FAQs

How can I motivate my child to attend Therapy?

Young people are often hesitant or oppositional about beginning Therapy.           There are a few ideas that might make it easier to help your child get involved in Therapy.   (1) Remember that once you get your child/teenager to the initial session and they are in the  office with the therapist, it is the therapist's responsibility to try to get the young  person committed to attend Therapy.  (2) Even if you as a parent decide that your child will  be in Therapy, it's often a good idea to suggest that your child interview a few different  therapists and choose the one with whom they feel most comfortable.  This allows the child  some control over the process.  You as the parent still have the say in the final decision,  but the choice of a therapist must be someone with whom both they and you feel comfortable.   (3) You might want to try offering different options for Therapy.  Young people usually think of Therapy as individual Therapy.  They often don't realize that group Therapy or family          Therapy is available.  Sometimes one of these two types of Therapy will be more attractive to a young person.

What are the advantages of family Therapy?

Young people frequently feel that they're being sent into Therapy because      their parents view them as a problem that needs to be fixed.  Family Therapy refocuses the spotlight from the child to the family as a whole, which makes them feel that they are less  to blame for whatever's going on.  Parents should invite the child to join them in family Therapy.  When the youth says no, say "Okay, that's your decision, but we're going anyway,  and we're going to talk about you and what's been going on in the family".  Without pushing,  just let him/her know what you've been talking about in general for the first couple of weeks  of Therapy.  After a few sessions, we often find that the child will ask to come into family Therapy so that they can share their views with the therapist and set everyone straight about      what is really going on in the family.    

What about group Therapy?

Group Therapy is a great option for youth that are resistant to attending Therapy.  Young people are able to get a sense that other kids are struggling with similar issues to their      own.  Being in a group minimizes the "being in the spotlight" feeling and youth can receive help and support without feeling directly targeted.  Group Therapy can be a cost effective way to be involved in treatment as well as the cost is less expensive than individual or  family Therapy.  There are several options for group Therapy through Therapy  Associates.

How do I choose a therapist?

      The most important factor in selecting a therapist is choosing someone with whom you and your child feel comfortable.  Many competent, well-trained, and skilled psychologists, social workers and counselors are available, but not every therapist is going to be the right fit for every person or family.  It is worthwhile to invest some effort in getting a good referral and in interviewing a few different therapists and picking the one whose style feels most comfortable to you.    

  If you don't have a preference and you choose to work with Therapy      Associates, your particular case will be discussed by the clinical team and assigned to the therapist that we feel would best address your needs.   

     How does payment work?   

     Payment is due at the time of service unless otherwise arranged by your      therapist. You will pay the receptionist at the front desk before the session occurs.  Unpaid balances will be charged late fees and interest.  You can pay by cash, credit card or check.   

     How often do sessions occur and how long will I be in Therapy?

      Typically your therapist will recommend that you attend some form      of Therapy on a weekly basis and in some cases more more than once weekly.  Some recommendations will include a combination of either individual, group and family Therapy, which may result in attending both a group and an individual/family Therapy session weekly. 
      The length of time you will be in Therapy depends on how fast your particular issues are stabilized and how helpful you feel the Therapy is.  We practice a short-term, solution-oriented model  of Therapy and ideally, the issues being addressed will begin to resolve/stabilize within a few months.  However, you can continue to participate in Therapy as long as you believe it is helpful.    

     How long is a Therapy session? 

       Therapy sessions last approximately 50 minutes. The first assessment session may last 90 minutes as we want to make sure that we gather sufficient information to understand the issues that need to be addressed.  Group Therapy sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes. Appointments end promptly at the agreed time, even if you arrive late, to allow us to prepare for the next appointment. We will arrange appointments at your convenience and try to accommodate your schedule as much as possible including evening and weekend appointments.   

     Will I be informed of how the Therapy is going for my child?   

            We believe that parent involvement in the Therapy process is very important.  We strive to work with and include parents whenever possible while being mindful of our clients confidentiality.  If you are requesting services as a parent/guardian on behalf of a minor, it is important that your child have trust in confidentiality in us.  However as a parent/guardian you have the right and responsibility to question and understand the nature of the therapeutic activities and progress of your child.    

     We will use clinical discretion as to what is appropriate disclosure.  The      therapist will provide as much feedback as possible, with answers to as many questions as possible, while still being respectful of confidentiality.  When specific questions are asked, we often help the child or teenager to answer, rather than having this come through the therapist.  In general, specific information will only be released with the dependent's  consent, but we will discuss your child's progress as part of your participation in treatment.   

     Will insurance cover the cost of Therapy?  

     We encourage our clients to pay out of pocket for Therapy services as this      allows you to be in complete control of the sensitive information discussed in your Therapy and assures that you receive the treatment that you and your family need.  We know that quality Therapy services can be expensive, and we strive to keep our fees affordable. You will find that our fees are among the most affordable in the Southern Utah area.
      There are a few specific disadvantages to using insurance to cover the cost of    psychoTherapy.
       (1) Many insurance companies require that detailed, sensitive information be provided about the issues being treated in the Therapy before approving coverage. This can be an uncomfortable situation for families concerned about complete confidentiality. 
      (2) Often times, insurance companies require that a young person be given a specific "diagnosis" in order to be treated.  It has been our experience that many young people are better described as on "developmental vacation"  or actively avoiding responsibility in their lives, rather than suffering from a "diagnosis".
      (3) Many insurance companies limit the number of sessions that are available to the family and tend to look for the "shortest" and "quickest" way to cover a problem which in many cases is inadequate in truly helping families get the help they need. Unfortunately, when insurance companies make important decisions about treatment instead of the therapist, families do not receive the help they really need.
 Some insurance policies may cover mental health and/or substance abuse treatment.  If your insurance policy will cover your treatment, then we will reimburse you after your insurance pays us. It will be your responsibility to check your insurance policy.  We are happy to bill insurance companies that will cover the cost of treatment.     

     Do you prescribe medication as part of your treatment?   

           We are not medical doctors.  We are licensed psychotherapists.  It is beyond our scope of practice to prescribe medications.  If during the course of treatment we believe medication may be an appropriate intervention, we will refer you to a physician that can conduct a  medication assessment and make that determination.    

Does Therapy Associates offer specific outpatient programs for youth needing more than traditional weekly Therapy?

Yes. Many young people require more frequent and intensive intervention than      simply meeting with a therapist once per week in an individual session.  Our outpatient programs includes participation in individual Therapy and group Therapy on a weekly basis.  Youth that struggle with substance abuse and sexual maladaptive behavior often can benefit from an outpatient program treatment.  In some cases, youth are court-ordered to participate in outpatient program treatment. These programs can be a cost effective alternative to a  placement in a residential treatment center which can be very expensive. We are happy to provide  progress reports and updates to probation officers, caseworkers, courts, etc.