Question 1

How can I schedule my first counseling appointment?

Accepted Answer

To schedule an appointment please contact us via the website, email at shannon@theoakscounselingandplaytherapy.com or by phone 210-702-9562. Phone calls can be difficult due to clinical sessions happening during business hours, but please leave a detailed message and Shannon will return your phone call.
 
By scheduling your first session you are agreeing to our cancelation policy of 24 hours. If you must reschedule please do so prior to 24 hours or you will be charged $60. You may cancel via email, voicemail, or text.

Question 2

What can I expect at my first counseling session? Should I bring my child if they are the client?

Accepted Answer

Your first session is called an intake session. This is where your therapist will gather information about why you are seeking counseling. You will have filled out all the necessary paperwork prior to coming to your first session, and insurance benefits will have been verified. Your therapist will go over all the paperwork, ask questions, allow you to ask questions, and together goals for therapy will be discussed. 
 
If you are a parent bringing your child to therapy, please ask if the intake session will be appropriate for your child to attend. For children younger than 10, it is advised that you not bring your child. The therapist will be asking sensitive questions and it is best the child not be present when the parent speaks about these topics. For children older than 10 it may be appropriate to include your child in the intake session. Please ask your therapist if you have doubts or questions about this appointment.

Question 3

How can therapy help me or my child?

Accepted Answer

Therapy can help individuals understand what they can do to feel better. Therapists help people by challenging their thinking, teaching coping skills, helping people learn healthier ways of communicating, and promoting expression of thoughts and feelings.
 
Therapists are skilled to listen and help you make connections to why you are feeling what you're feeling. Your therapist will offer guidance and might make recommendations, but they won't, or shouldn't offer you advice! Therapy can help you achieve your goals and lead you to feel more fulfilled. 
 
If you are seeking therapy for your child, therapy can help your child learn to manage their symptoms so they can function better in school or daycare, at home, and in managing friendships and family relationships.

Question 4

What are your hours?

Accepted Answer

Shannon typically sees clients between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday-Thursday. 
 
What if I work, or my child is in school? We can provide a school or work excuse if needed. Many people find scheduling during specials time for a child in school, or during a child's lunch, can be easily arranged. Most schools are happy to accomodate some missing time from school when they know it will lead to a more productive, happier student!
 
Late afternoon is THE MOST popular time and generally there is a waitlist for an afternoon appointment. If you are scheduled for an afternoon appointment and you cancel more than 3 times, you will lose your afternoon time slot.

Question 5

Is counseling confidential?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question is yes, but if you are using insurance to help pay for your therapy sessions there is some information the insurance companies require for reimbursement. Also, insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis in order to be eligible for reimbursement of benefits. What does that mean? It means that your therapist will have to diagnose you with something like, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or Adjustment Disorder (these are just some examples). This can be positive in helping children access additional services in school, but can be negative if you or your child plan to go into a career where a diagnosis might cause you to be ineligible. This is something you must decide, but we think it is important for you to make an informed decision prior to utilizing your health insurance. Health insurance does make it possible for many to access needed services they otherwise could not afford. 
 
You may also choose to private pay for services this allows for more flexibility in scheduling (no constraints from insurance) and NO diagnosis is required. Your records will be private. 
 
*Limits to confidentiality include child abuse, vulnerable adult abuse, self-harm/suicidal thoughts, and court orders.

Question 6

How long does therapy take?

Accepted Answer

Typically people come to counseling once a week for a 55 minute session. If you're an adult, how long it takes for you to notice results depends on how much "work" you are willing to put in. If you were to go to the gym one hour per week and change nothing else about what you did, what kind of results would you expect to see physically? Some people like to stay in therapy long term because of the benefits of improved mental and emotional health.
 
"Research suggests that it takes an average of 20 play therapy sessions to resolve the problems of the typical child referred for treatment. Of course, some children may improve much faster while more serious or ongoing problems may take longer to resolve. (Carmichael 2006; Landreth, 2002)". 
 
In short, result times vary greatly depending on the issues that bring you to counseling.