Before selecting a therapist, you want to determine what you would like to change in your life and what is problematic for you right now. When speaking with therapists ask them questions. For example: What is their experience with regard to the problem you are presenting? What are their success rates? It’s a good idea to find out where they were trained and how much clinical supervision they’ve received throughout the course of their training. These are reasonable questions to ask, and it’s always interesting to see how therapists respond to them. If you’re asking these questions and the therapist is defensive, it’s a good sign that this therapist is probably not a good fit for you.
What can I expect on my first visit?
Because professional counseling is highly personal, your first session is actually a consultation – to determine if you and Dr. Reilly make a good team and a program can be devised that will be most helpful to you.
What will treatment be like?
You won’t be lying on a couch. You’ll be talking with Dr. Reilly. Once you get to know each other, you’ll roll up your sleeves and get to work.
Collaboratively, you’ll identify problems that trigger a “downward spiral” in your attitude and set very specific goals to overcome them. To start each session, you will do a mood check to see how you’re making progress on your specific problem. You will set an agenda about what you want to discuss that day, work through the agenda and come up with things to do between each session to continue progress. Dr. Reilly and you will end each session with a summary of the highlights and the most important development within the session, along with a review of your “homework”.
Throughout the interactive process, you’ll learn new skills and how to draw on the skills and strengths you already have. You’ll also receive lots of feedback. Dr. Reilly will share her observations with you and together you’ll explore and address them. Dr. Reilly’s focus centers on what solutions will help you best and how you may walk out of the session feeling like you accomplished something.
Ultimately, with Dr. Reilly as your teammate in treatment, you’ll find you’ll become your own best therapist.
How can I prepare for therapy?
Ask yourself a simple question: “How would I like to be different by the end of therapy?” Think specifically about changes you’d like to make at home, at work, and in your personal and professional relationships. Also, think about what symptoms have been bothering you and which you’d like to decrease or eliminate.
All of this helps open the door to discussion when you walk in for your first session. And helps you walk out with a very specific game plan.
What can I do between sessions?
This will vary. Dr. Reilly and you will collaboratively decide what will be most helpful for you to focus on before your next visit. Your homework will depend on which goals you’re working on at the time.
You’ll be asked to keep a therapy notebook for note-taking during each session, and to use for taking notes at home – to collect data and keep track of situations that make you feel anxious, depressed, unhappy, uncomfortable, etc.
You and Dr. Reilly will review your findings at your next session as part of the problem-solving process.
What about medication?
If medication appears that it will be helpful, Dr. Reilly and you will discuss the possibility and she will refer you to your family physician or a psychiatrist. Often, people have negative automatic thoughts about taking medication, such as “I should be able to fix the problem on my own – taking medication means I’m weak.” If this or similar thoughts appear as an obstacle to taking medication, you and Dr. Reilly will evaluate those thoughts.
Many people are treated without any medication at all. Some disorders, however, respond better to a combination of cognitive therapy and medication. This will be discussed between Dr. Reilly and your physician.
If you’re already on medication, Dr. Reilly will work with your physician to assess the situation and determine medication protocol.
How long will therapy last?
It’s different for every individual. Therapy is need-based and varies according to your goals, motivation and ability to change. What’s more, “booster” sessions are recommended three, six and twelve months after therapy has ended.
How much will therapy cost? And what about Insurance?
The standard rate is $250 per 50 minute session, and payment is expected at each session. No insurance is accepted, however a receipt is provided for insurance reimbursement. Commonly, 50-80% is reimbursed for out-of-network services.
How do I get started?
Your physician or psychotherapist may refer you to Dr. Reilly, or you can contact her directly at 610-842-5501.
You’ll enjoy her inviting office adjacent to her home. Most important, you’ll enjoy talking things out with her so you can start living your life again.