FAQ
What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy?
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an umbrella term for a family of psychotherapeutic interventions for mental health disorders and related sources of distress. CBT is evidence based, patient centered, goal directed, and time limited. Through CBT, therapists and patients collaboratively identify goals of psychotherapy, which are accomplished through cognitive restructuring, behavior modification, psychoeducation, mindfulness, and relaxation training. Your CBT therapist may suggest some “homework” to help translate your gains in session to your daily life. Successful psychotherapy typically requires 8 to 14 weekly therapy meetings.
CBT techniques have been thoughtfully developed through decades of scientific research. At Live Oak Behavioral Health, we endeavor to adapt these techniques to help our patients accomplish their goals.
What can I expect in a therapy session?
The first few sessions tend to be a collaborative process where you, together with your therapist, identify the root causes of symptoms you are experiencing and then plot a course of treatment to alleviate these symptoms. Therapy, like all change, can be uncomfortable. However, it can also be extremely rewarding. During a session, you will likely talk about issues that have occurred that week, how those issues relate to the way you understand and process the world, and how you might be able to look at these sorts of situations differently. You will be asked to consistently challenge yourself, and your therapist will work with you to draw out your own motivation to excel at these challenges. Some sessions will be harder than others… and we think you will find that these tend to be the most rewarding.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?
The list of benefits from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is quite extensive. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is designed to specifically address your mental health symptoms, and so benefits differ between patients. Common benefits include reduction or elimination of symptoms such as anxiety and depression, better control over the experience of insomnia, physical pain, and improved health behaviors. In addition to these direct benefits of psychotherapy, those who complete CBT often report increased satisfaction in personal relationships, improved focus at work and occupational satisfaction, better stress management skills, and greater resilience when day-to-day stressors do come up.
We encourage you to do your own research on the different forms of therapy. You will find that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is the most researched, and best supported talk therapy available today.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes, therapy is completely confidential and we go to great lengths to ensure your confidentiality. However, there are a few rare exceptions where, by law, we are required to break confidentiality. These rare circumstances are to ensure the safety of you or someone else. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for detailed information.
What can I expect from a Psychological Assessment?
Psychological assessments all start with a clinical interview between the client and one of our licensed Psychologists to share all pertinent background information and to determine a course of testing. Following the clinical interview, you will meet with one of our trained assessment specialists (Psychometricians) to complete a series of tests as determined by the Psychologist. The Psychologist will review and analyze the results of these tests, and provide a comprehensive report on their findings. Psychological assessments are subject to the same rigorous confidentiality policy as therapy sessions.
Do you take insurance?
We are in-network with Medicare, United Healthcare, Aetna, and several smaller insurance providers. Please call our office to confirm your coverage and eligibility prior to scheduling an appointment. For clients who are covered by other insurance plans, we offer assistance with filing out-of-network claims for reimbursement directly to the client. Please call our office to discuss payment options.