Psychotherapy

What is individual therapy, and who benefits from it?

Psychotherapy is professional psychological help that we can reach for practically whenever we feel that something is not going well in our lives. It is commonly believed that therapy is used only by people in crisis, difficult life situations, with mental disorders or addictions. This is quite a hurtful imagebecause therapy can help practically everyone at many moments in life when we feel that something is not going the way we would like and we are finally ready to share it with someone.

Working with a therapist begins with creating a relationship in which we can feel safe and open to talk about what is going on in our lives, what worries us, disturbs us, does not work out, blocks us from moving forward, and what makes us unable to manage our emotions at times. A relationship with a psychotherapist is also an opportunity to look at oneself and one’s behavior to discover how we contribute to the things and situations in our lives.

My therapeutic work focuses on supporting people, primarily in ​​loss, grief, sorrow and bereave ment. Most clients turn to me at what we might call life-changing moments, in situations where their dominant emotion is the sense of losing someone or something important: a loved one, an animal, time, health, hopes, dreams, plans, work, motivation for further action, life as it has been known so far, often from causes independent to us.

Benefits of individual therapy.

Working with a psychotherapist helps you analyze your current situation in terms of repetitive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to understand yourself better and improve your everyday functioning. Therapy can help you learn to cope better with stress, challenging emotions, and relationships. It also provides space to work with a therapist through difficult experiences and emotions that often stem from the past.

What does the therapeutic process entail?

The therapeutic process usually begins much earlier before someone arranges a consultation with a psychotherapist. The person may go through a series of questions with themselves about what is bothering them, whether it is serious enough to turn to someone or if it is worth waiting, or it will get better over time. Most people will try everything they know to deal with their problems independently before seeking professional help.
The process consists of several stages. The first stage is consultation, diagnosis, and defining the “problem” and therapeutic goals. The next stage is exploring problematic behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior, strengthening self-awareness, and finding solutions that will allow you to function better and cope with everyday challenges and activities. The last stage focuses on practicing new behaviors and maintaining the changes.

Additional Information:

How will we meet?

All sessions are conducted online via HIPAA compliant platform to allow for more accessibility, convenience, and flexibility.

How often will we meet for psychotherapy sessions?

Usually, sessions are held once per week and are 45 minutes long.

Investment

Sessions are $170. Payment is required at the time of service.

Do you accept insurance for therapy services?

Currently, I do not take insurance and am an out-of-network provider. Please check with your insurance before starting services with me, as most insurance companies provide some form of reimbursement for mental health services. I can provide a superbill (an itemized form used by healthcare providers) with appropriate information to submit for insurance reimbursement.

Questions to ask your insurance provider:

1. Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
2. What is my annual deductible, and have I met it?
3. What percentage of out-of-network psychotherapy session do you cover?

Can I cancel or reschedule a session?

At least 24-hour notice is required to cancel or reschedule a session. You will incur the full session fee if you cancel or reschedule a session less than 24 hours in advance.

Emergency Care

Patrycja Szymczak, LMHC is not an emergency or 24-hour service. For mental health emergency call or text crisis line at 988. For other emergencies please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.