FAQs About Our Office:

Why do I want to talk to a therapist?

• Sometimes, the pain of trying to cope alone can be overwhelming! Friends/family may try to help, and they may not provide exactly what you need. Our goal is to provide you with unbiased compassionate support that is state-of-the-art to help you meet your goals.

How Do I make an appointment?

• Located on our website, there is an online form you can complete and send to our staff who will contact you. You can also call our number at 480-780-0278 ext. 3, we look forward to hearing from you.

Do you accept insurance?

• Our office is out-of-network, so we do not accept insurance directly. However, if your insurance plan offers out-of-network benefits, we can provide you with a receipt so that you can bill your insurance directly. Please see Fees/Insurance for more information.

Can I receive a free consultation?

• Yes! After contacting the office, a free 10-20 minute phone consultation is available for us to better understand your symptoms and what you are looking for out of therapy.

Will I feel better right away?

• Depending on the severity of the condition, it can take weeks to months to feel significantly better. Psychotherapy has powerful long-term effects and years of evidence that show symptoms reduction. Do not expect to feel better after one session, consistency and commitment to your therapy can lead to more benefits.

What is the difference between a therapist and talking to a friend?

• A therapist will always focus on the patient rather than other outside relationships. Additionally, a therapist strives to be unbiased due to the lack of a personal relationship with the patient; also, a therapist is trained to not allow personal feelings/beliefs to influence your therapy.

What treatment options are available?

• We provide multiple evidence-based therapy options depending on the presenting issues. We offer scientifically founded treatments such as, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, Complicated Grief Treatment, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT for children/youth.

General FAQs About Mental Health:

What do I do when I feel I want to self-harm or have active suicidal thoughts?

• If you are in a crisis and thinking about self-harm or suicide, please, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or go to the nearest emergency room of a local hospital.

What causes mental illness?

• The exact source of an individual’s mental health concerns is unknown, however, research points to a combination of genetic (e.g., inherited genes that place a person at higher risk for expressing certain mental health disorders), biology (e.g., a person may have higher levels of emotion-related hormones that lead to being more reactive), psychosocial (e.g., how one was raised, society, culture, and various intersectional identities (race, age, gender), and environmental factors (e.g., available resources, nutrition, safety) that can contribute to most conditions.

Who does mental health affect?

• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) report that mental illnesses are common in the United States, an estimated one in five adults are affected by mental health (51.5 million in 2019). Mental illness does not affect a certain race, gender or social class; however, some conditions may be more common in different populations (i.e., eating disorders are more common in females). In addition, there can be many sociocultural phenomena that effect different populations in different ways (e.g., racism, poverty, discrimination).

Common FAQs About 2SLGBTQIA+:

How does someone know if they are gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual?

• Often, it can take a while for a person to put a label on their feelings or how they feel towards others. Understanding our sexuality and gender can be a process and people can take time to understand and determine their various identifiers. People do not have to be sexually active to know their sexual orientation - feelings and emotions are as much a part of one's identity. The short answer is that you'll know when you know.

How do I come out to my family and friends?

• There are many ways to prepare yourself to come out to your family and friends. Ask yourself, are you comfortable with your sexuality or gender identity/expression? Do you have support? Make sure you do have a safety plan with supportive people you can turn to if those whom you do inform react in less than kind/loving ways. Your loved ones may need time to accept you, just as you did—a therapist can help this process.

Can people of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have families?

• Absolutely! Please visit our parenting and family planning section to learn more.

How can I be sure about my sexual orientation if I am not sexually active?

• Sex is not required to know who you are. Think about your own feelings and physical attractions/desires, this can help you know determine your sexual orientation and the sexual practices that you enjoy.