Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a therapy session?

The most typical therapy session time frame is between 45 minutes and 50 minutes. However, some therapists may have appointments as brief as 30 minutes or as long as 90 minutes.

At Connect Talk Therapy, my standard therapy appointment time is 45 minutes, which I find gives clients the best combination of ample time to discuss their concerns, while balancing their busy schedules. An intake (initial) appointment can be slightly longer, often more around 55 minutes, as we will likely need a bit of extra time for some introductions and initial agenda setting.

What is psychotherapy or therapy?

Psychotherapy can take many different forms, but at its core is always helping you achieve your goals and make a positive difference in your life. At Connect Talk Therapy, I use a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques to work together with you in the pursuit of those goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the way we think and behave as a means for changing how we feel. This can be simple, for instance, consciously making oneself look at a stressful situation in a more helpful light. It could also mean changing one’s routine and behaviors to better facilitate success. Learning new ways to think about ourselves and our lives, as well as new patterns of behavior, can be daunting for many individuals, especially those who are new to therapy. This is where a licensed psychologist such as myself comes into the picture, as we can work collaboratively with you to help you identify and change the maladaptive patterns in your life.

Another core aspect of CBT is setting goals, to help not only guide our work together but to help us gauge your progress. Think of it as a measure of success – If we are not clear on the direction we hope to be heading in, how will we know if we are making progress? As such, a major component of therapy involves deciding not only what type of treatments will be most effective and helpful for you, but what it is precisely you hope to achieve. As such, I work in tandem with my clients to decide where they are headed and then measure progress towards those goals along the way. Ultimately, I seek to combine the latest evidence-based treatment approaches with an empathetic, collaborative, and nonjudgmental approach to psychotherapy.

What is the difference between a psychotherapist and a counselor?

In common culture, the terms psychotherapist and counselor are often used interchangeably, and even among those of us in the mental healthcare industry this is not entirely uncommon. In broad terms, counseling training departments are traditionally more likely to be housed within departments of education, with a focus on academic and career development. As time has gone on, however, the lines have somewhat blurred, and these days many psychotherapists and counselors provide very similar services.

The most important distinction to make when choosing a therapist is if they provide the services you are looking for. Every therapist will have their own training background and skill set, so finding the right person to match your style and needs is crucial. As a licensed clinical psychologist and working psychotherapist, I offer a wide range of evidence-based treatment options and deal in a variety of problem areas. So, if you think you might benefit from my services, feel free to reach out for a free consultation and inquire as to whether I would be a good fit for you.

How many therapy sessions will I need?

This is one of those questions that has to be answered with “it depends.” For some clients, a handful of appointments (3 to 5) may be enough to get what they are looking for out of therapy. Some clients may attend therapy for years, finding it invaluable to have a supportive, nonjudgmental person to rely on for helping them navigate the challenges of life.

For myself, I always approach therapy on a case-by-case basis, and I do not believe that there exists a universal approach that works for all. As such, an early component of therapy with myself involves us working collaboratively to determine together both what your therapy goals are and, then, how long we expect to spend achieving those goals. In the end, how long therapy lasts will fundamentally depend on what you are looking to get out of it, how long it remains helpful for you, and what you and I decide to do together.

How often should I see a therapist?

The gold standard in therapy is a weekly appointment. This can help achieve your goals faster, as well as provide more consistent support on a week-to-week basis. This is the default that I recommend for most new clients.

In some cases, meeting two or even three times per week can be beneficial, depending on the level of support and intensity of treatment that a client is seeking. Conversely, some individuals find it more helpful to meet less often, perhaps twice a month, especially if they have been in therapy for a while and are able to implement approaches they have learned in therapy on their own effectively.

For myself, I also seek to take a tailored approach to therapy, and I will work with you to determine what we feel makes the most sense. As time goes on, you may find that an increase or reduction in the frequency of your appointments may be indicated, and that is a conversation I am always happy to have with you.

Will my insurance pay for therapy?

Depending on the health insurance plan you have and the provider in question, it is often possible to have therapy covered by insurance. Not all therapists accept insurance, however, and often for a variety of reasons. One reason is that when insurance is paying for therapy, in many ways they then take the reins of treatment. For instance, an insurance company may decide that an individual is only entitled to a certain number of appointments, even if that individual feels they would benefit from more. In other cases, insurance companies may demand confidential patient health records from a therapist, for the purposes of determining continued eligibility or other reasons. Thus, while using insurance to pay for therapy has a clear and significant benefit in that it can make services less expensive for the client, it also introduces a third-party (i.e., the insurance company) into the therapeutic relationship, for good or for bad.

With the above in mind, Connect Talk Therapy does not accept insurance and requires private pay from all clients. While many clients have positive experiences with therapists who do take insurance, I do not want to involve anyone in our therapeutic relationship other than you and I. This allows me to provide care explicitly tailored to my clients, without having to appease the cost-benefit analysis of an insurance company.

However, I can provide you with a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company to request potential reimbursement for part or all of the cost of therapy. During our initial free consultation, please let me know if this is something you are interested in.

How long will it take for you to get back to me if I reach out?

I try to get back to my clients within 24 hours, and often I am able to respond much sooner. In some circumstances it may take up to two working days for me to respond. In the event that I have a planned vacation or period of time-off, I notify my clients as far in advance as possible, such that any indicated arrangements can be made. Finally, in the event that for any reason I am unable to make an appointment, I notify my clients as soon as the conflict is known. These types of communications are typically handled through my client portal’s secure messaging system.

Can I still attend my appointment with you if I am traveling outside Arizona?

In most cases, yes! As a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), I am afforded the privilege of meeting with my clients even when they are traveling.

Please note that in order to see you while you are traveling outside the state, you will need to be physically located at the time of our appointment in a PSYPACT participating state.

For an up-to-date map of all states in which PSYPACT enables me to see you while you are out of town, please follow this link to their interactive map.

What if I find my therapist is not a good fit for me?

This can be one of the most stressful events in therapy for many clients. People often fear that expressing displeasure or criticism with their therapist could lead to abandonment or negative judgment. However, in my experience most therapists are very open to feedback, as it helps us tailor our treatments to be most effective for you.

In terms of my own style as a psychologist and therapist, I am always open to having these conversations with my clients. In most cases, I have found that there are things I can do differently to make therapy work better for them, and I have typically had positive outcomes from these sorts of conversations. On the other hand, if you determine that I am simply not a good fit for you, I will make it my goal to help you find another therapist who better aligns with your values.

Do you offer telehealth / remote therapy services?

Yes! In fact, I built Connect Talk Therapy from the ground-up to be an exclusively virtual private practice. I did this for several reasons, but the most important is that I believe clients should have as few barriers to attending their appointments as possible.

While some people believe that virtual, video-based therapy might not work for them, I aim to make it as convenient and pleasant an experience as possible. I achieve this through several means. I have incorporated an easy to use client portal, which allows you to do everything from seeing and managing your appointments, to sending me HIPAA compliant secure messages, to paying your bill, all in one easy to use place. We will discuss this more in depth at your first appointment, but there is even a convenient app you can install for iOS/Android to make using your client portal even easier to access.

Further, I am using the latest in video and audio technology, to beam myself to your screen in the highest quality. I do not want you to feel you are receiving a compromised experience when attending therapy virtually – In fact, I hope that you will never want to go back to driving through rush hour traffic to your therapy appointment ever again.

To find out more about how I am using technology to make therapy easier to access and more client-oriented, feel free to request a free consultation, as I would love to share more with you.

Are our conversations confidential?

Yes, the things we talk about are considered confidential medical information and I make every effort to ensure the security and privacy of that information. The most common exceptions to this are when breaching confidentiality is required by law. Such as is in the case of “mandated reporting,” wherein I am mandated by law to report to the authorities if a client intends to harm themselves or others, or if there is suspected abuse of a vulnerable person (e.g., a child, elderly person). Additionally, if a judge were to subpoena your client records, I would have no choice but to comply.

My commitment to your confidentiality is a key motivator in both why I do not accept insurance and why I operate as a solo private practitioner. When insurance is paying for one’s therapy, the insurance company has the right to request confidential patient information from the therapist. By keeping insurance out of our therapeutic relationship, this cannot occur. Additionally, by not having any trainees working at my practice, only I have access to my therapy notes and your records. Thus, the only person looking at your chart will be myself.

Do you offer any emergency services or crisis management?

No, Connect Talk Therapy does not offer emergency services or crisis management. As a solo private practitioner, I am not able to offer around-the-clock availability to my clients. I advise all clients that in the event of an emergency, they are advised to immediately call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you think you would benefit from or require emergency services and/or believe you are at risk of hurting yourself or others, you will be ineligible to receive services at Connect Talk Therapy.

Should I see a therapist?

Whether it is time to start seeing a therapist is a deeply personal question, and one that beneath the surface is not always easy to answer. If you are reading this, you likely suspect (or perhaps know) that you might benefit from therapy. However, it is important to understand that “therapist” is a broad term. Depending on a practitioner’s treatment modality and training background, their approach to therapy could differ greatly from another’s, so never hesitate to reach out to a potential therapist to discuss what it is they do and what their treatment approach looks like.

It should also be noted that psychiatrists play a critical role in mental healthcare. As physicians (i.e., medical doctors), they are the primary prescribers of psychiatric medications, such as ADHD medications and antidepressants. Nurse Practitioners with a specialization in mental healthcare also commonly work in this domain. Depending on your specific wants and needs, a psychiatrist could best align with what you are looking for. On the other hand, a psychologist, such as myself, may be a better fit if you are less interested in medication as the primary treatment. Please note that for some, a combination of medication and talk therapy could be most helpful.

The most important first step is to have a qualified professional consult with you to determine what type of professional services might be best for you.

What makes you stand out?

When clients ask me this, I often point first to my extensive training background in clinical psychology. I have seven-years of training in clinical psychology, and I was awarded a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Arkansas. My training background additionally includes completing a one-year APA accredited internship at the Phoenix VA. Throughout that time, I chiefly pursued training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and I have applied these techniques with hundreds of clients.

However, my training background is only one piece of the puzzle that I believe makes a great therapy experience for my clients. The fundamental concept of Connect Talk Therapy is to, as the name implies, connect. Connecting with me, Dr. Kyle Jackson, on a human level is first and foremost what I seek to do. If we do not connect as people, the likelihood that you will feel supported and accepted is reduced. As such, I seek to see the positive in my clients and work collaboratively with them to determine how we can best address what their areas of growth are. I am also a firm believer in taking a multidimensional approach to therapy — I do not believe that any person can say that they have only one thing stressing them out, one thing that they wish to improve on, and so on. So, I hope to make connections between not only my clients’ challenges but also, and critically, their strengths. This allows us to better help you grow as a person and achieve your goals. Lastly, in the aim of making therapy as simple and convenient as talking with your best friend or a loved one through video chat, I hope that you will enjoy virtually connecting to our video appointments. It might sound cliche, but I truly do believe in my mission to connect care, anywhere.

Can psychotherapy help me with stress from work?

Work-related stress is one of the most common complaints that comes up when I talk with new clients. As the cost of living in many cities, including most parts of Arizona, has increased dramatically in recent years, more individuals are aiming to increase their wages by targeting work performance and career. The cost of this, however, is often an increase in stress and reduced ability to cope with work-related demands. This can apply to not only those employed in stressful jobs, but also to business owners and other entrepreneurs.

At Connect Talk Therapy, I aim to take a multidimensional and collaborative approach to treatment, and this often results in discussing work-related stress early on in therapy. It is not uncommon for clients to want increased work performance or to seek a better work-life balance to be an explicit therapy goal. Under the treatment umbrella of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I can help you change how you approach your work or job, how you think about the things at work that cause you stress. We will then additionally work together to help you better engage in activities that help free-time feel more free-ing.

If you would like to discuss how I help clients manage stress from work and/or potentially increase job productivity, feel free to give me a call or request a free consultation.

What is the difference between an initial consultation and an intake appointment?

An initial consultation differs significantly from an intake appointment. One key difference is that during a consultation you do not commit to becoming a patient of a mental healthcare provider. Think of it as a more informal meeting between yourself and a prospective therapist. It is an opportunity for you to ask the therapist questions about their practice, their approach to psychotherapy, and more. Similarly, it gives your potential therapist an opportunity to get to know you a bit and help determine if their services would be a good fit to address your goals. Consultations also tend to be on the shorter side, usually in the 10 - 20 minute range. Additionally, initial consultations are conventionally at no cost to the client and provided as a courtesy. If both you and the therapist feel it is a good fit at the end of the consultation, it is common to then schedule an intake appointment for the near future.

An intake appointment can take different forms, depending on the training background and therapeutic style of a given therapist. Generally, an intake appointment marks the true start of engaging in therapy with a therapist, where a client is considered to have become a patient. During an intake, therapists will usually ask much more detailed questions about symptoms you might be experiencing, go into additional depth about their style of therapy, and begin discussing treatment options. As such, these appointments tend to be longer. Depending on the therapist, an initial intake will typically be in the 45 minute to 60 minute range, with some going as long as 90 minutes. Intakes also usually incur a fee, which will be paid either through insurance or private pay, depending on the practice.

At Connect Talk Therapy, I offer a free 15 minute initial consultation to all new potential clients. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with me.

What are your private pay fees?

I charge a flat fee of $185 per 45 minute therapy appointment. Your first appointment will be an initial intake for 55 minutes, and this intake appointment will be charged at $200. I accept all major credit cards and payment is made easy through a convenient online client portal. You may also opt into auto-pay, if you wish, to make paying for your appointments easier.

I offer a free 15 minute consultation for all new clients. This provides an opportunity to ask any questions that you may still have, as well as gives you the ability to gauge if you think that I am the right therapist for you.

Lastly, note that I can provide you with a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company to request reimbursement for the cost of therapy. Whether your insurer reimburses you for some or all of the cost of therapy will ultimately be at their discretion.

Please reach out to me if you would like to discuss my fee, billing, or have any other questions about Connect Talk Therapy.