The Truth About Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of therapy?

Therapy provides you the opportunity to talk about your innermost thoughts and feelings. Counselors can help you identify and solve problems, identify and let go of negative beliefs that you may have about yourself, others, and the world, as well learn how your past may be influencing your present.

What is my role in counseling?

In therapy, the more involved you are, the greater the benefits you will reap. You will be asked to identify goals for yourself, which will become the framework of our sessions. It is important for you to express your feelings and thoughts openly. With that said, being able to share your thoughts and feelings is generally not a sufficient condition for successful therapy.

The work you do outside of therapy is often as important as the work you do inside. You have to be open to changing some patterns of thought and/or behavior in your life. We may assign reading material or homework that you can complete between sessions. You can spend the week processing what we discussed. After several sessions, “light bulb” moments wherein you gain insight into problems that you’ve had for so long are most likely to happen. We will work together to uncover what approaches are beneficial for you.

What is my therapist’s role in the therapy process?

We will provide a safe place for you to express your opinions and motivate you to work toward resolving your problems. We give you the major responsibility of determining content discussed during your sessions. We listen as you discuss your concerns and experiences, try to understand your point of view, and explore alternative perspectives. At Carrera Counseling Services, PLLC, we will help you make connections between different aspects of your life and clarify the interconnections between your immediate concerns and the complexities of your personality and history.

To learn more about what to expect from Texas Licensed Professional Counselors, please visit the Texas State Board of Examiners Professional Examiners website.

How much will counseling sessions cost?

The fee for a 55-minute counseling session for an individual is $120. The typical fee for a couple’s session is $140. Initial intake and diagnostic sessions are priced at $120. Methods of payment include cash, check, or credit card. If you are a member of an HMO, PPO, or some type of health managed health care plan, we can inform you if we are an authorized provider of services under that plan. If we are an authorized provider, services will be provided to you under the terms of that plan’s contract. Fees will be billed and collected according to the requirements of that plan.

If we are not an authorized provider, you may still receive services from us for a fee, but your plan will not reimburse you for the cost of any of our services. Plans are reimbursable for only a limited number of visits per year. If you exceed that limit, you may still receive services from us, but your plan will not compensate you for the cost of services that exceeds the maximum number of visits. Please note that you may cancel a session up until 24 hours before your scheduled time without penalty. If you fail to cancel your session at least 24 hours before your scheduled time or do not show up to a session, you will be required to pay $50. A credit card number will be required to be kept on file in order to ensure appropriate payment of cancellation/no show fees. This credit card may also be used to pay copayments.

How long are sessions and how often do I go to therapy?

At Carrera Counseling Services, PLLC sessions are typically about 55 minutes long. The initial session is usually a diagnostic session wherein we will ask a lot of questions related to onset, duration, intensity, and frequency of symptoms as well as personal history. Subsequent sessions will be much more conversational and you will be much more actively engaged. We prefer to see new clients at least every week. As you begin to feel and see improvements, sessions become less frequent (biweekly, monthly, as needed, check-in sessions, etc.). We will make recommendations for frequency of treatment while taking your schedule into consideration. Our counselors, however, will work with you at your own pace and what works best for your schedule.

What if I begin to question the effectiveness of therapy?

PLEASE talk to us about it! Therapy can have its ups and downs. Sometimes you move rapidly while at other times you may progress slowly. It’s important that you let us know if you are not getting what you need out of your sessions. Perhaps your treatment goals need to be re-evaluated or a different approach needs to be taken. You have the right to terminate therapy at any time. After discussing your sentiments, we are willing to refer you to other therapists who can meet your needs.

If therapy is supposed to help, why do I sometimes feel exhausted and drained following a session?

You need to keep in mind that therapy is hard work. Oftentimes, difficult issues are brought up in therapy as these are usually the very issues that bring you down in the first place. You can expect to have doubts about attending sessions from time to time. This does not mean that the therapy is not effective or that you should discontinue treatment. What it means is that you are getting at the heart of the problem and closer to achieving a resolution. Please talk to us about your emotions as the therapy progresses. Keep in mind that some sessions will leave you feeling refreshed, filled with new insights and positivity.

Will I need medication and do you prescribe it?

We believe that medication can be very beneficial when used in conjunction with talk therapy. However, not everyone will need medication to meet their treatment goals. After learning and utilizing effective coping skills, making behavioral changes, and having solved situational problems, you may feel that your mood has still not improved or things have not been resolved. We may then recommend that you meet with your medical doctor or a psychiatrist to obtain a medication evaluation. Providers at Carrera Counseling Services, PLLC do not, however, have the medical capacity or authority to prescribe medication.

Will you testify in court on my behalf?

We typically refrain from becoming involved in legal proceedings. It is the belief of Carrera Counseling Services, PLLC that the nature of therapy is one in which clients share very personal information that is meant to remain within the therapeutic environment. We only gather this information for the purpose of processing and assisting you in reaching therapeutic goals. Sharing obtained information in the process of legal proceedings has the potential for negative outcomes for the client and anyone else involved.

However, if it becomes necessary for Carrera Counseling Services, PLLC and/or Priscilla Cote, LPC to testify in legal proceedings on behalf of the client or for any legal matter involving the client, the fee for this service is $200 per hour. This includes note reviewing, depositions, testimonies, transportation time, report writing, transfer of medical records, or any other service required in the process of legal proceedings. Alternatively, the client or client’s representative may request a summary report at a fee of $100. As insurance companies do not cover these fees, the client will consider these fees as out-of-pocket expenses.