Frequently asked questions.
Why do people usually come to therapy?
People come to therapy for different reasons. A few common reasons include:
- Depression or anxiety symptoms
- Relationship problems
- Difficulty coping with stressful or upsetting experiences
- Feeling “stuck” and wanting to make changes to make your life better
- For children and teens: behavior problems, academic problems, or social problems.
How do I tell the difference between sadness and depression?
Negative emotions like sadness and anxiety are an important part of the human experience. Although these emotions can be painful and unpleasant, they serve an important purpose. If you are trying to decide whether you might have a mental health disorder or benefit from treatment, consider the following questions:
Are my difficulties hurting my work, school, or my relationships?
Are my difficulties keeping me from having life experiences that I want?
How often am I having strong negative emotions? How long have I been having these emotions?
How well am I coping with stress or my negative emotions?
What do my friends and family say?
What happens in therapy sessions?
In the first session, your therapist will get to know you better and learn about your specific goals. You can ask your therapist questions about his/her background and treatment style. You and your therapist will begin to develop a treatment plan. After that, the therapy sessions will be tailored to your needs and goals. Often, therapists will start by asking about any new stresses or signs of progress since the last session. Most of the session will involve the application of specific therapy techniques to meet your goals. At the end of the session, you and your therapist might discuss ways you can keep making progress before your next session.
How many sessions will I need?
Some people have specific problems that can be successfully addressed with a few therapy sessions. In many research studies, conditions like anxiety and depression are treated in approximately 12-16 sessions. Ultimately, your therapist will keep working with you as long as you want to continue and you both agree that you can continue to benefit.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that research has shown can effectively address a wide range of concerns that bring people to therapy. CBT therapists work with clients to help them develop more productive ways of thinking and acting so that they can feel better emotionally and reach their personal goals. Compared to other types of therapy, CBT is often a briefer therapy and it tends to be more focused on the present rather than the past. CBT therapists use specific techniques to address the problems you face.
Will information about my treatment go on my “record?”
All diagnoses and records related to your mental health are kept private and confidential, with a few exceptions (e.g., you report child/elder abuse, a judge subpoenas the records, there is a valid medical emergency). We don't share your private mental health information with schools, employers, family members, medical providers, or insurance agencies unless you give us your written permission to do so.
I think my child needs therapy. Should I be involved?
Absolutely! At Kaleidoscope, we believe that parents can accomplish far more with their children than we can accomplish in one hour once a week. A good therapist will keep you updated on the skills your child is learning and progress your child is making in therapy. The therapist may sometimes meet with you alone to discuss your concerns or help you navigate challenging parenting situations. Sometimes, parents of older teenagers play a less active role in treatment. You, your teen, and the therapist should discuss how this will work at the start of therapy. In these cases, you may not know all the details of what your teen shares in therapy, but you should have a general sense of the goals being addressed and progress being made.
How much do sessions cost? How do I start?
We do not accept insurance. Our fees are based on a sliding scale and determined based on annual family income and number of dependents. Our intake specialist will let you know your fee during the intake call.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 512.981.8787. An intake specialist will conduct a phone intake, which requires about 10 minutes to complete. We will match you with a therapist who we think will be a good fit for you, based on your reasons for seeking therapy and schedule. Within a few days, the therapist will reach out to schedule. We offer evening and Saturday appointments.
Why do people usually come to therapy?
People come to therapy for different reasons. A few common reasons include:
Depression or anxiety symptoms
Relationship problems
Difficulty coping with stressful or upsetting experiences
Feeling “stuck” and wanting to make changes to make your life better
For children and teens: behavior problems, academic problems, or social problems.
How do I tell the difference between sadness and depression?
Negative emotions like sadness and anxiety are an important part of the human experience. Although these emotions can be painful and unpleasant, they serve an important purpose. If you are trying to decide whether you might have a mental health disorder or benefit from treatment, consider the following questions:
Are my difficulties hurting my work, school, or my relationships?
Are my difficulties keeping me from having life experiences that I want?
How often am I having strong negative emotions? How long have I been having these emotions?
How well am I coping with stress or my negative emotions?
What do my friends and family say?
What happens in therapy sessions?
In the first session, your therapist will get to know you better and learn about your specific goals. You can ask your therapist questions about his/her background and treatment style. You and your therapist will begin to develop a treatment plan. After that, the therapy sessions will be tailored to your needs and goals. Often, therapists will start by asking about any new stresses or signs of progress since the last session. Most of the session will involve the application of specific therapy techniques to meet your goals. At the end of the session, you and your therapist might discuss ways you can keep making progress before your next session.
How many sessions will I need?
Some people have specific problems that can be successfully addressed with a few therapy sessions. In many research studies, conditions like anxiety and depression are treated in approximately 12-16 sessions. Ultimately, your therapist will keep working with you as long as you want to continue and you both agree that you can continue to benefit.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that research has shown can effectively address a wide range of concerns that bring people to therapy. CBT therapists work with clients to help them develop more productive ways of thinking and acting so that they can feel better emotionally and reach their personal goals. Compared to other types of therapy, CBT is often a briefer therapy and it tends to be more focused on the present rather than the past. CBT therapists use specific techniques to address the problems you face.
Will information about my treatment go on my “record?”
All diagnoses and records related to your mental health are kept private and confidential, with a few exceptions (e.g., you report child/elder abuse, a judge subpoenas the records, there is a valid medical emergency). We don't share your private mental health information with schools, employers, family members, medical providers, or insurance agencies unless you give us your written permission to do so.
I think my child needs therapy. Should I be involved?
Absolutely! At Kaleidoscope, we believe that parents can accomplish far more with their children than we can accomplish in one hour once a week. A good therapist will keep you updated on the skills your child is learning and progress your child is making in therapy. The therapist may sometimes meet with you alone to discuss your concerns or help you navigate challenging parenting situations. Sometimes, parents of older teenagers play a less active role in treatment. You, your teen, and the therapist should discuss how this will work at the start of therapy. In these cases, you may not know all the details of what your teen shares in therapy, but you should have a general sense of the goals being addressed and progress being made.
How much do sessions cost? How do I start?
We do not accept insurance. Our fees are based on a sliding scale and determined based on annual family income and number of dependents. Our intake specialist will let you know your fee during the intake call.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 512.981.8787. An intake specialist will conduct a phone intake, which requires about 10 minutes to complete. We will match you with a therapist who we think will be a good fit for you, based on your reasons for seeking therapy and schedule. Within a few days, the therapist will reach out to schedule. We offer evening and Saturday appointments.