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General FAQs:Why do people seek therapy?People come into therapy for many reasons. Some need to meet unexpected changes in their lives. Others come to therapy wanting a sounding board for self-exploration and personal growth. Some people come looking for practical advice for help coping when they are overwhelmed by guilt, doubt, anxiety, or despair. Dr. Rosenquist can provide support, teach problem-solving skills, and help you learn better ways of coping with things like depression, anxiety, low self confidence, relationship problems, grief, spiritual conflicts, stress management, a distorted body image, or creative blocks among other things. Dr. Rosenquist has specialized training and advanced certification in the highly specialized field of sex therapy. As a sex therapist she helps couples revive and enrich their most intimate connection in order to create a more vibrant marriage. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to engage in a give and take relationship with the therapist, providing honest feedback about what is and isn't helpful. They take responsibility for their actions, are willing to face increasing awareness of their own motives and work towards changing behavior patterns that aren't working for them.What can I expect in a therapy session?During sessions you are expected to talk about the primary concerns and issues in your life. A session lasts 45 to 50 minutes. Some people request longer, 75 minute sessions. At the beginning of therapy sessions are usually scheduled weekly, but as change progresses will likely fade to once ever two weeks, and once a month before ending completely. On rare occasions, some people who are in crisis or extreme distress need more than one session per week, until the crisis passes. Dr. Rosenquist will assign "homework" for you to do during the time between sessions. This might involve reading or journaling or it might involve something as simple as thinking about what we discussed in session. People who get the most out of therapy really "work" at it by participating actively in and outside of the scheduled sessions.What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?Research has consistently showed that there are many benefits from participating in "talk therapy." Consumer Reports magazine conducted a very famous study back in 1995 that showed very decidedly that psychotherapy works. Consumer Reports surveyed over 4000 of their readers and reported that "readers who sought help from their family doctor tended to do well, but people who saw a mental-health specialist for more than six months did much better." Often just knowing that someone understands can be helpful, but therapy can also provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point to solutions that you might not have thought of on your own. Many people find therapy to be a tremendous benefit to personal growth, family and work relationships, marital strife, work conflicts, and the stresses and strains of the complex multiple demands of modern life. Consumer Reports concluded that "once in treatment, those who formed a real partnership with their therapist-by being open, even with painful subjects, and by working on issues between sessions-were more likely to progress." Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
I noticed that you are a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. My wife and I are looking for a therapist who is a Christian but not necessarily a "Christian counselor." I was wondering if you could briefly elaborate on your belief system and what impact it may have on your work with clients.?My Christian faith is a deep and integral part of my life. I have developed a rich contemplative (prayer) life that I believe (and hope) involves as much listening as speaking. I love the evangelical tradition for its thorough knowledge of the scriptures and the loving tradition of praying out loud but the liturgical tradition feeds the symbolic part of my soul like nothing else can. I try to maintain a life of stewardship that includes meaningful ties to a broad and diverse community and helps to balance the Anglo and Hispanic parts of my own soul. All this you can find in Richard Foster's: "Streams of Living Waters", a book that explains the importance of balancing different streams or traditions of Christianity in one's own spiritual walk. But my therapy is decidedly cognitive-behavioral, frequently borrowing from the interpersonal school as well. When Christian patients want to employ their faith in the therapy I am comfortable doing so, but when patients do not introduce the element of faith, neither do I.I noticed too that you are certified in the use of clinical hypnosis. What does that mean and how might it be part of the therapy?Hypnosis is best thought of as one of many tools that might or might not be used in a given psychotherapy. All hypnosis is self hypnosis. The American Society for Clinical Hypnosis has a very comprehensive definition of hypnosis on their webpage at http://asch.net/genpubinfo.htm. It is important to realize that "in hypnosis, the patient is not under the control of the hypnotist. Hypnosis is not something imposed on people, but something they do for themselves. A hypnotist simply serves as a facilitator to guide them." You may request that I teach you self hypnosis at any time. I will suggest that we consider using hypnosis when I think it might be beneficial to your progress in therapy.What if I don't know what my goals are for therapy?If you aren't sure what your goals are for therapy, our first task is to figure that out, and it is something that we can do together. I usually have a good idea of what I think is likely to be the most helpful direction for therapy within the first 3 or 4 sessions, but my ideas may or may not fit with yours. That's why it is important for us to talk about how it is going and what were are hoping to accomplish. This can take several sessions and might change as the therapy unfolds. Still, it is good to start out with some sense of direction as this will help you get the most out of your therapy experience.Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?There is a confusing array of insurance arrangements these days and mental health benefits are often "carved out" to another carrier. The first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier to find out what company is in charge of your mental health benefit. Then get the answers to these questions:
Is therapy confidential?In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychologist and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission. However, there are a number of exceptions. In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from providing any information about your treatment. However, in some circumstances such as child custody proceedings and proceedings in which your emotional condition is an important element, a judge may require my testimony if she/he thinks that justice can best be served by making me testify. There are some situations in which I am legally required to take action to protect others from harm, even if that requires revealing confidential information about a client's treatment. If I believe that a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person is being abused, I am required by North Carolina law to report the suspected abuse to the Department of Social Services. |
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