Serving the Two Virginias
ADMISSIONS
When you get to the therapist's office, expect your initial experience to be similar to a doctor's appointment. You will sign in when you get there, sit in the waiting room, and wait for someone to call your name. If your therapist has a home practice, the scene might be a bit more casual.
While waiting, you will likely fill out some paperwork, including:
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HIPPA forms
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Insurance information
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Medical history, including your current medications
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A questionnaire about your symptoms
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Record release form
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Therapist-patient services agreement
If you feel uncomfortable answering any of the questions on paper, you can wait until you are with the therapist and answer the questions orally. You might also have the option to complete this paperwork at home prior to your first visit.
Your First Therapy Session
Your first session with the therapist will be different from future visits. The initial visit is a period for you and your therapist to get to know each other and get an idea of how to proceed. Future visits will be more therapeutic in nature. For example, in your second session, you may explore a specific symptom, problem, or past trauma you mentioned in the first session.
Keep in mind that psychotherapy usually requires multiple visits, so don't expect any instant solutions to your problems the first day. Therapy is about equipping you with life-long solutions and not a quick fix.
During the first session, your therapist may ask you:
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What are your symptoms?
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What brought you to therapy?
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What do you feel is wrong in your life?
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Some questions about your history, including your childhood, education, relationships (family, romantic, friends), your current living situation, and your career
You and your therapist should also come to an agreement about the length of your treatment, methods to be employed, and ins and outs of patient confidentiality.
How Does It Work
Length of Treatment
Depending on your issue and therapy goals, therapy can last a few sessions or several weeks or years. While you likely want to know how long it's going to take to "feel better," there's no simple answer. It's very individualized.
In addition, some insurance plans only cover a set number of sessions in a given year, so you may need to factor in those limitations and/or work with your therapist to come up with a payment plan.
Therapy Methods
Therapists have training in a variety of techniques that can help you better cope with mental illness, resolve personal issues, and create personal changes in your life. Finding out what technique or combination of techniques your therapist will use can give you a better idea of what will happen during your sessions. Some common types of therapy include:
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Client-Centered Therapy (Person-Centered Therapy): A non-directive form of talk therapy that emphasizes positive unconditional regard
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Cognitive or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Focuses on making connections between thoughts, behavior, and feelings
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Existential Therapy: Focuses on you (free will, self-determination) rather than the symptom
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Gestalt Therapy: Focuses on the "here and now" experience of the client
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Psychoanalytic or Psychodynamic Therapy: Focuses on getting in touch with and working through painful feelings in the unconscious mind.
Insurance Accepted
New Beginnings Therapy Services accepts WV Medicaid, Medicare, CHIPS, The Health Plan, Unicare, Aetna Better Health, Cigna, UMWA, UMR, Highmark BCBS, Tricare, and United Health Care. Virginia Medicaid (Premier) is currently accepted for mental health counseling.