FAQ

The length of sessions vary between 45-90 minutes.   If you are in some distress, weekly appointments will be most effective for you. Evidence-based research recommends weekly for the highest satisfaction.  Why? Because the mind needs practice and repetition to change gears. You may start feeling better right away, and to sustain this state may take regular practice . . . like learning to play a musical instrument.  Many clients start once a week, maintain changes at every other week, eventually reducing to less frequent appointments.

Some people find that 10 sessions can help them make important changes when they are needing a tune up.  Others are working on major life adjustments or long standing patterns and six months or longer might be needed for lasting change. Still others prefer to come to therapy for lifelong support. 

Every person’s needs are unique. Our work together is designed specifically for you. Some will come with issues that are hard to define, while others will have clear goals. We are here to help you sort through these things. We can discuss your goals and use those to chart our way through the changes you want to make. Likewise, we can help you define your needs and desires for personal growth through therapy.

Although availability for each therapist varies, we are not available on an emergency basis. Your safety and well-being is very important to us. If you are having severe panic, anxiety or depression, please go to the nearest emergency room. If you are having a mental health crisis, please call the crisis line at:

Sutter Center for Psychiatry 24/7 line at 916-386-3000.

Crisis Text Line: Text RELATE to 741741

In therapy, you might see early changes, you might remain feeling stuck or you might even feel worse for a while. We encourage you to hang in there. Discuss your feelings and observations with your therapist just as you would with your doctor when faced with a physical problem. As with medical problems,  it can take a while to find the right treatment. We will help you plan the next steps. 

You might benefit from EMDR or group therapy. You might need to see your doctor for medication or to rule out medical problems. You might also benefit from working with other holistic practitioners, such as homeopaths or  nutritional counselors. We collaborate to help you achieve the results you want.

You can make the most of your investment of time and money by doing a few things:

• Take responsibility for your mental and emotional health and growth. Be an active participant in the process. Share what’s going on for you, and ask questions.
• Track your progress and the thoughts and feelings you have. Keep notes of each session and record your take-aways.
• Organize your schedule in such a way that you can come to your appointments and be on time.
• Budget for your investment in psychotherapy. This might require reprioritizing your expenses for a season. You are worth it!
• Catch yourself doing things right or doing things differently.
• Practice what you are learning.
• Set small, attainable goals, either daily or weekly, and report on your successes and struggles.
• Gather relational support for the changes you’re making. This might mean beginning in small ways to reach out to others for the first time. Or, if you have a supportive circle around you, it might mean slowly going a little deeper with them.

Christian counselors believe we are created in God’s image and that the ability to heal mind, body and spirit is woven into the makeup of each individual. Much of Christian counseling is a nuanced understanding of the role of suffering, relationships and individual needs as we interact with God.

We will introduce spiritual issues when requested and when they seem appropriate for your personal growth, so we encourage you to talk with your counselor about how your faith can be a part of your therapy. Some will want their counselor to include prayer and scripture, for example, while others won’t. 

At GRCCA, we believe in and support the dignity and inherent worth of every individual. We work with people from a wide variety of faith perspectives, including a secular worldview. There are no religious expectations or standards to which our clients must agree.