FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can therapy help?
Your therapist will work with you to identify your personal goals for counseling and then tailor the sessions to you and your goals. You can expect that your therapist will listen closely so that they understand your experience and then will find ways to assist you in moving towards your goals. Therapy is a personalized experience, so how it helps differs from person to person. It will often involve things such as getting a different perspective on your experiences, exploring and discovering things about yourself, making changes in unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving, processing difficult experiences, and learning healthy coping tools.
How is therapy different than talking to my friends?
Talking with friends is a great way to get support, but it’s not the same as talking to a therapist. Therapists are professionals with specialized training in helping people who are encountering difficulties in their lives. They can also provide an “outside” perspective that is different than what your friends can provide. A therapist's job it is to help you, hopefully you will feel more comfortable being open about your problems, which will make it easier to get effective help.
Do we provide in-person or online counseling?
At Peaceful Mind you can meet with your therapist in our beautiful offices located at 123 Middle Street, Bristol, or your session can be held via a secure and easy-to-use telehealth platform (similar to Zoom or Skype).
What happens during the first session?
The initial session is the time for you to share your story, talk about your goals and what you would like to change. Another important aspect of the first session is deciding if we are a good fit. Establishing a relationship with your therapist is important and will become the foundation for working together.
Do we prescribe medication?
Yes. Our office has several medication providers that help you find the right medication.
Are sessions with my therapist confidential?
Yes! All sessions are held in confidence and remain confidential. This includes all contact of the sessions, records, scheduling and progress in counseling. We use HIPPA complaint EHR software, email and efax services to ensure that everything is kept confidential. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, including situations where a client may present a clear and imminent danger to themselves and/or others or instances of child abuse or elder abuse.