{"id":248,"date":"2015-02-23T13:02:46","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T13:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xml-io.proteusthemes.com\/mentalpress\/?page_id=248"},"modified":"2026-10-01T22:57:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T22:57:55","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MentalPress\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Do I really need therapy? \u00a0I can usually handle my problems.\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you\u2019ve faced, there\u2019s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it.\u00a0 In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired.\u00a0 You are taking responsibility by accepting where you\u2019re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy.\u00a0 Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Do you take insurance, and how does that work?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Insurance & Payment<\/h3>\n

I currently accept select insurance plans, including:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Aetna<\/li>\n
  • UnitedHealthcare (UHC)<\/li>\n
  • Oscar<\/li>\n
  • Optum<\/li>\n
  • UMR<\/li>\n
  • GEHA<\/li>\n
  • Allegiance<\/li>\n
  • Cigna (at this time, Montana clients only<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Insurance participation and benefits can vary by state and by individual plan. Please contact me with your insurance carrier and state of residence, and I can help determine whether I am able to accept your insurance.<\/p>\n

    I also accept private-pay clients.\u00a0 If I am not in-network with your insurance plan, you may have out-of-network benefits that reimburse you for a portion of the cost of therapy. I can provide documentation for you to submit to your insurance company when appropriate.<\/p>\n

    Your Choice Matters<\/h3>\n

    If I do not participate with your insurance plan, you may still be able to use out-of-network benefits to help cover the cost of therapy. Many insurance plans offer reimbursement for services provided by an out-of-network therapist, although benefits vary considerably by plan.<\/p>\n

    If you are considering using out-of-network benefits, I recommend contacting your insurance company and asking:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • What are my mental health benefits?<\/li>\n
    • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?<\/li>\n
    • How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?<\/li>\n
    • How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?<\/li>\n
    • Is approval required from my primary care physician?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

      Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

      Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist\u2019s office. \u00a0 Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. \u00a0This is called \u201cInformed Consent\u201d. \u00a0Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.<\/p>\n

      However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:<\/p>\n

      * Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children and elders.<\/p>\n

      * If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him\/herself.<\/p>\n

      * If the therapist has reason to suspect the client has threatened to harm another person.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      What is therapy like?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

      Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. \u00a0In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. \u00a0Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. \u00a0Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).<\/p>\n

      It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. \u00a0The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. \u00a0Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process \u2013 such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.\u00a0 People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      How do I make an appointment to schedule or how can I talk with you?<\/em><\/h4>\n

      You can call or email and we can set up a free consultation conversation to see if I'd be a good fit to help you.\u00a0 (Therapy and choosing your own therapist is not one size fits all!)<\/p>\n

      You can reach me at kerimzwerner@therapysecure.com or call 406.898.3438<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

      People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. \u00a0 Some may be going through a major life transition (marriage, new child, unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. \u00a0Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts, and creative blocks. \u00a0Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. \u00a0Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. \u00a0 In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

      What about medication vs. psychotherapy? \u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

      It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication.\u00a0 Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. \u00a0Working with your medical doctor you can determine what\u2019s best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Do I really need therapy? \u00a0I can usually handle my problems.\u00a0 Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you\u2019ve faced, there\u2019s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it.\u00a0 In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1045,"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/248\/revisions\/1045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifehealingheart.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}