While coming to therapy is becoming more and more popular, there are still many misconceptions regarding coming to therapy. I believe that the misconceptions come from not having the right information. This blog will answer some of the therapy frequently asked questions as it is important to understand this process before starting. After reading this blog, you should feel more prepared to start therapy.
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Let’s start with the most basic therapy frequently asked question. What is therapy? Therapy (also called counseling) is a safe place to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and life challenges with a trained professional. A therapist helps you understand what you’re going through and teaches you healthy ways to cope, solve problems, and feel better. You don’t have to have a diagnosis to attend therapy. Therapy helps with emotions, challenges and even life transitions. The role of a therapist is not to give you advice rather to guide you into making a decision or finding creative ways to cope with your challenges.
What to Expect in Your First Session?
Your first session is called an intake. During this appointment, your therapist will ask questions to get to know you and your story, discuss your goals for therapy, and review important information such as privacy, consent forms, and what you can expect from the process. It’s also a time for you to ask questions and make sure the therapist feels like a good fit for your needs. This is the beginning of your therapy journey and the therapist is in a more investigating role to figure out how they can best help you.
How Often Should I Go and How Long Does Therapy Take to Work?
Most people begin therapy with weekly individual sessions. To see meaningful progress, we recommend attending sessions consistently for at least 8 weeks. These first sessions allow you to build rapport and develop a trusting therapeutic alliance with your therapist. As you grow and begin reaching your goals, you and your therapist can decide together if it makes sense to meet less often, such as biweekly or even monthly. While there are individual differences, a study from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that clients begin seeing results after 15-20 sessions, which correspond to 3-5 months of weekly therapy.
What Types of Clients and Services Do You Offer?
We work with children ages 3 and up, teens, adults, and couples. Some of our therapists specialize in specific age groups or types of therapy, and our client care team will work with you to help match you with the best fit for your needs. We specialize in EMDR therapy, which is an evidenced-based practice for the treatment of PTSD. We also offer faith-based counseling if requested. Just let us know if you’d like to include your faith in the therapy process.
How Much Does Therapy Cost and What Insurance Do You Accept?
One of our most common therapy frequently asked questions is if therapy is affordable. Contrary to common misconceptions, therapy is more affordable than you think. Our private pay rates vary depending on the therapist. Individual therapy sessions range from $100 to $150, while couples counseling sessions range from $125 to $150. Rates are based on the therapist’s experience and specialty.
We do accept most commercial health insurances, such as Cigna, Aetna, BCBS and United Healthcare. We are not in network with Medicaid or Medicare health plans. If you are using your health insurance to attend therapy, your cost will vary based on your individual insurance benefits. Prior to your first appointment, we will verify your insurance and provide you with an estimated cost. With insurance, the cost can range from $0-$150, depending on your individual coverage. We strive to give you the most accurate estimate but we kindly ask that you also check your coverage with your insurance. After we submit the first claim, we can get a more accurate estimate of what your cost per session will be.
Even if your insurance is out of network, meaning that we do not take your insurance, you can request a superbill from us and you can personally bill your insurance out of network benefits. Some clients are able to get reimbursed for services by their insurance. While this is not guaranteed and you should check with your insurance, it is a good option if you want to receive services from us.
Do you provide Online Therapy?
Yes, we are able to provide online therapy to any client who resides within the state of Florida. To participate in virtual sessions, clients must be in a private location within the state and not driving during the appointment. We highly suggest to use a computer rather than a cellphone due to potential connectivity issues and interruptions.
My favorite thing about online counseling is the accessibility of therapy services. Not only does online therapy save you time in having to commute to an office, it allows you to get therapy services from the comfort of your home. I also think of the potential savings, such as gas and having to find a baby sitter if you have children .
What Is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specialized therapy that helps people heal from trauma, anxiety, and distressing experiences by using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. It helps the brain process and release stuck memories.
Only therapists who have completed EMDR training are qualified to provide this type of therapy. An EMDR trained therapist will use bilateral stimulation in the form of eye movements side to side, sounds or even pulses that help reprocess memories faster.
How Is My Privacy Protected?
Confidentiality is very important to us. Everything you share in therapy stays private and is protected by law, with a few rare exceptions (such as risk of harm to yourself or others). Your therapist will explain these limits during your first session. We are committed to creating a safe space where you can feel comfortable sharing without worry.
Final Thoughts
I hope we were able to answer your therapy frequently asked questions. Still have questions? Our Client Care Coordinators can answer them! Feel free to give us a call at (407) 906-5214. Therapy is a personal and supported journey and we are here for you. If you need to figure out if you need counseling, I invite you to read another one of our blogs How do I know if I need Counseling? for clarity.
Ready to get started? Use our self-scheduling tool or contact our team at (407) 906-5214 to schedule your first session.
Source:
1: American Psychological Association. (n.d.). How many therapy sessions do I need? BetterHelp. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/how-many-therapy-sessions-do-i-need/