Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy and Counseling in Salt Lake City, Utah
/FAQs about Therapy with Christy Kobe, LCSW
Q: I’ve never done therapy or counseling before. What is it like?
A: You and I will begin where you are at—emotionally and psychologically—and work together to create a safe nonjudgmental space, therapeutic relationship and process where you can explore your struggles and identify your therapeutic needs and goals. The treatment processes and interventions I use will be based specifically on your individual situation, needs, and goals. This is a very collaborative and respectful process. I welcome any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding your therapy at any time. In order for therapy to be most successful, it is important for you to take an active role in this process. This means working on the things you and I talk about both during and between sessions, and meeting for sessions on a regular basis.
Q: How could a therapist or counselor help me?
A: My goal is to empower, support and assist you in expanding your knowledge, skills and capacities to meet your identified needs and goals. Whenever possible, this process may include identifying, processing and resolving causes of your current struggles rather than simply managing or treating the symptoms. Additionally, our work together often involves me supporting you in improving the health, quality and depth of your relationships as well. In my experience, as clients become more aware and accepting of themselves, and as they increase their knowledge and skills, they are more capable of finding peace, joy, satisfaction, meaning and depth in their lives and relationships.
Q: How long does the therapy process take?
A: Increasing self-awareness, self-acceptance, personal knowledge and skills and integrating them into your life are goals that may take a long time to achieve. Generally, the more of yourself you are willing to invest, the greater the return. While occasionally clients need only 6-12 sessions to achieve their goals, I find that most clients need somewhere between six to twenty four months to achieve their goals, and in some cases, a few years of therapy are needed. The length of your treatment and the timing of the eventual termination of your treatment depend on the specifics of your treatment plan and the progress you achieve. It is my policy to only see clients who I believe have the capacity to resolve their own problems with my assistance. My intention is to empower you in your growth process to the degree that you are capable of facing life’s challenges in the future without me.
Q: What if I feel nervous about sharing my personal struggles with a therapist?
A: This is very common. Most people feel nervous when they first begin therapy. I want you to know that I have a strong belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people. One of the most important things to me is creating a safe, healthy, caring and compassionate working relationship with you in order to enable you to heal, grow and progress. My office is a judgment-free zone. I see that as an absolutely essential part of creating a safe space and therapeutic relationship with you. You are always in the driver’s seat so to speak, and the one in charge of your therapeutic direction. We will discuss options and you get to decide what you think is best for you because this is your life and your relationships. Most clients report that as their comfort and trust in me and the therapy process increases, their feelings of nervousness significantly decrease or stop.
Q: How long are therapy sessions?
A: All of my therapy sessions with my clients are 80 minutes because that has been shown to be the “gold standard” session length, especially when there are any relationship issues or trauma involved in your struggles. I have found that my clients and I are able to create a lot more change, progress and momentum by meeting for 80 minutes once every two weeks, rather than meeting for shorter sessions on a weekly basis. If we think of your struggles as being like an iceberg, the 80 minute sessions allow us the time to access and identify what’s going on under the surface of the water, and these patterns, themes, and deeper emotions under the surface of the water are key to enabling us to creating significant change and progress with your struggles.
Q: How long is each session?
A: I use 80 minute sessions—which are called double sessions—with all of my clients because these double sessions are considered best practice and one 80 minute session is so much more effective than 2 typical-length, shorter therapy sessions. These double sessions really allow us to identify and explore what’s going on beneath the surface, so we can address those underlying causes which can lead to genuine healing and lasting, long-term change within you, your life and your relationships. The progress, change and momentum we are able to create with the work we do in our these double sessions is incredible and life-changing.
Q: How often do we meet for sessions?
A: I recommend that my clients meet a minimum of once every two weeks. Meeting less often results in you losing momentum between sessions and while we can use your session to process the biggest issue from the previous month, we are not able to create as much change and progress as we can when we consistently meet once every two weeks. It’s kind of like the difference between going to the gym once week out of the month versus exercising throughout the month, or eating healthy one week out of the month versus eating healthy throughout the month.
Q: What is your availability?
A: I meet with clients Mondays, Tuesdays and most Fridays from 10:10 am—6:30 pm, and have a variety of appointment times available. Since my available appointment times and consultation times are offered on a first come first serve basis, the specific dates and times I have available will probably have shifted between the time that we schedule your consultation call and the call itself. So, I’m not able to offer specific appointment options prior to our call. However, if one time doesn’t work for the two of you, we can look at other times.
Q: What are the fees for your services?
A: The fee depends on the type of therapy I am providing which I can assess and determine during our consultation call at which time I can let you know what I recommend and the fee for that type of therapy.
Q: Do you accept my insurance? Are you contracted with my insurance company to provide therapy services?
A: I am a fee-for-service, private pay therapist only. I do not contract with insurance companies. You may request that your insurance company reimburse you for a portion of what you have paid me as an out of network provider if you desire, using your payment receipts. However, by providing you with a receipt, I am not making any implication or promises of your insurance company reimbursing you for your therapeutic treatment. Insurance companies have many rules and requirements specific to each individual plan. It is your responsibility to find out your insurance company’s policies and to file for insurance reimbursement. For more information about the out of network reimbursement process, see the detail explanation I have provided here: https://christykobe.com/therapist-salt-lake-city/outofnetworkreimbursement
Q: Can I ask you the questions I have and get more information before deciding whether to work with you?
A: I offer a 45 minute phone consultation during I explore and answer your questions, rather than attempting to answer them via back and forth email or via some other less effective means. In addition to allowing you the opportunity to ask me questions and allowing me the opportunity to answer your questions, the purposes of the phone consultation are to allow you the opportunity to share with me the issues with which you are looking for help, allow me to share information about the specifics of my unique approach to therapy and to provide my recommendations of the type of therapy I would recommend for the issues with which you are struggling, mutually determine whether we all seem to be a good fit for working together, provide your information and reserve appointments if we decide to move forward with working together, and lastly, provide you with information about the initial paperwork you need to complete in order to begin therapy.
If you're interested in requesting to schedule a 45 minute phone consultation, please enter your information here if you have not done so already:
https://christykobe.com/contact-therapist-salt-lake-city
After I receive your consultation request form, I can send you the consultation agreement form, followed by the payment link for a 45 minute phone consultation and the available consultation times so we can get one scheduled for you.
Q: What if I need to cancel or reschedule one of my appointments?
A: I have a 48 business hour cancellation and rescheduling policy. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you can simply send me an email at christy.kobe.lcsw@gmail.com letting me know you need to cancel or reschedule.
