FAQs
What is therapy versus life coaching?
Both therapy and life coaching support personal growth but differ in their approaches, goals, and focuses. Here’s a comparison:
Focus and Goals
Therapy focuses on mental health and emotional healing, addressing past experiences, trauma, and psychological disorders. Its goal is to improve emotional well-being by resolving issues that may hold you back. For example, a therapist helps explore the root causes of depression and work through those feelings.
Life coaching primarily focuses on personal and professional development, helping clients achieve specific goals like career advancement, improving relationships, or boosting self-confidence. For instance, a life coach might help create a plan to improve work-life balance and achieve career goals.
Who They Work With
Therapy works with individuals dealing with mental health conditions, trauma, or emotional challenges, while life coaching assists those seeking personal or professional success.
Session Structure
Therapy sessions may delve into deep emotional issues and vary in length and frequency based on the client’s needs. On the other hand, life coaching sessions are usually structured with action steps and goals, often on a shorter-term basis, focusing on measurable outcomes.
What should I expect in my first therapy session?
When you start therapy, it's a big step toward taking care of your mental health. Here’s what you can expect in your first therapy session:
1. Paperwork and Consent Forms: Before we get started, you may need to fill out some forms about your medical history and personal information. This helps me understand your background and keep everything confidential.
2. Introduction and Rapport Building: I'll introduce myself and explain how therapy works, aiming to make you feel comfortable and at ease.
3. Discussing Your Concerns: I'll ask you why you sought therapy and we'll talk about any issues or symptoms you're facing.
4. Background Information: I'll ask about your family, relationships, and any previous mental health treatments to better understand your situation.
5. Setting Goals: Together, we'll set some goals for our therapy sessions.
6. Explaining the Process: I'll explain how therapy works, including how long our sessions will be and how often we'll meet.
7. Questions and Concerns: You’ll have time to ask me any questions you have about the therapy process.
8. Next Steps: We’ll finish the session by scheduling your next therapy appointment and discussing any strategies or resources you can use until then.
Remember, our first therapy session is just the start of our journey together. Being open and honest will help you get the most out of our time together.
How Should I Prepare for My First Therapy Session?
Getting ready for your first therapy session can feel like a big step. Here are some tips to help you feel more at ease and get the most out of your time with your therapist:
Reflect on Your Goals: Think about why you’re seeking therapy and what you’d like to achieve. You don’t need to have all the answers, but having a sense of your goals can guide the conversation with your therapist.
Make a List of Concerns: Write down any issues, feelings, or behaviors you want to discuss during therapy. This will ensure you don’t forget anything important in your first session with your therapist.
Be Honest and Open: The more honest and open you are with your therapist, the more effective therapy will be. It’s okay to feel vulnerable or not ready to share everything yet—trust develops over time.
Manage Your Expectations: The first therapy session is often introductory. Your therapist will cover your background and current challenges. You might not dive into deep solutions right away, and that’s perfectly fine.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask your therapist any questions about the therapy process. It’s important to understand how therapy will proceed and feel confident in your sessions.
Are Sessions Confidential?
Confidentiality is a top priority at Nsight Innovations for all the services we provide. However, there are some important exceptions to confidentiality, including:
- Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, dependent adult, or elder
- When the provider believes the client is at serious risk of harming themselves or others
- Court orders
- You also have the option to sign a release of information for specific individuals you want us to share information with.
Does Nsight Innovations take Insurance?
Not all services may be covered by insurance, so it's important to figure out what your insurance will cover before you start any services. We recommend reaching out to your insurance company to get info about your mental health benefits. Here are some questions you can ask:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- How much will I need to pay?
- Is there a limit to the number of sessions covered?
- Do I need a referral from my primary care provider?
We'll do our best to find out and share insurance information before we offer any services.
Currently, we're in-network with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Midlands Choice, United Health Care, Medica, Iowa Total Care, and VA Care in the Community