Ask Laura

I actually care, that’s why I went into this field of work. And, I feel so thankful that I get paid to do something I love doing.

 Absolutely. I can’t promise I’ll answer everything, but you can always ask. 

Please do! Therapy is for you, and if something I said or did doesn’t feel right to you, I want to know so I can make it right. Also, by speaking up for yourself, you are practicing repair and conflict resolution, skills that are helpful to learn for any relationship. 

Yes, sometimes I do. Because I actually care, there are times I might get reminded of you and wonder how you are doing. I may also intentionally think about you on important days in your life. 

Most of my clients have been betrayed by people they trusted, so I wouldn’t expect you to trust me right off the bat. You need time and experience with me to see that I am trustworthy, just like with anyone else. I look forward to when you eventually can trust, but I won’t pressure you to get there. 

Yes, I will put a diagnosis in your chart and we can talk about it if you would like. Diagnosing guides treatment planning and is also required for insurance reimbursement, which is completely your choice to submit. Many clients choose not to submit for out-of-network reimbursement; therefore, their diagnosis remains completely confidential. 

Honestly, because its a full time job. I used to take insurance when I worked for a group practice where they had an employee dedicated to handling insurance claims. Despite the fact that I didn’t have to do their work in submitting claims, negotiating fees and tracking allocated payments, I still had to regularly advocate for insurance to continue coverage for each client. It’s a lot of work to manage insurance, and I would much prefer to dedicate my time and energy to my clients. Additionally, I greatly respect privacy and confidentiality in therapy. Insurance means your diagnosis and progress are shared with others and not protected to the highest degree. 

I promise I won’t be mad. I make the assumption that you are doing the best you can right now. I recognize that healing can take a long time for some people, and for others the idea of feeling better is so foreign that it can feel scary in itself. If you are not progressing, let’s talk about that. It may mean we need to try a different approach, address your fears, or it may mean a referral would be in your best interest. 

Would you believe me if I told you no? I’m here to help you explore what makes you feel messed up or to process what happened to you. I’m not here to judge you. Judgment comes from a lack of understanding or empathy. I’m going to listen and ask questions to ensure I understand you.

No, I'm not going to force anything on you. I am more inclined to offer more naturalistic forms of aid before suggesting medication, but if I think medication might be the best help for you, I will let you know and we can discuss your thoughts on it. From there, if you would like to pursue medication, which is always your choice, I can offer some excellent doctor referrals. 

Your crying won’t make me uncomfortable. If you don’t want to cry or if your feelings become too overwhelming, I can teach you skills to help regulate your emotions or guide you out of strong emotions back to a place where we can have conversation again.

My last resort is hospitalization. Hospitalization is up for consideration if you’ve got a plan, means, and intent to seriously harm yourself, and we can’t come up with a solid plan to keep you safe. In most instances, wanting to die by suicide is really about wanting the pain or suffering to stop. Let’s work on getting the pain or suffering to stop in safer ways. 

Great question. I encourage you to read about how I involve family members on my Specialties page. I wish this was a one-size-fits-all answer, but it really depends on the parent-child relationship. Ideally and in many circumstances, I keep parents updated and involved in their kid’s treatment, and I always welcome communication from the parents. At the same time, therapy is intended to provide a private, safe space for your kid to talk about their thoughts and feelings without fear of consequences. So again, it all depends on what feels and is safe for your kid. If you have specific questions regarding this topic, please reach out to me and we can discuss. 

I am a mandatory reporter per Texas law. Every therapist is. And I don’t know any therapist who likes contacting CPS. If your kid discloses information that sounds like abuse or neglect (past or present), I will assess the claims extensively before taking any action. Only if I have sufficient reason to suspect that what they claim to have experienced is indeed abuse or neglect by the standards of Texas law, will I then make a report. In almost every circumstance, CPS investigates and dismisses the case (for good or bad), but that doesn’t change the law I am bound to uphold. If you have concerns regarding this, please contact me in advance and let's discuss. 

Generally, the termination session includes reviewing your progress, identifying next steps, and exploring any feelings that come up with saying goodbye. We can talk about what worked and didn’t in the therapeutic relationship and what feels unfinished. Termination is almost always your choice. 

Here’s the thing about therapy, though, termination doesn’t mean you never see me again. If some time in the future you would like to return, you are always welcome to reach back out. 

I love seeing people overcome things they never thought possible and go from surviving to thriving! I consider it an absolute privilege to work alongside hurting people as they heal and find purpose and peace in life. Does everyone obtain this degree of change? No. Healing is a process and sometimes I am one of many helpers along the way, but I cherish the opportunity to be part of the journey.