What is the financial commitment to begin with a therapist? Individual and couple's sessions are weekly, but if you need every other week because of scheduling/finances we can discuss the possibility to do a month of weekly and then switch to biweekly. There is a slight price increase for biweekly because it's much harder to find another biweekly person to offset the off weeks, but we can work with you on this.
How long does therapy take? How long will I be in therapy? That is completely dependent on each person and individual circumstance. Some people are only in therapy a short period of time (3-6 months) while others choose to continue for years. Therapy can also be continuous or might go for a while and then have a break before the person wants to continue again. We are here for you in whatever form that takes and can help you figure out what fits best for you. There is no long term commitment ever and you can stop any time you would like! All the therapists at Water & Stone fully support you doing what you need to and are open to talking about stopping or pausing any time you have questions or want to consider it. Do I have to commit to a certain number of session? No! In fact, legally and ethically, you are allowed to stop therapy any time you want to. We would love to know a couple sessions before you want to end so we can wrap things up and support you taking the step away from therapy, but sometimes it happens more quickly and we will support you through that as well.
Do you accept insurance? We do not accept insurance. While I understand there are times you need to use insurance (and we fully support that!) as soon as insurance pays, they have a right to see your records any time they would like, you must have a mental health diagnosis, and they have control over how long you may attend therapy. Again, i fully support using insurance and having a diagnosis when it helps someone access services and support. To help those access affordable healthcare without using insurance we run groups and have a sliding scale. If you need to use insurance I highly suggest looking for a therapist through your insurance company or Zocdoc.com. If you need low fee individual therapy, a great resource is Openpathcollective.org
Do you have a sliding scale? Yes, please ask about it if the prices listed above are out of your range. We have a sliding scale and also occasional low fee spots, so can work with you based on your needs and circumstances.
What if individual therapy is outside my current budget? We totally understand these prices may be outside your budget, so we try to offer a range of groups to better support your journey. These groups are ongoing, with open enrollment and you will have a chance to speak with Emery and the group leader before joining. Each group is either every week or every other week. Groups are small (6-8 people) and cost $60 per meeting. Once you are in a group you pay to hold your space for each meeting, regardless of attendance, and can stop any time you would like by letting the group therapist or Emery know.
Some people stay in a group a few months and others stay for years. It's really up to you based on how you are feeling about your needs and the group support. There is no long term commitment and we just ask that, when possible, you let the group leader know at least 1-2 groups in advance if you are leaving the group so you and the group members have time to end and transition. It's not mandatory, but endings are a very important part of therapy and we would like to support you through the transition.
What can i expect in a creative arts therapy session? Each therapist is a bit different, but will always listen to your thoughts, concerns, and comfort level when it comes to creative or contemplative approaches to your therapy. There will be space for more traditional talk therapy and then time for creative exploration that can take many forms (art making, movement, meditation, etc.) depending on the therapist you have. No experience is necessary! During your initial phone call, Emery will share more about what we offer and will ask about your interests to help you decide who might be the best fit.