Frequently Asked Questions
Is therapy right for me?
Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people choose to have therapy. Sometimes they want to deal with long-standing issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it’s in response to unexpected life changes, such as a divorce or work transitions. Many seek the advice and counsel as they pursue personal exploration and growth. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new alternatives for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, body-image issues, conflict, grief, stress management and general life transitions. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting more out of life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change.
How does Alan help his clients to become their own therapists?
Every energy therapy session is unique and caters to an individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions.
At each energy therapy session, Alan helps you explore what reactions you are struggling with in life, love, work, health, or wealth. Then, he will help you identify what is triggering those reactions, and you will be guided to eliminate those triggers and reactions.
By doing so, you will go on a journey of processing the different layers and aspects of the struggle.
For some, one session can be enough to deal with a particular issue, while others require a longer process, over a period of weeks or months.
As a result of working together with Alan as your therapist, you will notice an increase in your ability to think clearly and confidently in that situation, so that you make decisions and take actions with both courage and creativity, in the service of your intentions.
This process gets clients actively involved in their own treatment; they begin to recognize that the way to get better is to eliminate the blockages that limit how they think, feel, and act every day. When treatment ends, clients are able to use the skills and tools they have learned in therapy in their day-to-day lives.
What can I do to get ready for treatment?
An important first step is to set intentions.
Ask yourself, “How would I like to be different by the end of therapy?” Think specifically about changes you’d like to make at work, at home, in your relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and others. Think about what symptoms have been bothering you and which you’d like to decrease or eliminate. Think about other areas that would improve your life: pursuing spiritual/intellectual/cultural interests, increasing exercise, decreasing bad habits, learning new interpersonal skills, improving management skills at work or at home. Your therapist will help you develop a list and decide which goals you might be able to work toward on your own and which ones you might want to work on in therapy.
How will therapy help me?
Several benefits can emerge from participating in psychotherapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be tremendously helpful in managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on difficult problems or point you in the direction of a solution. The help you obtain from therapy depends on how well you use the process and practice what you learn. Some of the benefits can include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Better management of powerful emotions such as anger, grief and depression
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
How often would I take therapy sessions?
It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.
What if I am undecided about therapy?
If you are undecided about therapy, think about the following:
– You don’t need to make a commitment to a minimum number of sessions:
Some patients find even a few therapy sessions useful and then choose to continue working on their own.
– View therapy as an experiment:
There is no way of your knowing in advance that energy therapy will definitely help, but it has helped countless people with difficulties. Think of giving energy therapy a try; there’s probably no hard evidence that it won’t help.
– Realize that there is no big risk:
If it’s not helpful enough, you can stop, but the potential benefit might be great. It would be a shame if you decided not to try something that could really make a difference in your life.
– It’s normal to have concerns:
You may worry whether therapy can help or you may feel hopeless about it. If you’re predicting that nothing will make you feel better, you may be wrong.
– Finances are often a problem:
Our goal is to teach you to be your own therapist and to keep therapy short, so energy therapy may be the best investment you could make.
– If you’d like to know more, please contact us. There are also many excellent self-help books that can give you a good idea of what energy therapy is all about. Contact us to learn more.
How can I make the best use of therapy?
One way is to ask your therapist how you might be able to supplement your process with readings, workbooks, client pamphlets, etc.
A second way is to prepare for each session, thinking about what you learned in the previous session and jotting down what you want to discuss in the next session.
A third way to maximize therapy is to make sure that you try to bring the therapy session into your everyday life. Your therapist will invite you to take home notes or a recording of anything you want to remember, whether it is changes in your thinking, feelings, or an action plan to follow during the week.
How will I know therapy is working?
Many patients notice a decrease in their symptoms within a few weeks of therapy, or even sooner, if they have been continuously attending sessions and doing the suggested activities between sessions on a daily basis.
There may be times when you are invited to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions.
For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking therapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives. Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:
- Real alternatives for enacting positive change
- Self-compassion, respect and understanding
- Perspectives to illuminate negative patterns & feelings
- Effective techniques along with practical guidance
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
I usually can handle my problems. Do I need therapy?
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated many difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. Having enough self-awareness to realize when you need a helping hand, is to be admired. By taking responsibility and accepting where you’re at in life, you’re making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools, you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome the challenges you face.
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your MD you can determine what’s best for you. It is well established that mental and emotional problems, and the pain they cause, cannot be solved solely by medication in the long-term. Instead of treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance. To read about my rates, please visit here.
