+ What is Therapy?

Talk therapy, or counseling, is an art and a science that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of a variety of issues we can all experience throughout our lives. Evidence-based research shows that therapy is more effective in conjunction with medication, rather than medication alone, as it aims to help you understand your diagnosis and develop coping skills to manage your mental health with or without a diagnosis. There are various modalities that can be effective depending on your need.

+ Do I really need therapy? And how long will I need to go?

Everyone can run into problems from time to time, and while you may visit a dentist for your dental care, or a physical doctor for your medical care, a therapist is to aid you in gaining awareness and learning how to navigate through your emotional and mental health needs. Therapy can be short-term, for example in the case of adjusting to a new situation or change in your life. Therapy can also be long-term, or ongoing, depending on your need(s), and goal(s) for pursuing therapy.

+ Is Therapy Actually Private?

Everyone in the physical health field is bound by HIPAA, “The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.” (https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html) Mental Health, and clients’ served within the mental health population, are considered to be a protected class, which means Confidentiality is of the utmost importance; however, there are limitations to confidentiality and every therapist is obligated to discuss these limitations before beginning a therapeutic relationship. These limitations include: Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.

+ Are there any risks to doing therapy?

Psychotherapy has benefits and risks to the client. Possible risk include feeling uncomfortable feelings and discussing unpleasant aspects of life including trauma and fears. Psychotherapy is hard work and requires honesty and diligence to obtain the benefits of therapy. Benefits include reductions of distressing feelings, improved relationships, and resolutions of problems.

+ What type of therapy do the therapists at Niyyah use?

Evidence-based Modalities that have been proven to work for various diagnoses. It is imperative that you and your clinician develop an individualized treatment plan, as no two people are the same, and the therapy styles utilized will have to be tailored to your need(s). We can also use a variety of modalities together, but you and your therapist will need to discuss why each modality utilized is being recommended. Niyyah Counselors use CBT, TF- CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused, Exposure Therapy, and REBT.

+ What is TeleTherapy? Does it work?

Teletherapy is the utilization of technology to provide Therapy services using both an audio and visual platform that is HIPAA protected. While it is not the same as face-to-face therapy many clients' have benefited from it and find that they are able to get their needs met. Some even prefer it to face-to-face therapy and appreciate the convenience of not having a commute to their therapists’ office. During COVID-19, many therapists’ and clients’ have switched to teletherapy for the safety of everyone involved. You are encouraged to discuss any concerns you have about teletherapy with your clinician. It is important that you find a quiet, comfortable, and private room that is equipped with a computer, internet access, and web-cam where you won’t have interruptions. Then we will each log onto a safe, confidential online video conferencing system to meet for your private counseling session.