How to start therapy? What are the first steps?

Psychotherapy is a space to better understand yourself, work through what you’re facing, and learn tools that can help you navigate both present and future challenges.

But we also believe therapy can go deeper than simply learning how to cope. It can help you understand where certain patterns came from, process experiences that continue to impact you, build healthier relationships with yourself and others, and begin making changes that actually last.

No! There are many different approaches to therapy, which is why finding the right therapist and the right type of therapy matters.

Some therapists are more structured and directive, while others are more exploratory and client led. At Reinventing Hope Counseling, our therapists may use approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, trauma informed therapy, attachment work, somatic approaches, and other methods based on their individual training and your needs.

Therapy isn't one size fits all. We want to help you find an approach and therapist that feel like a good fit for you.

We primarily work with adults who may look like they are holding everything together on the outside but are struggling on the inside.

Many of our clients come to us because of anxiety, trauma or difficult past experiences, depression, grief and loss, perfectionism, people pleasing, relationship challenges, life transitions, workplace stress, or patterns they know are no longer working for them.

You don't have to know exactly what is “wrong” or what you need before reaching out. Part of our job is helping you understand what you're experiencing, where it may be coming from, and what might help.

Each of our therapists has different specialties, training, and personalities, so we'll also help determine who may be the best fit for you.

Yes. Part of taking good care of our clients is also being honest when we aren't the right kind of care for what someone needs.

Reinventing Hope Counseling is an outpatient therapy practice, so we may not be the best fit when someone primarily needs:

• Detox or specialized treatment for active addiction or substance use

• Specialized or multidisciplinary eating disorder treatment

• Acute psychiatric stabilization or hospitalization

• Intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), or residential treatment

• Court ordered therapy, custody evaluations, disability evaluations, psychological evaluations, or other forensic services

• Emergency or 24 hour crisis care

This doesn't mean that having a history of addiction, disordered eating, hospitalization, or another complex experience automatically means we can't work with you. We look at what is happening now, what you want help with, and whether your needs fall within your therapist's training and the level of care we provide.

If we're not the right fit, we'll be honest about that and, when possible, help point you toward a provider or level of care that may better meet your needs.

Definitely not.

A problem or crisis is often what finally brings someone into therapy, but we believe some of the most meaningful work can happen when you're not in the middle of putting out fires.

When we aren't solely focused on getting through the immediate crisis, there can be more room to understand patterns, process the past, strengthen relationships, try something different, and explore what you actually want your life to look like.

You don't have to wait until everything is falling apart to ask for help. Therapy can be valuable in many different seasons of life.

It can definitely feel intimidating at first! Especially if you're used to being the strong one, taking care of everyone else, or figuring things out on your own.

Therapy isn't about judging you, telling you how to live your life, or making you talk about something before you're ready. It's a space where you don't have to have everything figured out or hold everything together.

It takes courage to let someone into the parts of your life that may feel messy, painful, or confusing. But we've also seen what can happen when people finally have a safe place to understand themselves and begin doing things differently.

Because we know what it is like to feel like you have to be strong or perfect, to hold everything together when you're really struggling inside.

We know what it is like to go through hard things, have difficulty receiving help, feel lost or question your purpose, and find yourself repeating cycles you don't know how to change.

Through therapy, we've watched clients finally get a chance to take a breath, share their stories, understand themselves differently, and heal from painful experiences without judgment or pressure.

One of our favorite things to remind clients is: “You don't have to keep living this way.”

We want to help you understand what's keeping you stuck, experience more freedom, and forge your own path forward.

Most therapy sessions are approximately 55 minutes. Sessions are typically weekly or biweekly depending on what you're working through, your goals, your progress, and what you and your therapist determine is appropriate.

As for how long you'll be in therapy, there isn't one answer.

Some people come to therapy to work through a specific situation and need a shorter period of support. Others want to work through trauma, relationships, longstanding patterns, or deeper concerns and choose to stay in therapy longer.

We'll continue talking with you about your goals and progress along the way. Therapy isn't meant to keep you coming forever just because you started.

We accept both insurance and private pay.

We currently accept:

• Aetna

• Cigna

Insurance participation can vary by therapist and individual plan, so we'll help you determine whether the therapist you're interested in is in network.

Copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and other out of pocket costs are determined by your individual insurance plan. We always recommend checking your mental health benefits directly with your insurance company so you understand your coverage before beginning therapy. Insurance copays and full private pay amounts are due at the end of the day.

It's also important to know that using insurance for therapy generally requires a qualifying mental health diagnosis, and certain information may be shared with your insurance company as necessary for billing and coverage.

You can also choose not to use insurance and pay privately for therapy.

Even when someone has insurance, there are reasons they may decide not to use it for therapy.

Private pay can provide more flexibility and privacy because treatment decisions aren't dependent on an insurance company's requirements for coverage.

Some potential benefits include:

• Greater privacy: If you aren't submitting claims for reimbursement, information isn't routinely sent to an insurance company for payment.

• More flexibility: You and your therapist can make decisions about treatment based on what you need rather than what your insurance plan will cover.

• No insurance required diagnosis: You can seek therapy for personal growth, relationships, life transitions, stress, or other concerns that may not meet an insurance company's requirements for medical necessity.

• More choice: You can choose the therapist who feels like the best fit even if they aren't in network with your insurance.

We believe you deserve to understand your options so you can make the decision that feels right for you.

Possibly! Some insurance plans include out of network mental health benefits that may reimburse you for a portion of the cost of therapy.

If you'd like to explore reimbursement, we offer two options:

Option 1: Superbill

We can provide you with a superbill that you submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Option 2: Mentaya

Mentaya is an optional service that helps manage the out of network claim process for you. We enter your sessions, and Mentaya handles submitting the claims and following up with your insurance company. Mentaya charges a fee for its service.

We do not receive any financial benefit from your use of Mentaya.

Reimbursement depends entirely on your individual insurance plan, so we can't guarantee what your insurance company will pay. Out of network reimbursement also generally requires a qualifying mental health diagnosis.

If you're considering this option, we recommend checking your out of network mental health benefits with your insurance company first.

No problem! We understand that life happens.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we ask for at least 48 hours' notice to avoid a late cancellation fee.

Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you, and giving us notice also gives us an opportunity to offer that time to another client who may be waiting for an appointment.

Appointments canceled or rescheduled with at least 48 hours' notice will not incur a late cancellation fee. We'll review the full cancellation policy with you before treatment begins so there are no surprises.

Not at all.

You don't have to hold any particular religious or spiritual beliefs to receive therapy here. Your therapy is about your values, beliefs, experiences, identity, and goals.

If faith or spirituality is an important part of your life and you want to incorporate it into therapy, we're happy to make space for that with an appropriately matched therapist. If it isn't something you want to discuss, it doesn't need to be part of your therapy.

No. Our therapists don't prescribe medication.

If you and your therapist believe medication might be worth exploring, we may encourage you to talk with your primary care provider, psychiatrist, or another appropriate medical provider. Many people also participate in therapy while receiving medication management from another provider.

Reinventing Hope Counseling is an outpatient therapy practice and does not provide emergency or 24 hour crisis services.

If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

We believe you should understand the cost of your care before beginning therapy.

Under the No Surprises Act, clients who do not have insurance or who choose not to use insurance have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate outlining the expected cost of non emergency healthcare services.

We will provide you with a written Good Faith Estimate before beginning services, and you are also welcome to request one before scheduling. If the amount you are ultimately billed is substantially higher than your Good Faith Estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill under federal guidelines.

For additional information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

We want the financial side of therapy to feel as clear as possible. You are always welcome to ask questions about costs, insurance, or payment before beginning therapy. Our Intake Coordinator can also help answer questions during the intake process.

Because every person’s needs and goals are different, we cannot guarantee how many sessions therapy will take. You and your therapist will work together to determine an appropriate treatment frequency based on what brings you to therapy, your goals, and your progress.

You don't have to figure that out completely on your own.

When you reach out, we’ll learn a little about what you’re going through, what you're hoping to get from therapy, and what you're looking for in a therapist. From there, we'll help determine whether one of our clinicians might be a good fit.

We care about the match. Sometimes that means connecting you with one of our therapists, and sometimes it means being honest that another provider, specialty, or level of care would better meet your needs.

At the end of the day, we want you to get the right help, not just get an appointment.