F.A.Q.

Initial appointments can be made by emailing me directly. I will work with you to find a time that is convenient, often within a couple of days. When emailing, please indicate your availability and at least 2-3 preferred days and times (EG: Monday afternoon, Sunday evening, any time after 5:00, Weekends preferred, etc.)

Follow up appointments can be made either at the conclusion of a session or via email anytime. Since appointments are done from the comfort of your home, all you need is a stable internet connection and a comfortable place to meet.

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I am always interested in making sure therapy is affordable and accessible. From time to time, the insurances I am able to bill can change, but here is a list of current insurances:
Aetna
AmWell
Beacon
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Cigna
HighMark
Humana
LiveHealth
Medicaid
Medicare
Optum
Premera
Penn State OnDemand
Regence
UPMC
Well360
* Please note: Several insurance carriers have different plans within their system. Although you may have one of the above insurances, we will still need to confirm your coverage and any copay, deductible, or other fees. You are responsible for any charges or payments. All insurance coverage will be confirmed prior to the start of each session. I will be glad to help you through this process. 

Counseling, talk therapy, psycho-analysis...there are many ways to look at what counseling can be. The reality is: it can be just about anything you want it to. There are several different models of therapy techniques. The therapist is someone who you want to have dedicated time to focus on you. The person is not going to be your parent, family member, or friend. Making the choice to schedule a session means you are looking to take dedicated time to pause, assess your situation, and have someone you can talk to, bounce thoughts or ideas off. A therapist is someone who is trained to listen and provide you with honest, constructive feedback. It's being accountable. It's making a commitment to discuss things that you may not feel you are able to talk with anyone else.

Some people go in with a preference for one reason or another: You may want a male or a female. You may prefer someone who is older or has a certain cultural/ethnic background. Perhaps someone who has an area of expertise, training, or even personal experience.Any reason you have for wanting a particular type of therapist may be valid and may help you feel comfortable in developing a relationship with your therapist. Even if you do not have any preferences, the most important aspect of finding a therapist who is right for you, is to find someone who you feel listens to you, understands you, and is able to give you the feedback, guidance, and support you need.It is common for people to be referred to a perfectly good therapist, someone who has been around for years, only to find that you just don't feel that "click" or connection. It would be recommended to talk to your therapist about this: perhaps it is something that can actually be a healthy conversation and lead to a greater understanding or deeper relationship.
Even then, sometimes even a highly recommended therapist is not "right" for everyone. People routinely start therapy at one point in their life and then stop when they feel they have made sufficient progress. They may return later on to the same therapist or perhaps decide to try a different therapist for a different approach or perspective.
There is no guaranteed "right" way. The only way is the way that feels right for you.

As with most aspects of therapy, this one is impossible to answer right away. It is important to note you can find therapists who offer a range of scheduling options. Some suggestions:Length of Session:
30-minute session: This is typically for someone who either just wants to have an initial consultation to see if the therapist is "right" for them without getting into too many details, or perhaps it may be a therapist you have an established relationship with and really just want to "check in" from time to time.
45–60-minute sessions: These are the most common. Most insurance plans and therapists offer anywhere from a 45-minute to a 60-minute session. This usually allows for sufficient time to catch up from the previous session, dive in to one or two main concerns, and then wrap up and discuss any "next steps," homework, or action items in scheduling a next session.
90-minute sessions: These are not very common but can be helpful when needing to go over some initial intake information, complete forms or develop goal plans. Extended time may also be appropriate when multiple people are involved, as in a couple's session or parent/child session, to allow sufficient time for all parties.

Length of treatment:
Just finding a therapist and scheduling that first session can be a huge milestone. For some people, it is like a wake-up call and the first step they needed to start taking accountability for something.
Unfortunately, many initial sessions are very awkward. The individual may not feel comfortable with a therapist who is a stranger or the therapist may need to ask a lot of background questions to try and understand what is going on. Some people attend a first session and decide not to continue at this time. The awkwardness and fear is too much to deal with.
Most people will begin therapy with one session a week for the first two to three months. This allows for continuity and the individual to feel a connection to the therapist as they go from week to week.
After the first few months, most people find their initial reason for coming to therapy has subsided, improved, or mitigated. At this point, it is up to the individual and therapist to go back and review the progress. Are there still pressing issues that need weekly or perhaps bi-weekly sessions? Some people make those first few changes or address their initial concerns and they feel the need to take a break for a period of time, adjusting to their new thoughts or behaviors.
In some situations, it may be necessary to have sessions up to twice a week. This may be beneficial when a person is undergoing a particularly stressful event. If a person needs therapy more than twice a week for more than a couple of weeks, then they should speak to their therapist about additional support and resources. 

Most therapy sessions are only 1 hour a week. This leaves many hours between sessions. From the time you begin to consider therapy, there are many things you can do.First off:  You want to be able to succinctly explain what caused you to sign up for therapy. Was there a specific incident or event that made you think: I need help! I can't handle this on my own... When first contacting your therapist, make sure you can explain this to the therapist so they can determine if they have the expertise and experience you are looking for.
Ask yourself: What do you hope to get out of therapy? One way to think of this or phrase it for your therapist is, "Where do I want to be, or how do I want things to be, three or six months from now?"
Prepare a list: Whether you jot down some notes, journal, or write a letter. Coming to session with some specific, concrete examples of what happened, how did you act/react, and what did you think/feel? These are all excellent starting points for you to share with your therapist. Let them know why you think it is a problem and how would you have liked the scenario to go?
I often ask my clients in an initial session: If you were going 60 MPH down the highway, are you searching for a specific exit to get off or you just want to get off the highway? These two perspectives help me to figure out if you are looking for more of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, or if you are wanting to have more of a psycho-analytic approach.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This is usually short-term, goal focused therapy. it is best for people who have an idea of what the problem is and wanting to find a way to resolve a specific issue.
Psyho-analytic therapy: This can be longer term therapy, where the individual comes in and expresses that they don't really know how they got here, they just know they don't like where they are, and they want to stop making the same mistakes over and over.
While many people seek out therapy, they often do not know what to expect that first session. Are you going to meet someone who has all the knowledge and can instantly point out what you need to do and solve your problem in 1-2 sessions? Not very likely. It's ok to come to therapy not knowing what to expect. The therapist is there to help you figure out what is going on and hopefully catch any patterns or point out any holes or gaps as the discussion progresses.
It's like the old saying goes: You get out what you put in. The best thing you can do as you get ready for a session is to just be yourself. Be in the moment and be you. 

There are many schools, colleges, and certification programs out there. Understanding that, there are many different types of therapies. Which one is right for you? Here are a few perspectives:Psychiatrist: This is a medical doctor who also has been trained in behavioral health medicine. You may be able to talk with your family doctor, but if you need an evaluation and are considering mediations, meeting with a psychiatrist means the person is specifically trained in behavioral health.Psychologist: This is also a doctorate level education, but the person is not a medical professional. Meaning they can do much of the evaluations and testing of a psychiatrist, but they cannot prescribe medications.
Master's Level Clinicians: These are the most common therapists and counselors out there. You may have any of the following:
LMFT: Licensed Marital and Family Therapist
LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
and many more...
The common thread to note in the above is that they are all licensed in their state of residence to practice a type of therapy. The types of therapy available out there also range widely. Some examples are:
Talk therapy: most common form of therapy
ECT: Electro Convulsive/Shock Therapy
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Again, there are many others and within those there can be various methods to implement the therapies. Therapy methods and practices that have been around for a long time and have been studied and evaluated often become "Evidence Based Practices." This means that there has been research into a particular practice and the evidence shows it to be effective for most, but not all.

HIPAA is the Federal regulation regarding the sharing of protected and confidential health information. Any information you share with your therapist has rules and regulations regarding your therapist's expectations to respect your privacy and not share your information without your expressed consent and/or in certain situations that may be life threatening. See the full disclosure at the following link:
https://drive.proton.me/urls/YKZ9RJT0K0#QphxJfOR0XT5

Engagement in treatment with a professional requires the full disclosure and understanding of the terms of service and risk of harm. By agreeing to enter into a therapeutic relationship with Morrison Counseling Associates, you agree that you have read, understand and agree to the following Disclosure Statement. You agree that you have had the opportunity to review and ask any questions you may have about the risks involved. Should you wish to rescind your agreement to participate in treatment, you may do so with proper notification in writing or verbally with your therapist. This agreement is valid for up to one year from the start of treatment and is renewed annually as long as you continue to engage in a therapeutic relationship with your therapist. You may wish to review the disclosure and keep a copy of the attached for your records:

https://drive.proton.me/urls/YKZ9RJT0K0#QphxJfOR0XT5