Dr Beverly Nicholson
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Dr. Beverly NIcholson
Licensed Psychologist
Silverton, OR
(503) 873-3242
Q: What should I look for in a therapist?
A: The following are important factors in your search for the right therapist;
Licensing
Be sure that the therapist is credentialed and licensed in Oregon.
In Oregon, there are several different types of professionals who practice psychotherapy:
Fees & Insurance
You will want to know about therapists' fees. Do they accept insurance, including your plan/company?
Demographics
Subjective feelings do matter. You may have a preference for a male or female, or for someone older or younger.
Fit
In your first appointment, not how comfortable you feel with this person. Does it feel like you can work with them? No matter how good the therapist, nor how motivated the client, the process works best when there is a good fit between the two.
Q: What can I expect at the first meeting?
A: Every therapist has their own initial intake process. I generally begin the first part of the session by filling out some forms with you in order to gather necessary personal information and get a sense of the issues you are encountering. I will also explain confidentiality policies and make a copy of your insurance card.
For the remainder of the time, we will talk about your issues, what your goals are, and what you are hoping to achieve in therapy. I will take a brief history of your life to provide me a better context to understand you.
In our first meeting, I focus on listening to you. I do work in an interactive manner, and will talk more in subsequent sessions. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Q: What happens in subsequent meetings?
A: We will talk about whatever you want to focus on. Some clients come up with a list of things they want to address. Others may have no idea initially what they want to talk about. That is fine too. As we start with what has been going in the week, things you may have been preoccupied with often lead to what you need to address.
I look for themes and patterns, unresolved issues, needs and wants, all of which can motivate behavior. The better we understand these, the more likely we can work on strategies and techniques to initiate adjustments you wish to make. There are many possibilities to choose from; and no one works for everyone. My goal is to help you find what works best for you.
Q: Can talking about problems and feelings really change anything?
A: Yes! You cannot change what took place in the past, but you can change your experience of what occurred. When things happen to children, they make sense of the events from the perspective of a child's mind. Often that understanding is limited, and provides a skewed picture of what is going on and why. When they look back on those events with the eyes of an adult, they can better perceive what was really occurring. Developing greater awareness of present day challenges can also help clients achieve their goals for greater well being. I strive to take a holistic view.
Q: How long are sessions and how often should we meet?
A: Sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.
In most cases, it is most beneficial to meet weekly for the first 6-8 sessions in order to get to know each other, feel comfortable working together, and to build some therapeutic momentum. That said, meeting frequency is flexible and is ultimately adjusted to accommodate clients' needs.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: Yes. I accept most major insurances. I bill them as a service to clients, who are responsible for any co-pays or co-insurances. I accept checks and cash.
Q: Do you participate in any "referral" sites?
A: I encourage clients to personally inquire with any therapist they may be considering and to be cautious of medical referral websites. They can list and rate professionals without their knowledge or consent. Some have also engaged in dubious marketing schemes to charge a provider for the ability to respond to a review, or correct a listing. Any such sites that do list me have no obtained my permission, and may contain inaccurate information.
I have enjoyed a robust practice for over 20 years in large part to the referrals of other health providers and satisfied clients. I believe in treating all my clients compassionately and adhering to all professional standards and ethics.
A: The following are important factors in your search for the right therapist;
Licensing
Be sure that the therapist is credentialed and licensed in Oregon.
In Oregon, there are several different types of professionals who practice psychotherapy:
- Counselors: LPC's: Licensed Professional Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists: LFMT; Licensed Family and Marital Therapist
- Clinical Social Worker: LCSW; Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Psychologist; PhD., Psy.D.
Fees & Insurance
You will want to know about therapists' fees. Do they accept insurance, including your plan/company?
Demographics
Subjective feelings do matter. You may have a preference for a male or female, or for someone older or younger.
Fit
In your first appointment, not how comfortable you feel with this person. Does it feel like you can work with them? No matter how good the therapist, nor how motivated the client, the process works best when there is a good fit between the two.
Q: What can I expect at the first meeting?
A: Every therapist has their own initial intake process. I generally begin the first part of the session by filling out some forms with you in order to gather necessary personal information and get a sense of the issues you are encountering. I will also explain confidentiality policies and make a copy of your insurance card.
For the remainder of the time, we will talk about your issues, what your goals are, and what you are hoping to achieve in therapy. I will take a brief history of your life to provide me a better context to understand you.
In our first meeting, I focus on listening to you. I do work in an interactive manner, and will talk more in subsequent sessions. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Q: What happens in subsequent meetings?
A: We will talk about whatever you want to focus on. Some clients come up with a list of things they want to address. Others may have no idea initially what they want to talk about. That is fine too. As we start with what has been going in the week, things you may have been preoccupied with often lead to what you need to address.
I look for themes and patterns, unresolved issues, needs and wants, all of which can motivate behavior. The better we understand these, the more likely we can work on strategies and techniques to initiate adjustments you wish to make. There are many possibilities to choose from; and no one works for everyone. My goal is to help you find what works best for you.
Q: Can talking about problems and feelings really change anything?
A: Yes! You cannot change what took place in the past, but you can change your experience of what occurred. When things happen to children, they make sense of the events from the perspective of a child's mind. Often that understanding is limited, and provides a skewed picture of what is going on and why. When they look back on those events with the eyes of an adult, they can better perceive what was really occurring. Developing greater awareness of present day challenges can also help clients achieve their goals for greater well being. I strive to take a holistic view.
Q: How long are sessions and how often should we meet?
A: Sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes.
In most cases, it is most beneficial to meet weekly for the first 6-8 sessions in order to get to know each other, feel comfortable working together, and to build some therapeutic momentum. That said, meeting frequency is flexible and is ultimately adjusted to accommodate clients' needs.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: Yes. I accept most major insurances. I bill them as a service to clients, who are responsible for any co-pays or co-insurances. I accept checks and cash.
Q: Do you participate in any "referral" sites?
A: I encourage clients to personally inquire with any therapist they may be considering and to be cautious of medical referral websites. They can list and rate professionals without their knowledge or consent. Some have also engaged in dubious marketing schemes to charge a provider for the ability to respond to a review, or correct a listing. Any such sites that do list me have no obtained my permission, and may contain inaccurate information.
I have enjoyed a robust practice for over 20 years in large part to the referrals of other health providers and satisfied clients. I believe in treating all my clients compassionately and adhering to all professional standards and ethics.