Frequently Asked Questions
Counseling
Do you accept insurance?
We do not currently take insurance. However, many of our clients are able to be reimbursed by their insurance companies at their out-of-network rates. You may also be able to use HSA or FSA contributions towards session fees. Each of our therapists operate independently and set their own rates. See their individual pages on our website for more information.
How do I know which therapist is right for me?
Finding the right therapist is a process. At the center of the process should be the client’s needs & goals. You can narrow your initial search immediately by finding a therapist with the needed specialties for the therapeutic goals. A person can find initial names through therapist directories, web searches, and referrals. It is after this initial collection of names that the “real process” begins. A client should interview potential therapists to determine whether there is trust, connection, and comfort in the relationship and approach. Every therapeutic relationship should include conversation and determination of how progress will be measured. Many clients appreciate formal progress reports and measurement criteria to determine progress. Here are a few relational criteria to help ensure you have found a good therapist for your needs & goals:
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Do you feel comfortable enough to trust opening yourself up (if you are not able to be honest with yourself & your therapist, nothing else may matter)?
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Are you able to share concerns about progress or lack of progress?
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Are you able to share concerns about the relationship or therapy approach?
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When you disclose unhappiness with the progress or approach, does the therapist work through the issue to your satisfaction?
Answering no to any of these questions is a concern needing to be addressed through honest self-reflection, willingness to enter conflict, and perhaps courage to start with another therapist.
How often should I see my therapist?
This question will greatly depend on a client’s needs and goals. However, most therapeutic approaches rely significantly on the therapeutic relationship to be the vehicle of growth and healing. Therefore, a client likely needs to see a therapist frequently in the beginning in order to build and establish an effective working relationship. There are many variables influencing this question, and they are best addressed through conversation with the therapist. Common frequencies would be at least once a week while working on issues and once a month for maintaining progress and connection.
What can I expect to get out of therapy?
Rob: This question is a bit like my experience in my academic career – I got out as much as I put in. I put so much more into my graduate degree and was the recipient of so much more understanding. Minimally, this question can be answered by stating a client should attain their therapeutic goals set forth at the beginning of therapy (symptom reduction or attainment of behavioral goals). These deeper and richer answers will likely include things such as: better self-understanding, feeling more comfortable with yourself, greater emotional regulation, more efficient problem solving, better relationships, more self-compassion, and more peace.
What does progress look like?
Therapy can be scary because of what is required – vulnerability. However, you will know you are with the right therapist and progress is happening when it becomes safe enough to reveal, address, or experience your concerns with the therapist. This means sometimes progress is marked by tough or difficult sessions which reveal the pain that needs to be healed. And, it is true in therapy that the process often gets messy before it is rewarding. The bigger picture would define progress as movement toward the therapeutic goals established. Determining progress will include a conversation with the therapist to identify markers of progress, and a process for attaining measurement. The markers should be formally measured on a consistent basis - probably no less than twice a year. Progress should be informally checked and discussed regularly in sessions.
How do I know if I or my child needs to see a therapist?
There are many situations, concerns, and aspirations that can cause a person to seek the support and guidance of a therapist. Many folks simply appreciate the value of intentional growth and development for their own well-being. Investing in personal growth truly has tremendous value (every aspect of your life is influenced by what you bring into it). A want for more is a very practical reason for seeking a therapist. For folks who are exploring their need for therapy, I would suggest considering the following questions:
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Are you stuck in patterns of frustration?
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Do you consistently run into the same difficulties or conflicts (in relationships, at work, at school?)
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Have you, or are you, receiving feedback of concern?
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Have you gone through an intense or stressful experience?
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Do you have frequent feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger, shame, or worthlessness?
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Are your thoughts racing, impulsive, unhelpful, or intrusive?
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Are you frequently getting into difficult situations because of your behaviors?
A yes to any of the above questions can be considered evidence for utilizing the support and guidance of a therapist.
Are you an inpatient facility?
We are not not an inpatient facility. We see our clients here in our office on an outpatient basis and will often have interns who are able to meet with clients and their family in the family's own home.
Do you treat alcohol and chemical abuse/dependency?
While we do not specifically treat alcohol and chemical abuse/dependency, we do find that this is an issue that has touched many of our clients in some way throughout their lives. In that regard, we do help our clients work through the influence of alcohol and other factors in their lives.
Wellness
What if I want education on wellness but am not looking for anything "experiential" right now?
We offer a range of experiential wellness groups but also have opportunities which are purely education-based. For our experiential classes, some classes are more experiential than others. Education is often at least a small component of our experiential groups. Feel free to contact info@playmoreandprosper.com with questions or suggestions for classes.
What if none of these classes seem like the right fit for me? ​
Give our office a call and perhaps we can help you figure out which of our classes might be a good fit for you! Another option is submitting a suggestion for a class you would like to see at Playmore - we're open to all suggestions about our wellness offerings.
My family and I are already involved in so many other things. Do I really need to add one more activity to my week? ​
Wellness classes help improve both physical and emotional well-being. While classes are a time commitment, the benefits they bring makes them worth it. For example, tending to wellness can help you manage stress more easily, make it less likely that you'll get sick or injured, and even increase your productivity at work. Plus, wellness activities are fun while having these benefits - which helps justify adding them to a week that might already be busy. In other words, it's doing work on yourself without feeling like it's work.
I've never seen anything like this before- will it work?​
The wellness classes that we offer increase the holistic relationship between the mind, body, and soul -- improving your overall health. Science supports the benefits of wellness activities: for example, practicing mindfulness can decrease symptoms of stress and anxiety. (See Hoffman et al., 2010.)
Why is my class led by a therapist? Is this counseling?​
Not all of our classes are led by therapists - but many of them are. Our classes are led by therapists to ensure that we have well-qualified people teaching our clients about wellness. That said, this isn't counseling, even though our classes can offer many of the same benefits.
I already practice meditation/mindfulness/yoga/self-care on my own. What will a group experience give me that I don't already get from these? ​
A group has many benefits that working on your own doesn't. Groups provide a sense of community and encourage you on your wellness journey. Group instructors provide expert instruction that a self-administered program can't provide and keep you accountable for your wellness goals. And it's a lot more fun to practice wellness activities with others!
What if I'm introverted?​
It's common to be introverted, so we get a lot of students who feel a little hesitant about coming to groups. Our wellness instructors are trained to help you feel comfortable, especially if you're a first-timer to the group. Everyone in the group is there to achieve the same goals and you can interact with them - or not - as much as you want. Come on down to our wellness classes - we'd love to meet you!
What if I can't draw, act, sing, play an instrument, etc.?
Great! You'll have something in common with most of the people in our groups. No experience is necessary - the idea is that you're doing these activities for wellness. Perfection is not the goal and it's something that we should all take a step back from. Live life without expectations to embrace wellness (yes, we know that it sounds like it could be on a bumper sticker - but it's true!)
Training
What will I get out of training at Playmore and Prosper?
Our trainings intentionally combine the latest academic knowledge with experiential activities to comprehensively demonstrate play therapy in action. Students will participate in play therapy activities designed to demonstrate play therapy theories & techniques. Students will gain both an understanding of how play therapy works and an experience of how play therapy happens.
Will I be able to immediately implement the teaching?
Yes. Participants will immediately have play therapy skills & knowledge to incorporate into their therapy practice. Play therapy is so much more than giving play directives & interventions – and, our participants will do more than experience play interventions! They will learn how to use foundational concepts to create interventions that fit into their therapeutic approach and the child’s need.
Will I walk away with real strategies for working with kids?
Yes - our trainees will witness, experience, and learn real strategies for working with kids. Participants will be taught and shown several interventions. The class activities and demonstrations will be fully explained, especially about how they can be adjusted and/or modified to fit certain populations or diagnoses. Further discussion will explore how different strategies fit into a therapist’s style.
Does play therapy work for adults?
Play therapy can be exactly what adult therapy clients need! Play therapy training is learning a new way to engage clients of ALL ages into an experience, which allows the body & unconscious to enter into therapeutic conversation. Play therapy is an approach that can side-step cognitive objections and therefore engage less resistance. Furthermore, without the cognitive objections, clients are able to find and try far more new behaviors. Creative innovation, which is inherent in play, becomes the ‘magic’ adults have been missing. In this way, play therapy is a method which is often very effective at helping stuck clients become unstuck.
What if my office isn't built with a play therapy space?
Play therapy is an approach, not a room of toys! Play therapy can be done without needing a newly-dedicated play room full of toys/props. Many therapists utilize play therapy concepts and activities in limited spaces and/or ever-changing spaces. While some toys and materials will be needed to invite play, a small rolling suitcase can house an adequate number and selection of the toys that are needed.