Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in understanding how medications for mood disorders interact with the body and other medications you may be taking. Some psychiatrists may provide occasional therapy, but they primarily provide medication. Psychologists, on the other hand, specialize in understanding mental health. They provide counseling. However, they do not prescribe medication.
Medication can help treat symptoms. However, counseling is designed to explore the root of the issue, dig deep into your behavior and teach strategies to help you accomplish your personal and relational goals. Medication and counseling are often needed to help you reach your mental health goals quickly and effectively.
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and can reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have some strengths you’ve used before, which aren’t working right now for whatever reason. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and makes it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify those strengths and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
The difference is between someone who can do something and someone with the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, suppose your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion. In that case, if you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you feel better, you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say on a general FAQs page. The truth is every person’s circumstances are unique. You bring a unique set of past experiences, strengths, and concerns when you enter counseling. Therefore, the length of time therapy can take varies. Some factors that can impact how long you’ll be in counseling include your goals, motivation, commitment, and the factors driving you to seek therapy in the first place.
We are so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your counseling sessions. Your active participation and dedication are important. After all, you typically only come to therapy once a week. Therefore, your work outside of our sessions will help you see your personal growth and development.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) rules limit the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI). PHI is information that can be used to identify you and that relates to your health status, health care or payment for health care.
Abuse and/or Neglect – reporting to appropriate authorities regarding suspected child abuse, elder abuse, and other vulnerable adult abuse. This may include alerting Child Protective Services through a report made to ChildLine, local police, and/or Area Agency on Aging, and potentially any other agency whose duty is to protect the population at risk. The forms of abuse could include: physical, financial, sexual, emotional, neglect, or exposure to unsafe environments such as witnessing drug use, domestic violence, etc. Therapists will notify their Supervisor as soon as possible about any reports made.
Suicidal Intent and/or Plan – If you are at imminent risk of harming yourself, a call can be made to your emergency contact, the police, local crisis center, and/or 911 for evaluation for safety. The therapist will work with you to keep you safe to the best of their ability prior to calling someone. This may include safety planning, safety contracts, and/or contacting a trusted person who can assist in ensuring your safety. Therapists will notify their Supervisor as soon as possible about any reports made.
Homicidal Intent and/or Plan – If you express an intent and/or plan to hurt another human, or the therapist has strong reason to believe that someone will be harmed, a call can be made to your emergency contact, the police, local crisis center, and/or 911 for evaluation for the safety of everyone involved. Therapists will notify their Supervisor as soon as possible about any reports made.
In emergency situations such as the ones listed above, your therapist will only share essential information for you and others to be safe. For example: If your diagnosis, gender identity, religion, immigration status, GPA, etc. is not relevant, it will not be shared. An example of this is: If you were having a medical emergency during your session, we may share any medications or medical conditions we know that you have, but your psychiatric diagnosis is not relevant to that situation and therefore would not be shared.
You can sign a Release of Information (ROI) and it will be kept on file and in compliance with HIPAA regulations when communication with a third party is needed. This can include family members, support people, other agencies, and/or individuals you would like your therapist to have the ability to consult. You can specify the types of information you do and do not want to be shared. The Release of Information can be revoked by you at any point in time by requesting it in writing to your therapist.
You have the right to request a copy of your record by completing a Release of Information (ROI). As a standard practice, there is a fee associated with releasing records.
When you first make an appointment, various documents will be sent to you to fill out. This includes items such as office policies, consents, and questions to help the therapist understand why you are seeking treatment.
After you first meet with your therapist, the therapist will complete various forms of documentation including an initial assessment, treatment plan, and progress note. This may include a diagnosis, information regarding medications, life stressors, relationships in life, pertinent history including medications, risk assessment that may include a safety plan, cultural variables, general treatment goals, and any other particular needs.
The treatment plan may include the diagnosis and justification of the diagnosis, appointment frequency, expected length of treatment, and if additional referrals for services are needed. The goals will include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound language that is further broken out into objectives. Your therapist will update this treatment plan to reflect your current goals as needed.
The progress note may include your diagnosis, current treatment plan, observations of you during the session, and generalized summary of the session. This will also include any therapeutic interventions used in the session as well as items such as homework and/or the plan for the next session. A progress note is completed after every session with your therapist.
If insurance is paying for your treatment, then we will bill your insurance for the service. Infromation included to the insurance provider are: your legal name, your legal gender, date of birth, type of session, diagnosis, and therapist’s name. The person who carries the insurance may also receive an Explanation of Benefits from the insurance which may also include the same information.
Talk with your therapist.
Online therapy is very similar to in-person therapy; the only difference is that you meet with your therapist through a video platform rather than in the same room. Many clients have said they prefer online therapy because it is convenient, removes the need for transportation to and from an appointment, and allows you to have a therapy session in the comfort of your own home or another safe space.
Online therapy follows the same rules and regulations around confidentiality as traditional in-person therapy and Move Forward, and all our therapists strictly follow these rules. Our online therapists have private and confidential spaces where they hold therapy sessions. We ask that you also have a private and confidential therapy space; we will only move forward with the session if we are sure of your privacy. We use a HIPAA-compliant platform for our video sessions to protect your information.
Move Forward Counseling is a small private practice where everyone knows each other. Our therapists are all licensed in Pennsylvania and trained in the areas they specialize in. In addition, they receive regular supervision from Move Forward Clinical Supervisors. Unlike other programs, Move Forward does not charge a membership or monthly fee; you are only charged for sessions you schedule with your therapist. Our therapy sessions are held online over video at Move Forward Counseling Online. We do not believe texting or leaving messages with a therapist is a substitute for face-to-face, real-time interactions via video sessions.
If you live in Pennsylvania and are ready to start therapy, contact us at 717-462-7003 x1 or info@moveforwardpa.com. Our administrative staff will work with you to find a therapist who specializes in working with people dealing with similar problems. They will send you information about getting started and a link to your first appointment. At the time of your first appointment, you will meet with your therapist, and together, you will decide on a plan n for your treatment. If you have any questions, we are always here to help!
Reach out today to get started. Our supportive staff will help guide you through the scheduling process, discuss special requests, and consult your insurance needs.
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