Vision Statement

Many people ask, what is different about talking to a therapist? Why not talk to people I already know in my life? Well, the relationship you have with your therapist is different in several ways. Outside, of training and experience in supporting and understanding mental health. Therapists create a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space in which to support and provide helpful strategies for coping and healing. Therapeutic boundaries are in place to allow for new perspectives and observations that can be helpful in changing problematic thoughts and patterns into healthier ones. Therapists may feel like a part of your life, but because of their unique role, can help to identify and promote insight into areas that others might be too close to see or engage within helpful ways.

Yes, however, this can be guided by a number of factors. We do our best to match clients up with therapists that fit the criteria you are looking for. These can include being in-network with your insurance carrier if you plan to use insurance, scheduling, and availability, as well as training and specialization in different areas in which you may be wanting to address. Sometimes clients are looking for a specific type of therapy such as EMDR. Others want a certain approach or style of the therapist. These factors can inform which therapists will work best for you. We do our best to find a “good fit” with as many therapists as we have in our group so that you have options for who you work with. The therapeutic relationship is of utmost importance and foundational to making progress toward your goals. You can get to know our providers by reading our bio’s on Our Team page. Or contact us directly and we will offer guidance based on specialties and certifications.

Sometimes, this happens. You and the therapist you are working with just don’t fit well. It’s ok. We don’t take this personally, our goal and hope for you is to help you find the right fit for you at this time. All therapists have different styles, personalities, and focus. Perhaps you are wanting someone more direct and directive, that assigns homework and tasks. Perhaps you want somewhat who just listens and supports, and the last thing you need is to feel like you failed in doing a task outside of therapy. While the therapists at Prism tend to be middle of the road in these areas. It is important that you have a solid therapeutic relationship. If the fit of the therapist is an issue, please bring this up with your therapist.

Sometimes a plan can be created around what you are looking for which can lead to change with your current therapist. Sometimes this means we can set you up with a different provider or a referral. Even if we aren’t the right fit, we can provide educated referrals of other professionals that might be what you are looking for. This way you don’t have to sift through all the providers to find what you are looking for. We are simply in the business of getting you to your best you, even if that isn’t with us.

If you are new to therapy, what to do, and what happens is a common question. While we have couches, you are not expected to lay down on one during your session. However, if that is what feels comfortable to you, you can if you like… Generally sessions your therapist will engage with you in conversation typical to what you would expect of any caring, supportive healthcare professional.

• Initial & Assessment Sessions: During the initial session the therapist will go over paperwork, such as informed consent and privacy policies. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification to ensure a good understanding of therapy and our policies and practices. If you are utilizing insurance an assessment is conducted in which we identify a diagnosis. Therapists are able to diagnose most mental health disorders, which is a requirement to bill insurance. The diagnosis can also inform the therapist in creating an individual treatment plan and goals for the session. Assessments are typically done the first session and then every 6 to 12 months depending on your insurance carrier.

• Working Phase Sessions: These are the “regular” sessions outside of assessment. This time is spent working in various ways to make progress toward your goals.  Goals are created collaboratively with you and the therapist. Sometimes the therapist will have a plan for what to work on in the session, at other times you will determine what is focused on. You always have the ability to shift topics or focus in sessions. A basic template for a regular session is for the therapist to check in on what has been occurring in your life since you were last seen, follow up on any homework or interventions and how these are working, and ask what you would like to work on or explore in the time we are meeting. You are in the driver’s seat and your therapist works as a guide to support you in working on the areas you have identified.

Depending on the type of session, these typically last from around 40 minutes to 60 minutes. You can talk with your provider regarding the length you would like to have. We understand that sometimes this may need to vary depending on the schedule. We do our best to wrap up sessions so that you can transition back to your day as fluidly as possible.

The frequency and duration of therapy are largely up to you and what your provider has available. Often times at the beginning of services you may be seen more regularly. As you are building a relationship and the provider is completing assessment, treatment plan, and goals, getting to know who you are, and what you are wanting to work on.

Once goals are met, generally clients are discharged from services, and a plan is made to support this transition. If you need to re-engage in services after discharge, you can usually come back to be seen again. There are lots of clients we have seen over the years that come in as needed, sometimes for just one session “checkups” or you may come back for a few months until an issue is resolved, or symptoms are better managed. Because we are at the lowest level of mental health care we generally meet with people on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly schedule. This also means if it is deemed you may need a higher level of support, we may provide referrals that would be a better fit.

While we are happy to provide guidance and recommendations, you are truly in charge of how often you would like to be seen.

We understand all the letters that identify our education and licenses can be confusing. Sometimes what we are able to do and what we can’t is challenging to understand. These letters relate to our educational background. To provide services all therapists must meet state requirements and become licensed to practice. All licensed providers hold at least a Master’s level education. In order to maintain an active license, all therapists must complete continuing education training, including ethics and mandatory reporting training, which is submitted to the state to complete renewal. While much of these licenses are similar there are some key differences:

First, we do NOT prescribe medication.

Therapy and medication are two different things. While medication prescribers may also engage in some talk therapy, therapists can NOT engage in prescribing medication. We are happy to care coordinate with your medication prescriber to support in you having a collaborative team. Therapists are unique in what we do and our clinical experience and education that only focuses on this set us apart.

LMFT & t-LMFT

A LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, this means a foundational focus of education is on relationships and systems. MFT’s must obtain a higher number of clinical hours engaging in relational work- such as family, couple, or parent-child work to complete this degree and licensure. MFT’s tend to conceptualize within a framework that focuses on systems and relationships. So even if you are engaging in individual work, an MFT might look at issues from this perspective. Patterns, dynamics, cycles, and internal and external relationships are key areas of focus and training for this degree. Systems while often times focus on relationships with other individuals, also focus on systems of environment, identity formation, and society.

A t-LMFT is a temporary-licensed marriage and family therapist. Like in most medical and healthcare fields, even after becoming licensed you are still provisional and supervised in the field. A t-LMFT must meet additional clinical requirements even after completing their master’s degree to become fully licensed in the state. This supports new professionals as they enter the field. This is a way to gate-keep and ensures best practices and ethical standards are met. You are in great hands with a t-LMFT as they get lots of supervision on cases. Often this means you are not only getting a professional that is very current with best practices and training, but also the guidance and support of a seasoned experienced therapist supporting them. Kind of like a two-for-one deal.

LMHC

LMHC stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Foundational focus is on supporting individuals with mental health struggles including assessment, diagnoses, and treatment. Focus is typically on the treatment of the individual, however, LMHC’s often engage in a great deal of relational work as well. Education and training vary, however, core competencies focus on individual emotional, behavioral, and cognitive changes. As well as stress and adjustment management.

LISW

LISW stands for Licensed Independent Social Worker. This is a therapist that has met the additional training requirements to be considered independent which is the highest level of social work without requiring a Ph.D. This means they have specialized knowledge about clinical social work. This allows them to provide therapy independently and provide supervision to other social workers. Social workers have additional training in community and social justice areas. Many social workers aim to support individuals in access to community supports and resources.

RPT & RPT-S

RPT and RPT-S stand for registered play therapist and registered play therapist supervisor. These are additional credentials that providers can obtain by meeting additional education, training, and clinical experience requirements. This is a national certification completed through the Association of Play Therapy. This is the highest standard for play therapists to hold, and a sign of best-practice standards in performing this service for children and families.

We are very lucky at Prism Therapy Group to have all of these varied disciplines represented within our practice. This is a benefit to you as a whole, as you get the wealth of all these areas of expertise supporting you on your path to wellness.

We want to inform you that the owners of Prism Psychiatric Group also have ownership in Prism Therapy Group (and vice versa).

It is important for you to be aware of this relationship as it may introduce a potential conflict of interest. The decision to open Prism Psychiatric Group was driven by a recognized need within Prism Therapy Group’s organization to provide comprehensive mental health services—specifically the need for medication management services.

The shared location facilitates the convenience of receiving both medication and therapy services in one place. We recognize the importance of offering choices and want to assure you that, despite our affiliation, you are not obligated to receive therapy services exclusively from Prism Therapy Group (or medication services exclusively from Prism Therapy Group).

We encourage you to explore alternative options to meet your mental health needs, and we are committed to supporting your right to make informed decisions about your care. Our goal is to create an environment where you feel comfortable and empowered in your mental health journey. If you have any questions or concerns about this potential conflict of interest, please reach out.