens, to adults, to geriatrics.
Q. Do you have group
therapy available?
· Yes.
Group therapy is offered by several CVPCA professionals. Groups are usually
at night and are offered for specific problems, such as eating disorders,
chemical dependency, women's issues, and others.
Q. Who do I call if I need
medication?
·
For
medication needs, contact one of the psychiatrists. They have MD listed
after their names. No one else may prescribe medication.
Q. What if I also need or
wish adjunct psychotherapy?
· You
may contact a psychotherapist before seeing a doctor or ask the MD
psychiatrist to recommend someone.
Q. How long will I need to
come?
· The
therapy process varies widely. Some may be ready to terminate in 1-3
sessions. Others may come in for many months. Your therapist will discuss
this with you early in the treatment. Individual sessions run from 15
minutes to 60 minutes, depending on the type of session. Group can last
longer - at times 90 minutes.
Q. How much does therapy
cost? Do you file insurance?
· Each
CVPCA therapist sets his/her own fee schedule and billing/insurance
practices. Fees at CVPCA are in line with local professional fees.
Q. What if I need
hospitalization?
· Not
all CVPCA therapists have "hospital practices" and privileges at local
hospitals, but all can assist in advising and arranging for hospitalization,
detox, or confinement if needed.
Q. How is your waiting
room set up?
·
You will not
be seated with dozens of other people. Our buildings are arranged with
clusters of therapists (3-5) sharing a small waiting area. Confidentiality
is maximized this way. Waiting rooms are comfortable and cozy.
Q. Is it common for people
to seek counseling, therapy, or medication when they have problems or
concerns?
· Yes.
It is now accepted that when individuals experience acute or chronic
distress with life problems or emotions a good choice is to get a
professional assessment of help. We are here to assist you in doing that.
Q. How do I get started?
· Look
over the material in this web site. If you see one or more therapists that
you are interested in contacting, call him or her for an appointment or to
talk on the phone. Again, if you feel confused, call Joan Yelton at her
intake number, (704) 364-4333 x 210. She will be glad to help you locate a
therapist.
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