Frequently Asked Questions

What is evidence-based practice (EBP)?

In my pracise I only use treatments that have shown to stand the rigor of scientific testing. EBPs are treatments that are based directly on scientific evidence suggesting that strongest contributors and risk factors for psychological symptoms. Most EBPs have been studied in several large-scale clinical trials, involving thousands of patients and careful comparison of the effects of EBPs vs. other types of psychological treatments. Dozens of multi-year studies have shown that EBPs can reduce symptoms significantly for many years following the end of psychological treatment - similar evidence for other types  of therapies is not available to date. The most commonly used evidence-based practice approaches for the treatment of psychological symptoms involve cognitive and behavior therapies (CBT). The efficacy of CBT has been demonstrated for a wide-range of symptoms in adults, adolescents, and children. 

What is the purpose of the evaluation session(s)?

Before you begin therapy, I find it helpful to have an evaluation session, during which I gather information about the concerns bringing you to therapy, the current stresses and strengths in your life, and previous experiences that may affect you now. There are two primary purposes of these sessions. First, without some detailed information about you and your concerns, it is difficult for me to develop appropriate interventions to help you to achieve your goals. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all, but rather an individualized process. Two, the evaluation gives us a chance to get to know  each other and to see if we work well together. 

After the evaluation session(s), we will meet for our first therapy session. During this session I will offer you "feedback" based on my evaluation, which will include a summary of your concerns and goals for therapy, your current strengths and stressors, and a treatment plan. We will work together to revise my "feedback" until we are in agreement about the goals of therapy and what we will do to achieve them. I find that this approach is most effective in ensuring that we are on the same page from the beginning of therapy and helping us to make any revisions to the plan necessary as we move forward.

Should I seek therapy?

This is a tough question for many people to answer. Indeed, most individuals and couples experience problems for a long time before they seek therapy. We tend to feel that we should be able to solve our problems by ourselves and that seeking help is a sign of weakness. Yet we are willing to seek help from a medical professional when we are sick, from an accountant when our taxes are complicated, or from a Information Technician when our computer is on the fritz. Just like people in each of those professions, as a psychologist, I have expertise in addressing specific problems or concerns that often arise. I am not the expert on your life or your problems and strengths - you are the expert there - but I have training to assist you in developing new skills and strengthening existing skills to make concerns more manageable and to achieve specific goals for your life.

Another reason that people hesitate to seek therapy is because they think only people who are really ill need therapy. This is not necessarily the case. Some people do have significant psychological problems and some couples do have long-standing relationship problems that lead them to seek therapy. Others seek therapy because they see signs that problems might develop and they want to prevent them from doing so. Others come to therapy to develop already existing strengths.

How do I know if therapy is helping?

This is probably the most important question for most clients. No one wants to spend the time and money on therapy if it isn't helpful in achieving their goals. I take several approaches to tracking improvement and helping you to determine if therapy is beneficial.

At the end of the feedback session we will have an agreed upon treatment plan and specific goals that you hope to achieve through therapy. I will create an individualized form for you to complete prior to each session that will include questions about your progress on these goals as well as other general concerns (e.g. if you are seeking therapy for depression, I will ask you to complete questions about depression each week; if you are seeking couple therapy, I will ask you to complete questions about relationship satisfaction and conflict each week). These forms will allow us to directly observe the progress you make on your goals throughout therapy and to identify any problems as quickly as possible.

Periodically, starting with the feedback session, we will "contract" for a certain number of sessions (typically 3-6). The number of sessions depends on how long we think it will take for you to begin to see positive change in achieving specific goals or steps-toward-goals (some changes can occur or be observed much more quickly than others). Throughout therapy, but especially at the end of contracted groups of sessions, we will evaluate progress toward your goals. If we are not making sufficient progress, we will reevaluate and possibly change the treatment goals or treatment plan. Alternatively, we may reach a point where therapy no longer appears to be helping or you feel that I am not the right therapist for you; in that case, we will discuss alternatives and I offer you referrals to other therapists. Therapy is never open-ended, with no end in sight. Rather, from the very beginning, we work toward ending therapy as soon as your goals are achieved and you are confident that you can maintain them.

What happens in therapy? How long does it last? 

Each therapy session lasts 60 minutes and sessions typically occur at the same time every week, although some individuals may wish to meet more frequently (up to twice a week) and others may wish to meet less frequently (1-2 times per month). I will typically ask you to complete a short questionnaire before each therapy session to track how things are going and your progress in achieving your goals. During most sessions, we will discuss events since the last session, review your progress on specific tasks that you set for yourself to help you achieve your goals, discuss specific concerns that you are working on, work on new skills and strengthen existing skills, and identify tasks for the upcoming week. However, not every session follows a set schedule. Sometimes you will want to discuss other issues or a new concern might come up in the course of a session. This is your time and it is flexible, although I will tell you if I feel that the session is diverging into topics that might not help you achieve your goals.

The total number of therapy sessions varies considerably from individual to individual. Research on CBT indicates that most people need at least 10-15 sessions to receive lasting benefit, although some are able to address concerns much more quickly and others need a longer period of time. Generally, the more severe the concerns leading you to therapy, the more sessions will be needed to achieve your goals. However, with occasional exceptions, therapy is completed within 3-6 months, although occasional "booster" sessions after therapy is terminated may be helpful. The number of sessions is up to you. I will give my recommendations, but you make the final decision.

Is therapy confidential? How is my information protected?

All of the information you give me during therapy is confidential, including the fact that you are in therapy. I will not share any information about your or your therapy with anyone without your written permission. All therapy records are kept in secure electronic locations and/or locked file cabinets. I am the only person who has access to your records. There are exceptions to confidentiality, however, which we will discuss in our initial session.

Does Dr. Meuret offer Virtual Therapy?

Yes.

Where can I learn more about anxiety, depression, and related problems?

Please visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) website for science-based information about the anxiety and depression.

What are my fees and do you accept insurance?

I charge $300 per 1-hr session. Payment is due at the time services are provided and can be made by credit card through a secured online system. My fees are in line with community standards for expertise and seniority, however if they are not within your reach, you may be eligible to receive free-of-cost therapy in one of our ongoing intervention studies. Please visit the ARC website for more information.

I do not file insurance claims for you, but upon request, I will provide you with all of the information that you should need to make a claim. You may receive reimbursement from your insurance provider if you have “out of network” benefits.