 Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose The Love Birds?
Relationship and Sex Therapy/Coaching is a combined approach that we use with couples. By working together, not only do we offer a male/female perspective, we also provide an integrated approach using our two disciplines: therapy and coaching.
Our approach is a professional relationship-focused service where a couple is assumed to be healthy, powerful, and able to achieve their relationship and sexuality goals with effective support, information, and guidance. We tailor services to the specific needs of our clients using such treatment methods as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Rational Living Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Interpersonal Therapy), Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Sex Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Relationship and Sex Coaching, or an integrative approach.
In Summary:
1. Husband/wife team
2. Male and female perspective
3. Combines counseling and coaching skills
4. Drs. Bird are certifed through the same board, American Board of Sexology, as sexology pioneers Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr. William Masters, Dr. William Granzig, Dr. John Money, Dr. Helen Singer Kaplan, Dr. Albert Ellis, Dr. Wardell Pomeroy and Dr. Erwin Haeberle.
top
What is coaching and how is it different from psychotherapy?
Coaching – to teach, train, or tutor. Coaching is a distinct profession that helps clients solve problems, reach goals, design a plan of action and make decisions. It helps clients identify what is important to them and helps them align their thoughts, words, and actions, accordingly.
Coaches encourage clients to set goals they truly want and they ask them to do more than they may have done on their own. They help clients focus in order to produce results more quickly and they provide clients with the tools, support, and structure to accomplish more. Coaching is more action-oriented and focuses on the here and now. Just think of a coach as a personal trainer for your life and relationship.
Psychotherapy – the psychological treatment of mental, emotional, and nervous disorders. It very often results in significant relief from mental health problems, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. Therapy often goes into depth about various issues and usually focuses on dealing with the past. Therapy seeks to uncover the ‘why’ to issues/problems.
top
What can we expect from the sessions?
To begin the process, we use a four-session assessment model. The first session is considered the initial couple session. The next two sessions are individual sessions for each partner. As a team, we meet with each partner individually to gather individual histories and perceptions of the current concerns/issues. The fourth session is the couple-feedback session to discuss the couple’s strengths and vulnerabilities and treatment planning. After the assessment phase, it is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions (or every two weeks), where each session lasts 50-60 minutes.
top
How long does therapy/coaching process last?
The length of time varies and depends on your needs and what you want to accomplish. We encourage you to commit to the process for as long as you continue to receive value. You are free to cancel the coaching/therapy relationship at any time that it stops meeting your needs.
You will get the most dramatic results from therapy/coaching if you show up on time, take the process seriously, apply the suggestions/requests that are offered and do the home assignments that are requested.
top
What about confidentiality?
Therapy/Coaching sessions are private and confidential. That means that what you are doing, how you are doing, what you have accomplished, and your personal secrets are not discussed or hinted at by us to anyone else.
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are a number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.
top
Can I use insurance to pay for these services?
Unfortunately, we do not accept insurance for our services.
top |
