How do I know if I should go to therapy?

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Most people that see a therapist are very high functioning, and want to improve the quality of their life in one or more areas. They are often seeking support, validation, or someone to connect with that is outside their social or family network, learn ways to deal with stress more effectively, and tap into their natural ability to thrive. We all get stuck in life from time to time, and therapy is often a growth experience that allows us to learn our unworkable patterns and clarify a path to living the life that we want. In addition, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 1 out of 5 Americans experience a formal mental illness. However, many of us struggle in ways that don't necessarily meet criteria for a formal disorder, and can benefit from therapy regardless. 

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I've made it this far in my life without therapy, why start now?

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Often times, we live our lives pretty checked out. Autopilot often extends to our relationships, our life goals, and our ultimate ability to live the lives we want. Many people that participate in therapy do not even necessarily meet criteria for a diagnosis, they are just people who want help figuring out how to get unstuck from certain patterns, improve specific relationships, or have a safe space to share and discuss sensitive concerns. 

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High quality therapy will always include clear goals that are co-created by the client and therapist in a collaborative way. Often times, clients find a benefit to speaking with a trained, objective, and curious therapist that utilizes cultural humility to foster deep connection and validation that may be lacking in other areas of their lives. While many of us find ourselves excited about exploring a new city, trying a new cuisine, or meeting a new person, we might forget how fascinating it is to get to know ourselves better and learn how to genuinely care for ourselves in the way that we might care about those closest to us.

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Why have I had difficulty finding a good therapist?

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We tend to equate therapy/counseling with physical medicine, it makes for a confusing experience. With regard to physical medicine, imagine if you broke your arm and went to see a medical doctor for help. Whether you see Dr. X, Dr. Y, or Dr. Z, you would hopefully received the same exact treatment plan for healing your broken arm: set it in a cast, allow the bone to heal, and check back in after a certain amount of time. In that meeting with the medical doctor, they might be incredibly compassionate and comfortable to spend time with. Or, they might be very cold, disconnected, and rude. Either way, following that meeting when your cast gets placed on your arm, treatment has begun, and you will be well on your way to a healthy arm in the next several weeks/months. 

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Therapy works much differently. If you find yourself feeling anxious, you can go to see fifty different therapists that view anxiety (and the treatment of anxiety) in very different ways. Some might have received 2 years of training, others might have received over 10 years of training. Some might use theories that focus on internal factors that lead to anxiety, others might focus on external factors, others might focus on evolutionary theories, some might focus on solution focused approaches, others might focus on relationship with self and others as the link to wellness, and so on and so forth. Some therapists rely on formal diagnosis to determine treatment, some therapists might focus on cultural and sociopolitical factors as the main cause of distress and dysfunction. In thinking of all of these foundational differences, we haven't even begun to discuss the absolutely important role that the therapist's unique personality and relational qualities play into whether or not you will feel safe and comfortable engaging in therapy with them. The therapist can be too old, too young, too direct, too indirect, too talkative, too silent, too disclosing, too guarded... things can get very confusing very quickly.

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Finding a great therapist for you typically takes trial and error. When it comes to sharing our most personal secrets and long-held stories, this is a truly frustrating answer... but its the truth. Every therapist is not a good fit for every client. However, when you find a great therapist for you, it is typically worth the journey and effort. Give yourself permission to be vulnerable, to trust your gut when meeting a therapist, and know that the process of finding a strong connection with a therapist is a struggle for many people. But like many struggles in life, it can lead to new levels of understanding and fulfillment when you finally find the right one for you.

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How much do sessions cost and what should I expect from different appointments?

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Dr. Amendolace provides a sliding scale to his fee structure and engages in pro bono counseling and advocacy work to balance his caseload with individuals that have financial means and those that do not. As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience, training, and expertise, he values and understands the costs and potential barriers to quality mental health treatment. If a mutually comfortable fee cannot be agreed upon prior to treatment, Dr. Amendolace will be glad to provide treatment referrals that meet your current needs, both therapeutically and financially. 

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Initial Appointment: ($300) typically lasts 75-80 minutes, and includes an in-depth intake interview, interpretation of multiple psychological questionnaires, identification of clear treatment goals, and creation of either a treatment plan or referral to appropriate resources. This is the time that we get to know each other, and we decide whether or not the commitment to therapy may be helpful. 

 

Individual Counseling: ($250) typically lasts 45-50 minutes, and includes focused, compassionate, and present psychological treatment. For many clients, this is one of the few times in their week that they get to truly focus on their 'stuff' while being connected with a skilled psychotherapist without distraction or interruption.  

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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): ($250) session length is determined by individual need and treatment plan, unlike traditional counseling, ERP can be applied in the therapy room and anywhere outside the office that helps you overcome your fears and change your relationship to anxiety. For example, if you have social phobia, an ERP session may occur at a crowded restaurant. If you have OCD with contamination fears, an ERP session may take place in a gas station restroom. It all depends on your core fears and willingness to break free from anxiety's grasp.

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Payment is accepted in the form of credit card and is automatically processed after each session through the Simple Practice software.

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To learn more and to schedule your a free consultation or first session, call now (954-247-8479) or complete the form below:

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