Therapy doesn’t have to be intimidating.

If you’ve been considering trying therapy but feel intimidated by the prospect, you’re not alone. We’ve compiled a list of common questions people have about therapy. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, feel free to send us an email with your question and we’ll do our best to answer it.

What is faith-informed counseling?
We want you to feel comfortable being yourself in therapy and for many people, this means being able to talk about your faith beliefs in counseling. Here at Vita Optimum, we believe that is essential to effective treatment. If your Catholic faith is important to you, we want you to feel comfortable bringing into your therapy sessions. Our founder, Julia Hogan-Werner, LCPC, ACS, completed her clinical training with a speciality integrating the Catholic faith at Divine Mercy University. She trains all of the Vita Optimum therapists to integrate the Catholic faith with research-backed treatment methods. Additionally, we all are personally committed to growing in our faith life just as we encourage our clients to. We’ve found that integrating faith beliefs into counseling helps create a more authentic and deeper healing from psychological and emotional wounds that our clients experience.

Why should I consider therapy?
Life is messy and stressful. And when you’re stressed, anxious, worried, or depressed, that can take a toll on your mental and physical health. But you don’t have to struggle through life’s curveballs alone. And that’s where therapy comes in. Therapy offers a non-judgmental, confidential, and solution-focused environment for you to figure out how to regain control of your life and succeed in your goals. Your therapist is a trained professional who is there with you every step of the way to help you figure things out. He or she brings research-proven techniques and strategies to each session as well as a problem-solving focus. (For more information about Vita Optimum’s therapists, visit our “About” page.) It takes courage to admit that you the way you’re living life right now isn’t working. But when you have the courage to say yes to therapy, you open the door to countless new possibilities. Therapy can really help you live your best life!

What happens in therapy?
After conducting an assessment during the initial consultation, your therapist will recommend a treatment plan based on the goals you identified. Your therapist will use research-supported strategies to help you eliminate symptoms, treat the identified problem, and help you become more confident in yourself and your ability to manage stress. A typical session is 45-50 minutes in length and you and your therapist will discuss relevant topics. You’ll learn strategies and practices that you can apply in your everyday life. Think of therapy like going to the gym to prepare for a race. Your time in therapy is your opportunity to learn and practice strategies to help you succeed in regaining control over your life in a similar way to how working out in the gym prepares you to succeed in the race.

How is therapy different from talking to a friend?
While friends and family play a critical role in our overall wellbeing, your therapist is an objective, non-judgmental, and confidential third party whose number one priority is you and your wellbeing. Because of this, you can feel comfortable talking to your therapist about what is really going on in your life. Your therapist is trained in researched-backed treatment methods and therapeutic techniques proven to help you heal and live your best life. Just like you would go see a doctor for any physical ailments you may have, a therapist will help you improve your mental and emotional health.

What should I expect from the initial consultation?
During the initial consultation, which lasts 50-60 minutes, your therapist will ask you some general questions about your background, the symptoms you are experiencing, and your goals. Your therapist will also review the structure and process of therapy and will answer any questions you may have about the process. At the end of your session, your therapist will put together a personalized treatment plan for the next 8 to 10 weeks.

How long will I be in therapy for?
The amazing thing about therapy is that is a personalized process which means that, in most cases, you can be in therapy for as short or as long as you need. Some people just need a few sessions to address the issue they want to work on while others prefer long-term support for what they are experiencing. During your initial consultation, your therapist will recommend a treatment plan and can discuss an estimated length of time for you.

How do I pay for sessions?
For more information about our fees, visit our Services page. We will bill your insurance provider for each visit but you are responsible for your copay or the remaining balance at the time of your visit. If you are a self-pay client, payment is due at the end of the session. We accept cash, check, and credit card. For out-of-network insurance, we will work with you to determine how much you will own and how much your insurance will cover. We provide a Good Faith Estimate prior to your first appointment so you will know what to expect payment-wise. For all clients, we require a credit or debit card on file for payments. We also offer a limited number of reduced fee sessions with our clinical interns.