Frequently Asked Questions
You may have questions about therapy. We're here to help.
What services do you offer?
We provide outpatient psychotherapy in a private practice setting across the greater Houston area to treat a wide range of mental health, relationship, and behavioral issues. Our clients may schedule sessions for:
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Individual Therapy
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Couples Counseling
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Marriage Counseling
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Premarital Counseling
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Family Therapy
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Child Therapy
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Play Therapy
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Therapy for Teenagers
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Art Therapy
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Anger Management
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Assertiveness Training
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Career Counseling
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Grief Counseling
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EMDR Therapy
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Therapy in Spanish
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Christian Counseling
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What is therapy?
Therapists help clients of all ages live happier, healthier lives through a collaborative process based on the relationship between the client and the therapist. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is a form of treatment grounded in dialogue that allows you to talk openly with a nonjudgmental, licensed professional trained to help address issues related to mental health, life transitions, problematic behaviors, and relationship difficulties.
How can therapy help me?
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Help me accomplish my goals
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Stop self-defeating behaviors
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Better resolve conflict
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Help me communicate my feelings
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Work through trauma and past hurts
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Improve my relationships
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Sort through my emotions
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Change negative thinking
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Know that I'm not alone
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Improve my coping skills
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Set healthier boundaries
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Better love myself
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Achieve a greater sense of purpose and meaning
How do I choose a therapist?
Finding the right therapist is an important decision. Our competent scheduling coordinators are ready to help match you with a counselor who is the best fit for your presenting issues, location, availability, and insurance. You may also browse through our therapist biographies to learn more about their education, experience, therapeutic methods, and treatment philosophy.
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What should I look for in a therapist?
Your therapist should serve as a personal advocate who seeks to understand you, prioritizes your best interests, and is aligned with your goals. Your therapist should be supportive and empathetic, demonstrating an understanding of your needs and listening without judgment. Feeling safe with your therapist and establishing trust are fundamental to the success of therapy, allowing you to share openly and vulnerably.
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What issues do you treat?
Counseling addresses various psychological, emotional, behavioral, relational, and situational issues that may be causing distress or impairing an individual's ability to function. Common treatment issues include anxiety, depression, marital problems, OCD, eating disorders, trauma, substance abuse, grief and loss, anger management, bipolar disorder, ADHD, family dysfunction, career counseling, divorce, borderline personality, and self-esteem.
What treatments do you use?
A range of therapy modalities and treatment methods may be used depending on the client's needs and the therapist's unique training and experience. Some common therapies include:​
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
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Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
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Interpersonal Therapy (IT)
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Narrative Therapy
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Existential
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Solution-focused Brief Therapy
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Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
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Structural Family Therapy
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Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Psychoanalytic
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Reality Therapy
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Psychodynamic
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Gestalt
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Mindful-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
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The Gottman Method
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Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
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Adlerian
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Motivational Interviewing (MI)
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
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Experiential
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Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
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Schema Therapy
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Multi-systemic Therapy (MST)
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Jungian
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Internal Family Systems (IFS)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Applied Behavioral Analysis
What should I expect in the first therapy session?
After reviewing your paperwork and informing you about client confidentiality and responsibilities, your therapist will get an understanding of your presenting issues, concerns, history, and goals. Your therapist will decide if he or she is the best person to provide the services you need, and you will decide if your therapist feels like the right fit.
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How do I prepare for my first therapy session?
Starting therapy can be intimidating, but it's a huge first step toward better mental health. Preparing for your first appointment can help reduce your anxiety and position you to get the most out of treatment. Start by understanding your purpose for therapy. A common question counselors ask clients during the first appointment is what led them to seek therapy. While it is not necessary to provide a comprehensive list of your concerns and goals, having a clear understanding of the general reasons for seeking therapy will prepare you for your initial meeting with a therapist.
How do I switch therapists?
It is important you have a trusting relationship with your therapist, free of judgement, in which you feel to safe to share authentically and vulnerably. If ever, over the course of treatment, you decide your therapist is not the best person to meet your needs, you may request a new therapist from our scheduling staff by calling our office.
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When are therapy sessions scheduled?
For your convenience, some therapists at The Resilience Center of Houston offer evening and weekend appointments to meet meet client needs. Sessions are scheduled in advance and occur between the hours of 8 am and 9 pm on weekdays and between the hours of 8:30 am and 6:30 pm on weekends.
What is a therapy session like?
An open and comfortable relationship is built between the counselor and client in which the client feels free to explore their current stressors and functioning, emotions, past hurts, strengths, and hopes and dreams for the future. The trained therapist will be guided by proven methodologies, but the client is in-control of the pace and direction of the therapeutic process.
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How will I know therapy is working?
Thinking and feeling more positively, behaving in healthier ways, and experiencing improved relationships may all be clear signs that counseling is working. Change often takes time, however, and may not be easy. In exploring complex issues during therapy, you may experience some uncomfortable emotions, like fear, anger, or anxiety, which is an expected part of the therapeutic process toward growth. You and your therapist will routinely review your progress toward treatment goals and make changes when needed.
How long will I need therapy?
Some clients may experience relief or accomplish identified goals within just a few sessions. Others often need months or longer to reach wellness, and those with more serious mental health issues may benefit from lifelong clinical support. You and your therapist will regularly access your progress and modify goals modified when necessary. Your counselor will assist you in deciding on a good time to end therapy, but it's always your right to end treatment at any time for any reason.
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Are therapy sessions confidential?
In almost every instance, counseling is absolutely confidential. Your therapist is required to keep your identify and everything said in sessions private. While there are laws and regulations in place to protect your rights, confidentiality is also a key part of a licensed therapist's code of ethics. Your counselor keenly understands that you need to know your information is safe to feel comfortable sharing openly. There are some exceptions to confidentiality, like when a court subpeonas records or when there is suspicion of abuse or neglect of minors, the elderly, or the disabled. Your therapist will go over these exceptions before starting treatment.
What is virtual online counseling?
Therapy is provided from a distance through live video sessions through a computer, tablet, or smart phone. We treat Texas residents using a HIPAA-compliant, confidential platform for our virtual services. Since online therapy may not be the most effective method of treatment for all individuals and all presenting issues, a referral will be made if another form of treatment is judged to be more appropriate.
What is the difference between a Counselor, a Therapist, Psychiatrist Psychologist?
All these professionals can diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues and are professionally licensed. Counselors and Therapists (LPC, LMFT, LCSW), the terms often used interchangeably, provide psychotherapy, while Psychologists (LP) tend to focus more on assessments and testing, and Psychiatrists tend to focus more on prescribing medication.
What are my therapist's credentials?
The titles, abbreviations, education, and licenses for therapy providers can be confusing for the average person. The Resilience Center of Houston therapists all have a masters or doctoral level education and are licensed in Texas as either a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). These professionals have all been trained and authorized to provide therapy to treat a wide range of mental health and behavioral health issues.