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MY APPROACH TO THERAPY AND MY TRAINING Welcome.
Thank you for visiting my website. I hope it provides you with useful information about me and my practice. The major goal of
therapy is to help you identify and cope with problems in your daily life and to deal with inner conflicts which disrupt
your ability to function effectively. This goal is accomplished by: increasing your personal awareness increasing your sense of empowerment to enable you to make changes necessary to attain
your personal goals identifying your personal goals, both for treatment
and beyond.
Treatment also promotes wholeness of the self through psychological growth and healing. My approach to therapy is psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The overarching theme of psychoanalytic psychotherapy is
that the more honest we are with ourselves, the better our chance for living a satisfying and useful life. While psychodynamic approaches
appreciate the fact that honesty about our own motives does not come easily to us, the approach aims to cultivate an increased
capacity to acknowledge what is not conscious, that is, to admit what is difficult or painful to see in ourselves. (McWilliams,
2004) About My Training: I have a Master's in Social Work earned in 1989 from Indiana
University. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Indiana. My Bachelor's degree is in Psychology
from Purdue University. More recently, I acquired additional training at the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute's Advanced
Psychotherapy program from 2003-2005, and in Chicago at the Institute for Clinical Social Work from 2005-2006. I treat adults in
individual therapy or couples therapy. Since 1991, I have treated people with a variety of problems including
depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, grief, and relationship issues.
In response to
the Covid19 pandemic, I have made adjustments to my practice. We can meet remotely -- via phone, Zoom, FaceTime,
or Doxy.me (video conference platforms). I have a link to the Doxy.me site and the Zoom site at the bottom of this page. If we have arranged to meet via Doxy or Zoom videoconference, please
use the link to enter the waiting area where I will meet you. There are suggestions in the virtual waiting room to optimize
your experience. I will be following WHO, NASW, and APA guidelines to protect patients/clients. When we meet
in-person we will follow these office safety precautions: Office seating in the therapy
room is arranged for appropriate physical distancing. We may both need to wear masks in session and in all common areas based on our risk factors. We will
strive to maintain a safe physical
distance. Everyone is encouraged to wash
their hands and use hand sanitizer. I will ask everyone to wait outside or on the first floor until appointment
time. Physical contact is not permitted. Tissues and trash bins are easily accessed. Trash is disposed of on a frequent
basis. Social distancing may feel isolating, but it is one of the best ways that
we can all help slow the spread of illnesses. You can learn more at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC.gov and the World Health Organization:
www.who.int.
Please
see the HelpGuide.org article by using the link below.
Coronavirus Anxiety: Coping with stress, fear and uncertainty: HelpgGuide.org
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DECIDING ON THE
RIGHT THERAPIST The decision to seek mental health treatment
is not an easy one. People are sometimes afraid that therapy will not help them or that personal changes will be too
difficult. Adding to the challenge is that good results from therapy depend a lot on working with the right therapist.
Finding a good match can take time and effort, and many considerations should be explored. What are the specialties
of the therapist? Where are they located? Does it matter to me if they are male or female? Will we be a
good match? All well-trained, professional therapists should treat you in
a respectful, courteous, and thoughtful manner. While convenience is important, above all you will want someone with
whom you feel comfortable and confident, and who can ultimately provide you with the support and assistance you need to reach
the goals and outcomes most beneficial to you. More than one session may be
needed to build a sense of trust between you and a therapist. Typically the first few sessions are used to get to know
a bit about you, your history, and to evaluate the issues that caused you to seek therapy. You will then likely discuss
the evaluation and problems you are facing and what treatments are recommended. If
you feel comfortable with me and I feel like I can help you, we will work to set goals and the plans to reach the goals.
For some problems, medication may be recommended in addition to sessions. Because I am not a psychiatrist (a mental
health professional who prescribes medications), you may be referred to a psychiatrist to coordinate treatment. For
some problems (depression being one of the most common), a combination of talk therapy and medication is the most effective
treatment. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A THERAPIST: As you think about the type of information that is important to you in talking to someone about
personal issues, consider some of the following questions: - Has the therapist
worked with the types of concerns or issues with which you are struggling?
- What
type of experience does she or he have?
- What are her or his credentials?
What type of license does she or he hold?
- Do you want to see a professional
close to home or to work?
- Does the therapist accept your benefit plan's
coverage? (Many health benefit plans offer Mental Health coverage. If yours is one of them, calling the Mental
Health toll-free number on your benefit ID card or visiting their website will offer you information about providers covered
under your plan.)
- Does she or he have appointments at the time you
need?
- What is her or his approach to therapy?
- How could you reach the therapist in the event of an emergency?
- Do
you have a special language requirement, or any other special needs?
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COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THERAPY What should I expect? ~ At a
minimum, a professional therapist should provide you confidentiality, clinical expertise, and respect, while maintaining the
code of ethics created by the licensing board. Additionally, you have the right to ask questions about anything
that happens in therapy. I'm always willing to discuss how and why I've decided to do what I'm doing, and to look at
alternatives that might work better. You can feel free to ask me to try something that you think will be helpful.
You can ask me about my training for working with your concerns, and can request that I refer you to someone else if you decide
I'm not the right therapist for you. You have the right to end therapy at any time. What are the length and frequency of treatment? ~ Psychotherapy
typically involves regular sessions, usually 45-50 minutes in length. Duration and frequency vary depending on the nature
of your problem and your individual needs. Will
there be records kept of what we talk about? ~ A clinical chart is maintained describing your condition and your treatment and progress in treatment, dates
of and fees for sessions, and notes describing each therapy session. Your records will not be released without your
written consent, unless in those situations as outlined in the Privacy Policy (see link below). Medical records are
locked and kept on site. What is the cost of therapy?
~ My fee for an individual therapy session is $120. If you need to cancel an appointment,
please tell me at least 24 hours ahead of time; otherwise, I may charge you for the missed session. Illness and emergencies
are exceptions to this. Will my insurance pay for therapy?
~ If you carry Mental Health coverage, I will bill your insurance. In many circumstances,
your insurance will require you to see a provider in their network. Often, the insurance company limits the fee charged
for the session. You will not be charged for the difference between my ordinary fee and the cap placed by insurance.
Any copayments should be paid either at the time of each session or when you receive a monthly billing from me. You
are responsible for deductibles and copayments. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with your insurance
benefit. To see a list of insurance companies for which I am a provider, see Page 3. What does it mean that my insurance company requires preauthorization? ~ If your therapy is being paid for in full or in part by your insurance company, there may be limitations imposed
by the insurance company. These may include their decision to limit the number of sessions available to you or to decide
the time period within which you must complete your therapy. They may also decide that you must see another therapist
in their network rather than me if I am not on their list of providers. Sometimes the insurance companies require some
sort of report of your progress in therapy. I will do all that I can to maximize the benefits you receive by filing
necessary forms and gaining required authorizations for treatment. What if I miss an appointment? ~ You may be billed
for appointments you miss without 24 hours notice except in the event of illness or emergency. When possible, sessions can
be rescheduled for another time. |
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Veronica K. Needler, L.C.S.W. |
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To view and print Client Forms and Notice of Privacy
Practices, click on the links below.
If you have a Doxy.me appointment scheduled with me, please click on this link to enter the waiting room.
If you have a Zoom appointment scheduled with me, this link should take you to the Zoom waiting room. Meeting ID: 496 883
9411 Passcode: 947200
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