FAQs About Psychotherapy In New York

If you've ever tried looking for a therapist, you know that many therapists talk about how they can help but not necessarily about what therapy is. You're left with a ton of questions, and it can be confusing to know what therapy is and how it works.

FAQs about Psychotherapy in New York

I’ve been doing this work for many years and have found that there are common questions prospective clients ask, and there are so many questions I wish people knew to ask! I’m here to help you save time and get answers before you even schedule a call with a therapist.

Question #1: How do I know if I need therapy?

While this is a very personal question, I’ve found that there are some common threads to look for. If you’re feeling stuck, at a loss for what to do or how to feel differently, if your thoughts are often racing, or you’re struggling with intense symptoms, these might be significant indications that therapy could be helpful to you. Symptoms could include trouble sleeping, racing thoughts, feeling hopeless or helpless, panic attacks, difficulty changing a pattern of thinking or behavior, difficulty coping with your feelings, your behavior, or the actions of others, difficulty crying, or difficulty with frequent crying spells. I genuinely believe that everyone can benefit from therapy at different points in their lives. Sometimes therapy can help with a life transition (moving, changing jobs, having children, getting married, etc.). Other times therapy can help just by having someone to talk to outside of your friends and family. If you’re unsure about therapy, try it out! The worst-case scenario is that you realize you don’t need it, and you can stop.

Question #2: What should I ask a therapist before meeting with them?

My short answer is anything important to you or that you’re curious about. Asking about their experiences with the issues you’re coming to therapy for, fees, typical sessions, and supervision or support are all critical questions. These can help you understand if they are the right fit for your finances, current stressors, and schedule. If you’re looking for a longer answer, I wrote a blog about Questions to Ask a Psychotherapist.

Question #3: How long will therapy last?

Healing takes time. Length of treatment depends on several factors, including your goals for therapy, your life history, how much support you have outside of therapy, and how persistent or intensive your symptoms are. In general, my clients have worked with me for several years. This does not mean that you will be in therapy with me or anyone else for the rest of your life. That time frame allows us to help you through any immediate crisis, find stability in about 9-10 months, and then dive into deeper emotional work. Other therapists may work for anywhere from 3 months to 3 years or more.

Question #4: What is the difference between a psychotherapist, counselor, psychiatrist, and psychologist in New York?

There are so many different types of therapists and licenses — it can be confusing to know where to start. Here’s a very brief overview of the differences to get you started. If you’re looking for a deep dive, I wrote about this on my blog about Finding a Psychotherapist in New York. A psychotherapist is someone who will work with you around mental health and is trained in mental health diagnoses. A psychotherapist will also most often address issues from your entire life span, including childhood, and this title encompasses many different licenses. A psychologist is similar to a psychotherapist, but it is a specific type of license and education. A psychiatrist is someone who prescribes medication but does not frequently offer weekly/intensive sessions to address your ongoing issues. A counselor is often solution-focused or short-term and often addresses the present problems rather than looking at the past.

Question #5: How often will we meet?

Many therapists work within a traditional framework of sessions once per week for 45-50 minutes. Some therapists offer intensives, which are hours-long sessions to dive more deeply into a specific issue. For my clients, sessions are one to two times per week, depending on the level of support that they need. I do not offer sessions every other week, but some therapists find that can be beneficial. Therapy is a commitment that requires sustainable work to create long-term change. In my clinical experience, this is done best in a weekly format. Other types of therapy, such as group therapy or couples counseling, might have longer session durations and different frequencies.

Question #6: Why go to a therapist when I can just get advice from friends and family?

Often, a therapist is someone who can guide you to see multiple options and explore your experience about what is happening in a way that friends and family may be too close to see. Friends and family often have opinions or feelings about things and tell you what they think is best. A therapist is there to help you decide for yourself what is best for you. I tell anyone I work with that it’s not my job to tell you what to do. It’s my job to help you uncover the resources you have already inside you that often get covered by years of feelings and experiences…resources that can help you with whatever situation arises…and to teach you new coping skills or identify patterns that others may not be trained to see.

Question #7: Do you have experience working with the issues I am looking for help with?

This is one of the first questions to ask a therapist when you’re on their consultation call. You’ll know someone is the right fit not only based on how you feel during the conversation (Do you feel like they get you? Do you feel seen and heard?) but if they have experience with the issues you’re coming to therapy to resolve. You can ask about their background, training, and the last time they worked with a client who struggled with your issues. I specialize in gender & LGBTQ issues, trauma, and have 10+ years of experience with body image, anxiety, ADHD, depression, and addiction. If you’re unsure about what to call your issues, reach out to someone whose words speak to you. I often help people find the words to express their struggles in a way that they couldn’t when they first called. So don’t be afraid to just talk about examples from your life.

Question #8: What if therapy isn’t working?

Talk about it with your therapist or trusted friends and family! For example, if my clients find that we are no longer a good fit, if their financial or life situation changes, or if they relocate, or for any other reason, they do not want to continue therapy, they are under no obligation to stay. You have freedom of choice no matter how short, or long we’ve been working together. I want the opportunity to discuss this with you before ending therapy together to understand what is not working for you and ensure quality care for everyone I work with. I will do my best to refer you to a colleague in any of these cases.

Question #9: Will my therapist judge me?

No. Any good therapist will provide a judgment- and shame-free space. But this is a common worry for clients. Especially if others have judged you. If you are feeling judged in therapy, tell your therapist. I want my clients to talk about the experience of feeling judged or the worries they have about what I might be thinking. It gives me a moment to directly address the moment in a compassionate, caring, and honest way.

Question #10: Do therapists think about their clients outside of sessions?

Absolutely! Not only do I think about clients between sessions, but I also make sure that my clients understand that I care about them. I’m not paid to care about someone. My work as a therapist is to help clients discover their internal resources, feel their feelings, validate their experiences, provide information that I’ve learned through my training, and offer alternative options that someone else may not have thought of. I care because I believe that every single person that I work with is deserving of care, affection, and attention. I want all of my clients to know that. You are worthy of those same things, and I believe you should feel cared for and cared about by your therapist. It isn’t the same as the care or love of a friend or family member — but it’s helpful.

I hope this helps you find the right psychotherapist in New York. If you are still feeling stuck, call me at (347) 699-2694 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. And post any questions you have below! I’d love to hear common questions you have.

If you are looking for in-person therapy near Kingston, NY, or New Paltz, NY, trauma therapy, identity-affirming therapy, or therapy for anxiety or depression, you can read more about how I can help here.