FAQ
How do I know if I need therapy?
If you’re asking this question at all, then chances are there’s something that you would like to change. Are you happy with the way things are? Do you feel like you could or should be doing better? Is something interfering with other important aspects of your life? Have family members or friends suggested that you might benefit from some help? Any of these may be a reason to seek therapy. Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on your own personal standards and values.
A comparable but more familiar question might be "how do I know if I need to go to the doctor?" Some people who are very healthy nonetheless go to regular doctor’s appointments, even supplementing these with nutritionist consultations, massage therapy, chiropractic, etc. They do this because they value their health and want to continue functioning at the highest level possible. Other people only go to the doctor if they break a bone or become severely ill. To these people, doctors are there to fix specific problems when they become unmanageable. Others avoid doctors entirely, even to the point of allowing preventable problems to worsen and cause serious dysfunction. While most of us would agree that this last approach is unwise, you ultimately have the freedom to decide how to manage your own life.
If you’re unsure of how therapy could work for you, feel free to contact me with your questions.
Does therapy work?
Yes. Research has repeatedly shown therapy to be effective in improving mood, relieving anxiety, and improving overall social functioning. A more thorough and expanded answer to this and other related questions can be found here.
It is important to remember that, just like medical treatments, therapy has limitations, and not everyone will be able to achieve all of their goals. However, also just like medical treatments, therapy can produce surprisingly-positive results for some people who may never have imagined that they could find relief for their problems.
If you are unsure of what to expect given your own personal situation, please contact me so I can better address your concerns.
What are your fees? Do you accept insurance?
For a full answer to these questions, please see my FEES AND INSURANCE page.
What kind of degree do you have?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or LCSW. I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis in Community Mental Health at UC Berkeley. I became licensed in California after completing 2 years of supervised clinical practice and passing 2 licensing exams and subsequently became licensed in Florida after passing another exam.. I am currently licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental disorders in both California and Florida.
Online therapy? Does that really work? Is it safe?
You’re right to have questions and concerns. New technology creates new opportunities, but also new challenges. Many therapists have avoided moving into online therapy due to a lack of understanding of the legal and practical issues involved. Still others are trying online therapy, but doing so improperly and putting their clients at risk. Skype, FaceTime, and other video conferencing services are great for most circumstances but lack the privacy protections necessary for effective and ethical therapy services.
Wecounsel, the company I use for my online sessions, is exclusively built for therapy. It is fully HIPAA-compliant, using 256 bit SSL encryption for its web site and 128 bit SSL encryption for its video conferencing software
For more information about Wecounsel and online therapy in general, I encourage you to visit https://www.wecounsel.com/faq/.
To see my specific profile on Wecounsel and to schedule an online session with me, please visit https://portal.wecounsel.com/directory/adamk
Have a question not listed here? Contact me and ask.
Forms
Intake Questionnaire Form (PDF)
Consent to Treatment Form (PDF)
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