- FAQ
Your Questions,
Answered
At Main Line Relationship Center, we understand that choosing the right therapist and beginning the journey of therapy can raise many questions. To help you feel more informed, we’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions our clients ask.
Of course you want to find the “best” therapist for you, but with more than 2200 of us in Montgomery County alone, how can you figure out who that is? Here are some tips to help you narrow the field:
Select a licensed therapist. You can be assured that a licensed therapist has met the state’s criteria for the education, knowledge and experience necessary to effectively practice therapy in Pennsylvania.
Select a therapist trained to provide the service you need. Many therapists say they practice “sex therapy” or “couples therapy,” but in reality have not been trained to do it. Ask.
Select a seasoned therapist. Experience matters. A therapist in practice for 2 years will — more often than not — be less effective than a therapist in practice for 10+ years.
Select a therapist who has experience treating your specific concern. Therapists often have experience in many areas, but have zero experience in others. Ask.
Select a therapist with a theoretical orientation that fits your presenting problem. If you’re hoping to gain insight into yourself and your behaviors, for example, a purely cognitive behavioral therapist wouldn’t be a great fit. Similarly, if your goal is to learn new skills and change problematic behaviors, a psychoanalyst wouldn’t be an ideal choice. What are your specific goals?
Select a therapist with a style / approach that fits with your personality. Therapeutic approaches range from very passive (listening) to very active (talking with you the entire time). Research shows that the greatest predictor of success in therapy is the quality of the relationship between the client(s) and the clinician. What kind of therapist do you want?
Call a few promising candidates. After you speak with them, ask yourself: “How was the conversation? What were my first impressions?” Follow your instincts about who to see. If you don’t “like” the person, move on. Again, a good fit is essential.
Select a therapist in a location that makes sense for you. It is likely you will be visiting your therapist’s office once each week. Do you want someone near your work? Near home? Far away from both? Think about what makes the most sense for you.
Select a therapist you can afford on an ongoing basis. If you begin the process knowing you will be able to pay for just two sessions with Therapist A, you would be wise to select a lower-fee provider (or ask your insurance company to give you a list of in-network providers). Fees vary widely in the field. Find a fee you can sustain.
Don’t get too hung up on the letters after our names. These letters indicate different paths to clinical practice, often reflecting different education degrees, theoretical orientations, and therapeutic approaches. Still, all are therapists. If you’ve found someone who meets the above criteria and seems perfect to you, don’t worry about their letters. But for those who do want to know what those letters mean, here’s a list:
- ABPP: American Board of Professional Psychology
- ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- ATR-BC: Registered Art Therapist-Board Certified
- BC-DMT: Board Certified-Dance Movement Therapist
- BCD: Board Certified Diplomate
- BS: Bachelor of Science
- CAADC: Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- CAC: Certified Addiction Counselor
- CADC: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
- CCMHC: Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- CMFT: Certified Marriage and Family Therapist
- CSC: Certified Supervised Counselor
- DMin: Doctor of Ministry
- DSW: Doctorate in Social Work
- EdD: Doctor of Education
- FAACP: Fellow, American Academy of Clinical Psychology
- LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
- LSW: Licensed Social Worker
- MA: Master of Arts
- MCAT: Master of Creative Art Therapy
- MD: Medical Doctor
- MEd: Master of Education
- MFT: Marriage and Family Therapist
- MHT: Mental Health Therapist
- MHS: Master of Health Sciences
- MS: Master of Science
- MSS: Master of Social Service
- MSSW: Master of Science in Social Work
- MSW: Master of Social Work
- NCC: Nationally Certified Counselor
- PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
- PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
- QCSW: Qualified Clinical Social Worker
Therapy is right for anyone wanting to get the most out of life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working toward change and growth. Therapy can help address and resolve many types of symptoms (for example, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, anger, worry), problems (for example, problems with family, relationships, work, sex), and concerns (for example, concerns about body image, confidence, parenting, life transitions).
You can expect to enter an environment of safety, comfort, openness, and understanding, in which you are free to discuss anything and everything you want. Every session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals.
During therapy sessions it is common to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life.
It is typical to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts 50 minutes. Sometimes individuals going through a particularly difficult challenge may request longer or more frequent sessions. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.
There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of sessions, such as practicing a new skill, reading a relevant book, or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is helpful to process what has been discussed to integrate new behaviors and insights into your life.
Therapy is most effective for active clients who both participate during sessions and apply new knowledge between sessions.
Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a therapist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and an improved quality of life.
Therapy can help you:
- Develop new skills for handling stress and anxiety
- Modify unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
- Attain insight into personal patterns and behavior
- Increase confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
- Improve ways to manage anger, depression, and reactivity
- Discover new ways to solve problems
- Navigate life’s obstacles more effectively
- Improve listening and communication skills
- Enhance the overall quality of life
$275/session (50 minutes), payable by cash, check, credit card, or HSA card.
Payment is due at the end of each session.
In-Person Sessions: Cash and checks (made out to "MLRC") are the preferred forms of payment for in-person sessions. Debit cards, credit cards, and health spending account (HSA) cards are also accepted.
Video Sessions: Video sessions must be paid for using a debit card, credit card, or HSA card that we will securely store in your portal and automatically charge after each session.
Main Line Relationship Center requires 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. If an appointment is cancelled less than 24 hours in advance, or if a client fails to show up for a scheduled appointment, the client will be responsible for paying the full session fee. We accept cash, checks, debit cards, HSA cards, and credit cards. If you store a credit or debit card in the portal, we will automatically charge the full session fee to the stored card. Otherwise, you can mail payment or provide it at your next appointment.
The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist. Whatever you discuss in therapy is confidential. Information cannot be disclosed to an outside party without your written permission.
There are some notable exceptions to confidentiality, which include:
If we suspect child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, we are required by law to report our suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
If a client threatens serious bodily harm to another person(s), we must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
If a client intends to harm themselves, we will make every effort to enlist the client's cooperation to ensure safety. If a client does not cooperate, we will take further measures without permission to ensure their safety.
Established clients can access the secure client portal here: https://mlrc.clientsecure.me
