Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

A psychologist 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, psychotherapy is completely confidential.

Some mental health conditions actually respond better to psychotherapy than medication. Other conditions often require medication in order to see improvement. However, for many individuals, the decision to address their symptoms with medication, therapy, or both is a matter of personal preference. Although your psychologist can’t prescribe medications, they can give you feedback about which types of treatment are likely to be the most helpful for your symptoms.

In your intake session. The psychologist will ask detailed questions about your medical and mental health history and other personal topics like your current romantic and family relationships. Keep in mind that you are free not to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable; however, this information does help your psychologist develop a tailored treatment plan. At the end of your intake, your psychologist will describe your treatment plan, giving you the opportunity to decide whether you want to move ahead with psychotherapy sessions. These sessions typically involve a combination of discussing your emotions and coaching in strategies for changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors.

Most patients complete a course of cognitive behavioral psychotherapy in 8-12 sessions.

Like many things in life, you may find that what you get out of therapy is related to what you put into it. Some ways to set yourself up for success include:

Attending sessions regularly

Completing homework assignments regularly between sessions

Asking your loved-ones for support in working towards your goals

Tell your psychologist if something isn’t working. This isn’t rude or offensive. We may need to make some changes to your treatment plan.

There are many different types of professionals that can provide some type of therapy, including individuals who completed a two-year masters degree program. Psychotherapy through Good Neighbor Psychology is provided by Dr. Tirone who completed a masters and doctorate in clinical psychology. She also completed highly specialized post-doctoral training in trauma treatment and has worked in the field for many years. You may be able to find cheaper pricing from other tele-health services, but our pricing reflects the degree of expertise and experience of your provider.

Psychotherapy is generally only provided during scheduled sessions. Some other telehealth services offer features like being able to text your therapist any time. These features haven’t been examined in high quality research studies to determine whether they are helpful or harmful. Additionally, if you message a therapist throughout the day, you may not have their undivided attention like you would in a scheduled session.

We typically recommend that you complete your initial intake alone, because your psychologist will ask about personal topics that you may have not discussed with your loved one before. It can be helpful to invite a family member to a therapy session so they can learn more about your diagnosis and what you are working on in treatment. These sessions are typically planned for in advance so that you and your therapist can discuss what is and isn’t ok to share with your loved one. Also, keep in mind that the focus of your sessions will be your mental health. We do not provide couples or family therapy.