Frequently Asked Questions

There are so many ways that therapy can help people.  First off, therapists are the professionals of mental health and relational issues and have the education and experience to identify and assist with these issues in a safe and secure way.  It has been proven that therapy can make you a physically healthier person as well, and over time cut down on medical costs.  There is a lot of learning involved in therapy, and chances are you will learn more about yourself in therapy then without. 

The wonderful thing about a therapist is they can see connections that most of us cannot see in ourselves.  They can actively help us recognize these and adapt to them in healthier ways and help us to identify what we truly want/need in life.  Therapy can also improve relationships with others and teach you how to communicate more effectively and decrease conflict.

Therapy length varies depending on the issues and problems a client comes in with.  There is no set amount of time for therapy, instead think of it as a process of change and when the change you want to happen happens, therapy is terminated or put on hold.  

Therapy takes time to change the habits and routines you have become used to and understanding this will help with any anxiety you may have going into therapy.  I often tell my client’s that it took this long to get where you are at today, it will take time to unravel that and implement new ways of coping, communicating, and reacting. 

It is not the job of your therapist to give you advice, instead your therapist will utilize specific approaches, models, and techniques to assist in the therapeutic process so you can make the necessary changes you need in life.  

A therapist’s job is to help you figure out what works for you in your change process, and at the end of the day a therapist gives you an array of tools and techniques to use and it is up to you if/how you utilize them in your life. 

Yes! People in general can always benefit from therapy.  We all live in this crazy world and are affected by it at some point in our journey.  Research shows over 75% of those who seek out therapy benefit from it.  Therapy is a great opportunity to improve mental health in many areas and learn new and health habits.  

It is a perfect setting to explore wants/needs, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as well as increase coping skills, manage stressors of daily life, improve relationships with others in your life, and recognize how your own experiences have affected you over your life.  

As discussed in the previous paragraph, therapy really is right for everyone.  Some sure-fire ways of knowing if it is right for you is if you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health issue (i.e., depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, conflict, mood swings, anger, etc.), have past/current trauma that has not been resolved or is now negatively effecting you and your relationships, or you have experienced a change or transition in life that has a negative effect on you (i.e., work, home, relationships, social, educational/vocational, etc.). 

Most insurance plans offer some/most coverage for mental health care.  It is important to contact your insurance company to inquire about your specific plan benefits and coverage prior to starting your therapy journey.  

For a more detailed list of questions to ask your insurance provider, please visit the Fees & Services tab (toward the bottom of the page) on our website.

We do not offer sliding scale payments due to having intern therapist at the site.  An intern therapist provides quality services at a discounted rate to those who do not have insurance, are underinsured, have large deductibles, or who do not want to use their insurance benefits for therapy.  Please contact our office staff at 208-614-0588 to inquire about intern availability.  

We understand that you have a full life and that there will be times you just can’t make it to your scheduled appointment.  When possible, please contact your therapist at least 48 hours in advance to cancel a session, this will ensure that you do not have to pay a cancellation fee for that missed session.  

If this is not possible, it will depend on the nature of the cancellation that determines if you will have to pay the cancellation fee.  We do not make it a practice to charge a cancellation fee for true emergency situations, but if the client does make a habit of cancelling sessions, we will discuss alternative options with the client and try to find a schedule that works with the client.  

This is a question most clients will ask themselves in the process of finding a therapist.  And this can be frustrating for some, especially if their first experience with a therapist is not a good match for them.  You want to look for someone who listens to you, validates your feelings, and experiences, has good communication skills, offers education/resources, builds trust with you, has expertise in working with the same issues you have, has openings that fit your schedule, and utilizes an approach that works for you and your issues. 

Our advice to client’s is to set up an appointment with a therapist and see how you mesh with them.  Give it a few sessions, and if you feel the therapist is not a good fit then find a new one.  And yes, it is ok to do this, you have the right to decide what works best for you and your situation, and here at Cornerstone we are more than happy to assist you in finding the perfect fit and we can offer you referrals if needed. 

This is a personal decision for each client.  All therapists are trained and can work with most issues and problems client’s come to therapy for, gender or orientation of your therapist should generally have no impact on the therapeutic process. 

You should always choose a therapist based on your comfort level, compatibility, and specifics of the issues being treated (does the approach of the clinician fit). If there is a trauma or specific scenario that leaves you uncomfortable with a specific gender of therapist, then it is recommended you choose a therapist that you would be comfortable with. Read the paragraph above for specific information on what a good match looks like with a therapist.  

The number one way to know therapy is working is if you are using the skills you are learning in therapy in your life. This means you are actively changing the way you operate in your environment, and you are valuing yourself and your own mental health above everything else.  It is important to recognize that during the therapy process, this step takes the longest and it is important to stay the course with your therapist to see these changes come about.

Therapy is confidential in most instances, there are some caveats to confidentiality though.  As therapists it is our job to make sure you and others in the community are safe, and as mandated reporters it is our duty to step in when there are safety issues (harm to self and/or others) and/or neglect and abuse issues (minors and vulnerable adults). Other exceptions to confidentiality include any legal issue that require client information (case with a qualifying court order to receive information) or national security issues. There may also be times that your therapist needs to consult on client cases and will talk with other professionals for advice or in a supervision setting.  

In these instances, your therapist will leave out any identifying information from this consult for privacy.  All other situations in which your therapist may need to consult with outside persons or professionals, they will get a signed release of information from you first and discuss what information will be relayed. For more details on the limits of confidentiality, please contact our office staff at 208-614-0588 or refer to the Informed Consent for Psychotherapy consent form in our forms section of the website. 

We try hard to meet the needs of our clients, including offering evening and weekend appointment times.  This does depend on each clinician’s individual schedule though, so please contact our office for details on each clinician’s schedule and availability. 

Awesome!  You are ready to start your journey to improvement.  You can call or text our office staff at 208-614-0588, you can email our office staff at info@cornerstonefamilytherapy.net, or you can visit our website www.cornerstonefamilytherapy.net and send us an inquiry or a quick text through our chat feature.