Therapy and Coaching available for In-person and Online Appointments. Click here to schedule a session.

Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy and Coaching

Here are my answers to some of the most common questions our team receives regarding Therapy and Coaching. Feel free to ask me anything that is not answered here. Message me below!

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What is therapy?

Therapy is the process of working through troubling experiences and inspire change so that you can become the best version of yourself. Therapy includes the therapist and the client. This relationship is built on trust, transparency and acceptance. Key traits that your therapist will have is compassion, empathy and will hold you to a standard of accountability. The client has the option to bring in others who hold key positions within their life (i.e. spouses, parents, children, significant others, etc.)

There are a lot of therapists/counselors/ministers in the area. Why should I see you?

This is a great question!  You’re right.  They’re a host of counselors, social workers, ministers and therapist in the area. Many of them are REALLY good at what they do. I’m the best choice if you want someone who is diverse.  Not just in gender and race (although, yes, I’m diverse there, too), but also academically, occupationally and socially. I utilize assessments, dynamic dialogue, your strengths/gifts to create a unique therapeutic challenge created exclusively for you. If you want a therapeutic experience that involves active engagement from both you and your therapist, I am the therapist for you.

What should I expect when I go to a therapy session?

Prior to your 1st session, you will have received intake paperwork. This will include a series of forms that grant your therapist to engage in therapy with you and various policies (i.e. social media, payment, no show/cancellation, etc.) At your 1st session, you turn in the forms. Your therapist will explore the challenges that you are currently experiencing and how you feel about those challenges. The 2nd and 3rd sessions serve as getting to know you sessions.  I will learn more about you in the form of genograms, personality tests, love language and attachment inventories. The rest of your time will be spent on completing the items on your service plan so that you can have the life that you would both desire and deserve.

When will the pain go away so that I can begin to feel “normal”?

Unfortunately, there is no specific time table as to when you will experience an alleviation of your symptoms; however, at Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC, you will be receiving skills, techniques and homework assignments that will provide you the tools to adjust the influence of your way emotions, thoughts and actions. By shifting how you respond to your emotions, guarding your thoughts and acting purposefully with intention, you will find slow, constant relief of your symptoms.

Can my therapist be my friend?

Even though there is a true bond between you and your therapist, the therapeutic relationship is so different from any other relationship that you will ever have. The therapeutic relationship is rooted in the perfect balance of objective emotion. There will be feelings that you will have for your therapist (I mean she will probably know things about you that no one else does.) Your therapist will maintain a level of ethical, professionalism that will always protect the relationship so that you will always have a safe place to unload.

I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication are crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.

My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?

If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with me, I would initially work with both of you together. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you. It is not helpful to move from individual into couple’s work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues.

How long does therapy take? Do I have to go for the rest of my life?

The goal is to complete the bulk of your service item plans within 8-12 sessions. The truth of the matter is that therapy takes as long as it takes. You are the greatest determining factor as to how long the process takes. Are you working your treatment plan? Are you taking your treatment seriously? Are you coming to all of your scheduled appointments? Are you completing homework assignments? Are you finding that as you resolve one thing you now want to work on something else? Everything depends on YOU.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is providing someone with advice about their goals and helping them reach their full potential. With the help of a coach, a person might work on finding their passions, planning a way to reach them, and building the positive mindset that will help them reach their goals. A coach helps them take a step back from their regular lifestyle, think about how they could do something bigger, and set goals that are attainable and will move them forward.

What is the difference between Therapy and Coaching?

The key distinction between the two types of work is the client’s focus. The primary emphasis of therapy is on the client’s mental and emotional well-being, whereas the primary focus of coaching is on the client’s accomplishment of their objectives.

If you are experiencing distress, dysfunction, and disorganized behavior, as well as needing healing from trauma and issues, therapy will be a great help for you. If you feel stuck and lost in your current situation and need to gain clarity, take action, and reach your goals in life, then coaching can be the perfect solution for you.

I live outside Georgia but I want to schedule Therapy with Ronda. What should I do?

Unfortunately, due to state guidelines, we are only offering our Therapy Services to people who currently reside in Georgia. But the good news is that if you are outside of the state, you may still avail of our coaching packages with Ronda Shirley.

I can’t really pinpoint my current problem, what Coaching Package should I avail?

If you aren’t sure what you need right now, we are happy to help you figure out what kind of support you need in your current situation. We understand that it can be difficult to take the first step and ask for help, but for this kind of concern, we recommend that you read the details for each of the packages found on our Coaching Packages page.

How will I know if you are the right therapist/coach for me?

Come in for a session to find out for sure if I’m the right therapist or coach for you. Most people know within the first few sessions if I’m the right professional to help them. You can read my blog posts and reviews on my website and social media accounts. Doing this over a few days will give you an idea of who I am and how I work.

If I just schedule an online session for therapy/coaching, will I still get the most out of it?

I’ll be honest, online sessions involve a different set of dynamics compared to in-person sessions. However, both approaches can be effective in achieving the desired results. You can still get the most out of the online services you pay for by creating a safe space, getting rid of distractions, and keeping your privacy at home.

Do I really need therapy/coaching? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through hard times in their lives, and even if you’ve handled other problems well in the past, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. In fact, therapy and coaching are most helpful for people who are self-aware enough to know they need help, which is something to be admired. Therapy and coaching can help you for a long time and give you the tools you need to avoid triggers, change harmful patterns, and get through any problems you face.

I would like to avail your Coaching services. Can I use my insurance card?

Unfortunately, insurance cards can only be used for Therapy services.

How Do I Get Started?

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Send Me a Message

Tell me briefly about you and the service you want to avail. Our team will contact you for the initial assessment within 24 hours thru the email and phone number you provided. After the initial assessment and you comply with all things we need from you, we will proceed with booking your appointment.

Book an Appointment

Upon booking, you will receive intake paperwork. This will include a series of forms that grant your therapist to engage in therapy with you and various policies (i.e. social media, payment, no show/cancellation, etc.)

1st Session!

Congratulations! We are now starting a journey towards wellness.

Stop waiting. Begin your journey toward healthier mental health.

I, Ronda Shirley, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and the rest of your therapists at Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services are based in Georgia, USA. We are always ready and flexible to meet your needs. We are dedicated to helping you work through any mental health issues that might be holding you back.

We also offer online counseling, so don’t be afraid to get in touch with us and make an appointment so we can find out how we can best help you the most on your journey to better mental health.

Remember to double-check your return email address or your phone number if you prefer to be called.

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