I’ve never talked to a psychologist before. What should I expect from therapy?

First of all, congratulations for taking the first step and reaching out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, we’ll help you explore and identify what’s bothering you in addition to why this is happening. We’ll help you learn about yourself and teach you the tools you need to reduce the influence of these problems on your life.

What should I expect from the first session?

During the initial 60-minute intake you will receive a comprehensive assessment of your goals, symptoms, history, and presenting problem. The intake is also an opportunity for you to get to know your future therapist and ask any questions you may have. We will then give you treatment recommendations and additional referrals, if appropriate.

Can we do sessions virtually?

At this time, all sessions are virtual and take place over a secure video-conferencing platform. Riverside Psychology serves patients in New York and all PSYPACT participating states. This includes: AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

What do typical sessions look like?

Expect once-weekly sessions at the same time every week. Individual sessions are 45-minutes and couples sessions are 55-minutes.

In a typical session, we start by setting an agenda for the course of the meeting. We figure out what’s been going on this week and deep-dive into one or two specific topics. The topic could be an issue that came up with a friend, a behavior pattern you’re noticing, a new skill you’re learning, or anything else relevant to your goals. If you received homework last week, expect to discuss it in session. Then, we wrap up with some final conclusions and what to focus on in the coming week. Finally, we always ask you for feedback on our work together, because we want to be sure that you find each session to be helpful.

Do you prescribe medications?

Riverside Psychology does not have a provider that prescribes medications. However, if medication would be helpful in addition to therapy, we have a number of psychiatrists we work closely with and can provide referrals as needed.

What can I do to make the most out of therapy?

Our patients report that they get the most out of our sessions when they bring the most real versions of themselves to the table. Expect to be an active participant in therapy, as if your therapist is your coach and you are the athlete. Like most things, the more you put into our time together, the more you’ll get out of it.

How long does therapy last?

Everyone has different needs, so unfortunately, this is not possible to determine in a general FAQs page. Most evidence-based treatments are time-limited, but expect to commit at least four months. After your intake, we will prescribe an expected length of treatment to address the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place. Additionally, throughout therapy, we will continuously assess your symptoms and collaboratively decide how many more sessions will be helpful for you.