Kimberley Welk & Associates Family Therapy Center provides outpatient counseling and school-based mental health services across Wisconsin.

Therapy is for anybody and everybody. However, the decision to begin therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people decide to come to therapy. Sometimes it is to address long-standing psychological issues, or due to a spike in anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life, such as a divorce or work transition. Regardless of the initial reason, working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges and to promote personal growth. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards positive changes in their lives.

There are a number of benefits that clients gain from participating in psychotherapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, creative blocks etc. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how you choose to participate in the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Every therapy session is unique and caters to the client and their specific goals. It is standard practice for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly or bi-weekly sessions. An average session is about 50 minutes. Therapy can be short-term when focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term when addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions.

For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:

• Compassion, respect, and understanding
• Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings
• Real strategies for enacting positive change
• Effective and evidence-based techniques along with practical guidance

 KWAFTC does not have a psychiatrist/prescriber on staff. In some cases, where a combination of medication and therapy is needed, your counselor will work with your medical doctor to determine what’s best for you. Often, the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved by medication alone. Instead of only treating the symptoms, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. These include:

• Suspected child, dependent adult, or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

Insurance can be helpful to cover the cost of counseling services, but it is not required. To increase accessibility, we offer discounted rates to clients that are not insured or have an insurance plan that we cannot accept.

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance plan directly. Here are a few helpful questions to ask:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Please be aware that insurance eligibility varies by provider.