How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Call Dr. Prine to set up a free 15 minute video consultation. Dr. Prine can provide a combination of support, problem-solving, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, phobias, relationships at home, school or work, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, test anxiety, pain management, habits and addictions, daily stressors and shyness. Dr. Prine can provide a fresh perspective on lingering difficult problems. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how hard you are willing to work, how committed you are to continuing to use the methods and tools you learn on a daily basis and later in life after therapy is completed. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and your values, including:
- Finding resolution to the initial issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Manage anger, grief, depression, and other emotionally upsetting feelings
- Improving communication and listening skills
- Changing ineffective behavior patterns and developing helpful and productive new patterns
- Discovering new ways to solve problems and bring happiness back into your family and/or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? Why can't I do this on my own?
Sometimes you can!! If you prefer, I will offer you avenues of self help you may not be aware of. Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, therapy can be productive for people who decide they want professional help. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change what you can. Therapy will focus on the changes you can make within yourself. An attempt to change others is not only frustrating and unproductive, it is doomed to failure. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and give you the tools you need to manage life triggers, re-direct old self-defeating patterns, and overcome whatever life challenges you encounter. There is also the possibility I can help you find, during our free 15 minute consultation or after your first or future sessions, resources for self help.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for seeking therapy from a psychologist. I suggest you choose your therapist based on their quality of treatment, your chemistry with them and their experience level, and their pursuit of continuing education to stay on top of cutting edge and evolving improvements in therapy practices. I would not base your decision on the letters behind our names. You may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), lack of motivation, procrastination, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addiction, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts, pain, phobias or test performance. The skills to overcome these problems are not taught growing up or in school. My therapy can provide the much needed understanding and skills to help you achieve your goals. In short, people seeking help are ready to change, to learn healthier approaches to combat the challenges in their lives and feel good on a consistent basis, in spite of how unfair life can be.
What is therapy like
Because each person is an individual, therapy will be experienced differently for everyone. We can decide together if am the right therapist for you and you are a client I can help. Each session, you can expect to discuss current events happening in your life, what therapy work in-between sessions is working, or importantly, what is not working outside the therapy room. You will be offered homework assignments before your first session to give you a great head start before begin our video or in person work.
Dr. Prine will track your progress from session to session using a brief (5 min. or less), yet accurate mood, elf esteem and relationship satisfaction survey. You will complete these surveys before and after each session. You may also use these surveys to take home to track your progress between sessions as you complete your homework. There is no way to predict how many sessions will be required to resolve your goals to your satisfaction. Most of my clients complete their treatment after 6 to 20 hours of treatment. the time involved for you to complete these hours will depend on scheduling and financial considerations. There is research indicating one hour sessions are ineffective as compared to 90 or more minute sessions. Intensive treatment modes of up to eight hour per day sessions tend to offer complete or near complete elimination of symptoms using less total hours than a hour per session process. Completion of therapeutic homework between sessions or during breaks will accelerate your treatment success and time frame. Most insurance companies will only pay for up to one hour per day. There is no research to suggest this is the most effective or rapid treatment approach. Dr. Prine is committed to providing you with the most effective relief of symptoms in the shortest most cost effective manner. If Dr. Prine accepts you as his client, then, during the first contact he will review a proposed treatment plan that works with your time and resource situation. Dr. Prine accepts cash, check, credit cards and does offer some financing options.
It is important to understand you will get your desired results from therapy only when you actively participate in the process. This includes "homework" before and between sessions. This can consist of reading, completing worksheets, listening to voice memos, experimenting with new behaviors, and other activities you and Dr. Prine agree on. The therapy Dr. Prine offers is to offer you the skills to use learned methods and tools to manage your moods and life's problems without the need for a professional therapist, although tune ups are available and can be helpful.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause is not typically resolved by medication. The "chemical imbalance" theory, although popular, has not been scientifically validated. There are some cases where medications have been found to be helpful. I will make medication recommendations when I believe it is in your best interest. It is also well documented that in some cases mental health medications have no helpful short or long term effect, and, in fact, have harmful effects. Psychotherapy addresses the cause of your distress and the behavior patterns keeping you from enjoying your daily life. This thought about medications is controversial and I will be happy to support your decision in this regard as well as offer you resources to explore this controversy between pharmaceutical companies and many practitioners.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
Dr. Prine offers a free video consultation at no cost to you or your insurance company. Dr. Prine is accepting referrals from a limited number of insurance companies who will rarely compensate you for the entire cost of treatment. You can call to see if he is accepting payment from your insurance company. If so, you will need to call your insurance company and ask the following questions.
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per outpatient therapy hour?
- How many hours a day will you pay for?
- How many total therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is there a preapproval process and is a referral required from my primary care physician?
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important considerations between a client and their therapist. Turlock is a small community, therefore, my office offers separate entrance and exit doors to ensure privacy. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. You can expect that what you discuss in our sessions will not be shared with anyone, without your permission.
State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except in the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, disabled and older adults. This type of abuse will be reported
to Child Protection and law enforcement, based on the information provided by my client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect their client is in imminent danger of seriously harming him/herself or has
threated serious imminent harm others.
* Insurance providers
* Court orders
