Frequently Asked Questions
General therapy questions
How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
Do you work with individuals as well as couples?
Couples therapy
I’ve never done couples counseling before. What can I expect?
Should we do couples counseling or individual counseling right now?
My partner suggested couples counseling, but we aren’t exactly at the breaking point. Shouldn’t you only go to couples counseling as a last resort?
Q: How do I know if you are the right therapist for me?
A: This is an excellent question. No one therapist is the perfect fit for every client. While a therapist’s education, training and therapeutic technique are important, the core of therapy is you and the trusting relationship you develop with your therapist. I invite you to read my Therapy Approach and About Naomi pages, however I welcome you to contact me with any questions or a brief phone consultation. If you determine that I am not the best fit for you, I would be happy to recommend a colleague.
You may also wish to read the article Choosing a Therapist by Howard Erman, Ph.D., or review recommendations from the American Psychological Association.
Q: Do you work with individuals as well as couples?
A: Yes!
Q: What do the abbreviations used by mental health professionals mean, such as RC, LMFT, LCSW, LMHC, LP, ARNP?
A: “RC” means “Registered Counselor,” a designation formed the State of Washington that has recently undergone significant revision and will be abolished in July 2010, to be replaced by more specific categories. To learn more, visit the WA State Department of Health. Visit CounselingSeattle.com for a list of mental health professional abbreviations and their definition.
Couples therapy
Q: I’ve never done couples counseling before. What can I expect?
A: You can expect that we will clarify your goals for therapy and work towards those goals. A therapy goal for many couples is to improve communication, specifically with conflict. With all couples, I conduct a thorough relationship assessment at the outset of therapy including individual sessions with each partner. This helps me understand the perspective of each person more fully and find out more about your dynamics.
Q: Should we do couples counseling or individual counseling right now?
A: Couples counseling can be very helpful for interpersonal difficulties, however there are some concerns that are best addressed in individual work. For example, if there is currently unwanted physically aggressive contact in your relationship, couples counseling can actually be harmful. I conduct a thorough assessment with all couples at the outset of therapy to determine which therapy format will be the most helpful.
Q: My partner suggested couples counseling, but we aren’t exactly at the breaking point. Shouldn’t you only go to couples counseling as a last resort?
A: While I cannot guarantee outcomes in our work, addressing relationship difficulties sooner than later and before your breaking point may be useful. Not all problems resolve on their own and research reveals that most couples struggle with difficulties for approximately six years before seeking relationship help.
If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call me at (206) 552–9556 or email naomi@knobletherapy.com.
