Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a social worker and other mental health professionals?

Psychology, social work, and marriage and family therapy have a lot in common. Social work has a special emphasis on assessing the whole person. As a result, the social worker can arrive at an understanding of the many factors that contributed to the development of a client's struggles. Adhering to a psychosocial perspective distinguishes social workers from all other mental health professionals.

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. Many people find therapy to be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns and the hassles of daily life. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to issues or concerns that led you to therapy
• Finding new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, depression and other emotional challenges
• Improving communications skills
• Getting "unstuck" from unhealthy patterns - developing new behaviors
• Discovering new ways to solve problems
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. The law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission with few exceptions to this rule. There are three exceptions:

• Suspected abuse (child, dependant adult, elder). The therapist is required by law to report this to appropriate authorities immediately.
• Threatening serious bodily harm to another person(s). The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• Intent to harm oneself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist client cooperation to insure their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission to ensure their safety.