QUESTIONS | Persona Website

Frequent Questions

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question."

-Eugene Jonesco-

WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Psychotherapy is a collection of treatments that can help the development of healthier and more enjoyable relationships with yourself, parents, family, partners, and co-workers. Through psychotherapy, the individual learns to adopt proactive approaches toward life as opposed to reactive ones. During therapy, the individual can achieve a sense of empowerment and control of his/her own life, improving self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, and assertiveness.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

Our mission is to provide professional services bringing clients to a greater understanding that their behaviors and decisions impact their experiences. Using an integrative approach, our skills, educational background, and our experiences, we will help the client to gain this insight; respecting and taking into consideration the individual’s motivation, beliefs, preferences, desires, and abilities. We will personalize the treatment according to the needs of each client.

WHAT IS OUR VISION?

To enable enhanced psychological functioning and wellness by empowering the client with balance between inner and outer self and in relationship to others. To build up individual, interpersonal functioning and hope for a future overflowing with security, safety, fulfillment, and love for him/herself and for others.

WHAT ARE OUR VALUES?

Each client requires different approaches to treatment, and we use our psychotherapeutic skills and creativity in adjusting the treatment to best suit our client’s condition and personality. We value and respect the integrity of our clients and their personal well-being and interpersonal relationships.

HOW CAN PSYCHOTHERAPY HELP ME?

Our purpose is to alleviate mental distress, improve emotional well-being and improve relationships with others. We work with individuals, adolescents, couples, families, and groups. Through the work of psychotherapy, we are able to assist individuals in understanding the thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, and the dynamic internal process that may be destructively impacting their lives. We will work with your goals – what you want to work on and what you hope to accomplish through psychotherapy. Once the goals are established, we can formulate a course of action for treatment applying evidence-based modalities to stimulate the desired changes in your life.

ARE APPOINTMENTS CONFIDENTIAL?

Certainly, appointments are private and confidential. We take this very seriously! What we discuss during treatment stays between you and us, unless you provide us with written consent to disclose certain communications. We are bound by a “Code of Ethics” (set by ACA) as well as the Revised Code of Washington (Washington statutory law) to keep communications confidential. Confidentiality may only be breached (communications disclosed): (1)Where you, the client, or someone entitled to act on your behalf, gives written consent; (2) Where you, the client, express an intent to commit a crime or harmful act; (3) Where you, the client, are a minor and we acquire information that you are/were the victim or subject of a crime, we may testify fully upon any examination, trial, or other proceeding in which the commission of the crime is the subject of the inquiry; (4) Where you, the client, waive the privilege by bringing charges against us under chapter 18 RCW; (5) Where we are responding to a subpoena from a court of law or the Secretary of the Department of Health; or (6) Where we are required to disclose communications under chapter 26.44 RCW (dealing with issues of child abuse).

WHAT WILL THE FIRST SESSION BE LIKE?

In the two first sessions, we will spend substantial time in paperwork to make sure we have all the information we need from you; we will spend time getting to know each other, discussing your history. We will also talk about our professional relationship. This is the key to the success of psychotherapy and our professional relationship. After this process, we will start to establish your goals and plans.

WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?

* $200 - Initial Intake Appointment
Our standard fees are $175.00/hr. Per person, $300.00/hr Per couple. In special needs circumstances, a fee adjustment may be authorized.
* Cost of Psychological Evaluations determined by the type of evaluation needed.

HOW DO I PAY FOR TREATMENT?

Persona Psychotherapy Center is a private practice, so consultation fees need to be paid in full.We can assist you in attempting to obtain insurance reimbursement. We accept cash, check, and major credit cards for payment at the time of service.

WHAT IF I CANNOT MAKE IT TO AN APPOINTMENT?

If you are unable to attend an appointment, please give us notice via phone or text at least 24 hours before the scheduled time.

HOW LONG DO APPOINTMENTS LAST?

Our standard session lasts 50 minutes. In extremely rare cases, where serious progress is being made on a particular issue, and where there is no immediate following appointment, a special exception may be made to extend the session at the standard hourly rate.