FAQ

You should prepare your child before the first therapy session so he or she will know what to expect. It is important to be honest about why your child and/or family will be going to therapy. Talking to kids before their first appointment will reassure them that the entire family is working together on the problem and will keep them from feeling singled out or isolated.

For young children, explain that the therapist talks to and plays with kids and families to help them solve their problems and help them feel better. It may help the child feel more secure to know that the therapist will be helping the entire family, not just the child. For older kids and teens, reassure them that anything they say to the therapist is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone else, including parents or other doctors, without their permission (except for thoughts of hurting themselves or others).

In individual therapy, we work with you one-on-one to identify useful ways to deal with your concerns. Then, we set goals and plan an appropriate therapy. This process usually takes one to three sessions with your therapist. Individual therapy focuses on your concerns guided by one or more established therapy methods. Most likely, you would meet with your therapist once a week, although sometimes it works better to meet more often. Sessions are 45 minutes long.

Family therapy, also referred to as “family systems therapy,” is a branch of psychotherapy that works to nurture change and development within families or couples in intimate relationships. This therapy emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health.

Family therapists may focus on patterns of interaction that maintain the family problem rather than trying to identify a specific cause, so that there is no “blaming” taking place while solving the issue the family faces. This type of therapy assumes that the family as a whole is larger than the sum of its parts. As with individual therapy, techniques may be used from several disciplines.

Group therapy is one of the most affordable and dynamic ways of resolving inner conflict, gaining insight, and improving your self-esteem and relationships. Group psychotherapy is a special form of therapy in which a small number of people meet together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. The therapy is widely used and has been a standard treatment option for over 50 years. Group psychotherapy works because people are social beings.We live and interact in families, schools, work environments, teams, etc…

Group therapy provides a place where you come together with others to share problems or concerns, to better understand your own situation, and to learn from and with each other. Group therapy helps people learn about themselves and improve their interpersonal relationships. It addresses feelings of isolation, depression, or anxiety, and it helps people make significant changes so that they feel better about the quality of their lives.

Often, not only do people have emotional troubles, but they feel bad about having emotional problems. It is important that a person feels understood. This is empathy.

As a therapist, my responsibility to make my clients understand that their feelings are within my grasp to understand and that those feelings are shared by others. Having that connection is vital to addressing the underlying problems. Once a person feels understood, they can work to address their concerns.

From coping through crisis . . . seeking help is the first step toward healing. Medication may be used as a part of therapy. While medicating may seem like a major step, it is not. Everything we ingest contributes to the chemical balances in our bodies and minds.

There are times when a person’s body does not produce sufficient amounts of one substance or too much of another. It is not surprising that our body chemistry may become out of balance. Add a chemical imbalance to an emotional issue, and you often have a situation in which medication is used to supplement therapy.

Yes. From time to time, we offer special workshops for every age group. Watch our newsletter and this page for more details.

Right now, we have openings in our weekly dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills groups. Contact us today if you are interested. Here are some details:

• Date/time:
  • Adult group meets every Saturday from 3-4:30 p.m.
  • Adolescent group meets every Wednesday from 7:30-9 p.m.
• Cost: $50 per session, covered by most insurances.
• Therapist: Shannon Barello Crayton, LCSW

More about DBT:

• DBT is a treatment modality developed in 1993 by Marsha Linehan for individuals who struggle with regulating their emotions. In an environment of acceptance and compassion, tangible coping skills are taught in an effort to help clients achieve a more fulfilling life.
• DBT is an evidence-based treatment proven effective with many debilitating symptoms, including: depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, mood swings, angry outbursts, low self-esteem, self-mutilation and suicidal ideation.
• DBT is being used with great success around the world and was recently listed in TIME Magazine’s 100 Greatest Scientific Discoveries of 2011. DBT is also supported by the Virginia Commission on Youth as a valid evidence-based treatment effective with youth.
• DBT addresses the relationship between the individual and her environment (family, school, peers). It aims to replace problem behaviors with skillful behaviors, and it helps people create a life worth living.

See the Contact page for downloadable forms.