Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ about anxiety treatment
Q: What is the length of treatment?
A: We pride ourselves on being a brief and short term treatment facility (if the person is ready and motivated, we like to jump right into therapy). We want our clients to resume their regular life as quickly as possible as well as spend the least amount of their finances (Seeing people change their lives in such drastic ways is why we do what we do). People with social anxiety and panic disorder have made big changes and completed therapy in approximately 6-8 sessions (which can be either in the form of once per week or multiple times weekly). For some problems that are more complicated (e.g., severe OCD), it can take a bit longer. We will attempt to give you our best guess at a timeline after the initial assessment.
Q: What is exposure therapy and how is it effective?
A: In a nutshell, exposure therapy is facing your fears. The client is exposed to situations, thoughts, feelings, things that they are uncomfortable with in a gradual manner while simultaneously using the cognitive strategies we provide to better cope with anxiety. A big part of what we do is to help people embrace their fears, which paradoxically makes them go away.
Q: I have been to many other professionals (therapists, psychiatrists, acupuncturists, life coaches, etc. without much success for many years. How will this be any different?
A: Many professionals have wonderful intentions and are great at what they do, but unfortunately not everyone is specifically trained in the treatment of Anxiety Disorders using Cognitive Behavioral methods. Much of our therapy is conducted out of the office and in real-life situations. It is very hands on and we focus primarily on behavior and on the present and future as opposed to the past.
Q: Will I be able to see results instantly?
A: It is quite likely that results will come quickly if you trust the process. We do not believe in continuing treatment for an extended period of time if results are not produced within the first several sessions. With this type of treatment symptom reduction should be seen very quickly.
Q: Does this type of treatment work for everyone?
A: Absolutely not! The individual must be very motivated to change in order for it to be successful. Additionally, this is not a conventional type of talk therapy so being open-minded is key.
Q: What are your hours of operation?
A: We are very flexible with our office hours. We understand that many people work, have families, and personal obligations. Additionally, many of the exposures that we conduct occur during evening and/or weekends so we are available during various times/days.