- feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, or sad
- feeling worried, anxious, or experiencing panic
- feeling isolated or unsatisfied in their relationships with others
- learning to manage anger in healthy ways
- a desire for enhanced self-worth, self-understanding, and vitality
- developing a satisfying career and balancing that with other meaningful aspects of their life
- having experienced abuse and/or other traumatic experiences
- processing grief/loss
- wanting to change old, problematic patterns or address feeling stuck
- a desire to change behaviors that are troubling them, including addictive or disordered behaviors
- a desire to overcome barriers to achieving a life goal that has been elusive
- experiencing a difficult time or facing a difficult decision and wanting a place to sort through their feelings and move forward in their life with intention and clearer thinking
Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.
Challenging times are a natural part of life. Even people who find that they typically cope well may be faced with situations that leave them feeling overwhelmed and unsure; therapy often helps illuminate one’s strengths and discover new ways to apply these strengths.
Therapy allows people to take ownership for their growth and take responsibility for making desired changes. When a counseling relationship is working well, clients experience new insights about themselves and a greater sense of wholeness and peace. Also, therapy may involve learning new skills or strategies to enhance coping in day-to-day life. Therapy is a process, and a working partnership develops between client and therapist. Therapy is not always comfortable or straightforward, as difficult emotions and ways of being often need to be sorted through in order for new energy and change to appear. Clients often determine that feeling the temporary pain of addressing uncomfortable issues is well worth leaving behind the continual pain of living the way they had previously. Clients should feel comfortable with their therapist and be able to ask about whatever is on their mind regarding the process. Your MAPS psychologist welcomes your questions and thoughts about therapy and what you find helpful.
The psychologists at MAPS have years of experience working with individuals and couples presenting with a wide range of concerns. The success of therapy is often based upon a strong working relationship between client and therapist. MAPS therapists offer a free 15 minute phone consultation for you to discuss your reasons for seeking counseling and learn a bit more about the therapist you contacted. The initial appointment is also a good opportunity to gauge the fit between you and your MAPS psychologist. Therapy works best when clients take an active role in the therapy process. For instance, bringing up the topics that are most important to you, as well as looking for ways to connect and practice what is learned in therapy to daily life. Your MAPS therapist will work actively alongside you to help you make the changes you desire in your life.
Psychologists at MAPS provide a wide range of services, including individual and couples therapy. Please see the “About Us” tab for a more in-depth description of the various services we provide. You and your psychologist will discuss the various services provided at MAPS, answer any questions you might have, and decide what the best service for you is based on your presenting concern(s) and goals for counseling.
Yes, all client-therapist conversations are private and confidential. Confidentiality covers not only what is said in therapy, but also the fact that someone is a client at MAPS. As licensed psychologists, we follow the professional ethical standards of the American Psychological Association (APA). There are a few rare exceptions when a therapist can disclose confidential information without consent: when the safety of a client or other is at imminent risk, some disclosures of child abuse or vulnerable adult abuse, or if there is a court order. In all other instances, aside from submitting for insurance reimbursement, you will need to provide written authorization for us to disclose any information related to your therapy sessions.
It is standard, ethical practice for psychologists to consult with other health professionals about our work with clients. During such consultations, we make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of the client by obscuring or omitting identifying details. The other professionals with whom we consult are also legally obligated to keep the information confidential.
In couple counseling, we consider your relationship to be the patient. During the course of our work, we may see one of you individually for one or more sessions or for part of a session. These sessions should be viewed as part of the work that we are doing with the couple unless otherwise indicated.
In most cases, information discussed in individual sessions is not discussed with your partner, although we will likely encourage you to share this information voluntarily with your partner in our sessions. We will not disclose confidential information about your treatment to anyone else unless we are required to by law or both partners provide permission to release such information. Please be aware that either of you could choose to speak about your treatment to outsiders. Although both of you should treat all information shared during couples counseling sessions as confidential, it is equally important that you understand that confidentiality is limited in this regard.
The majority of the first session will be spent having you talk about the concern(s) that brought you into counseling, as well as your background and personal history. Your MAPS psychologist will also provide a brief explanation about counseling and cover a few important office policies. Additionally, you and your MAPS psychologist will discuss your goals for counseling. You can share on a level that feels comfortable for you.
Each therapy session will be tailored to meet your needs and goals. Though commonly called a “therapy hour,” a regular psychotherapy session actually lasts for 45-50 minutes. At the beginning of counseling most people see their MAPS psychologist weekly in order to build a trusting relationship and make steady progress towards goals. Once consistent progress is being made, you and your MAPS psychologist will collaboratively determine what session frequency best suits your needs.
A counseling session with a licensed psychologist at MAPS ranges from $195-$250. Insurance may cover some of this cost. The amount covered by your insurance can typically be found in a Benefit Plan Description document provided to you by your insurer. Additionally, psychologists at MAPS reserve a certain number of slots for clients who are unable to afford the full session fee. If you request a reduced fee and your psychologist is able to accommodate your request, you and your psychologist will determine your fee during the initial/intake appointment. If your MAPS psychologist is unable to accommodate your request, a referral will be provided.
Yes. You can use money from all three types of health spending accounts – health savings accounts (HSAs); health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs); and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) – to pay for sessions. Oftentimes, such health spending accounts have debit cards that can be used to pay for service. You can also pay with cash or your personal credit/debit card and have your health spending account reimburse you.
Psychologists at MAPS operate on a fee-for-service model and are out-of-network providers. Many insurance plans will cover a portion of the session fee, once your deductible has been met. How it works is this: you will pay your psychologist directly for your session and, if you’d like to be reimbursed by your insurance, we will provide you a receipt to submit to your insurance company. Please keep in mind that if you choose to have insurance reimburse you for session fees, your MAPS psychologist will need to provide a mental health diagnosis in order for the insurance company to reimburse you.
This is a personal decision, one that your MAPS psychologist can assist you in making. If you choose not to submit to your insurance for reimbursement, your MAPS psychologist and you can make important decisions about your treatment without the constraints and dictates often imposed by third-party payers. For example, some insurance plans restrict the number of mental health visits during the calendar year, as well as limit the frequency of sessions. Additionally, if you choose not to submit to your insurance, your MAPS psychologist will not be required to make a diagnosis for insurance purposes.
Parking is easy to find. Metered street parking is ample in all the blocks around MAPS. There are also multiple parking structures within 2 blocks of MAPS. Except for rare events in the area such as Bastille Days and the evenings of Jazz in the Park, you will be able to find parking within one block of the building.
No. Psychologists in the State of Wisconsin are not afforded prescription privileges; however, your MAPS psychologist will be able to provide you with a referral list of psychiatrists. If you already have a psychiatrist or primary care physician who is prescribing medication, we are happy to collaborate with that provider to ensure that medication and therapy are coordinated for you.
The laws and standards of the psychology profession require that we keep professional records. Paper records are maintained, under lock and key, for a minimum of seven years. Electronic records are fully compliant with laws (HIPAA and HITECH) regulating the standards for encrypted transmission and storage of PHI.
Therapy can come to a close in any number of ways. You may have achieved your therapy goals; you and your therapist may agree that it is time to end your work together. You also have the right to end or take a break from your treatment at any time without your therapist’s permission or agreement. However, if you do decide to exercise this option, we encourage you to talk with your therapist about the reason for your decision in a therapy session so that we can bring sufficient closure to our work together. We can also discuss any referrals you may need at that time. If during psychotherapy either the therapist or the client determines that the therapy is not effective in helping you reach your therapeutic goals, that will be discussed with you and, if appropriate, treatment will be ended. In such a case, your therapist will provide a number of referrals that may be of help to you. If you want another professional’s opinion or wish to consult with another therapist, your therapist will assist you in finding someone qualified, and, if you provide a written consent, your therapist will provide the essential information needed for continuity of care.
All clinicians in our office keep updated on recommendations from public health officials, both locally in Milwaukee and nationally through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks and hand sanitizer are available to all clients in the waiting room. Offices have air purifiers with HEPA filters. If you would like to mask during session, please let your therapist know and we will be happy to accommodate this request. Phone and video sessions are offered as an alternative (when clinically appropriate) to in-person sessions.