Frequently Asked Questions: Your Journey Starts Here
When you’re thinking about starting therapy, it’s really common for folks to have mixed emotions. While you might be experiencing hope about finally being on a path to feeling better, there can also be a lot of uncertainty about trying something new – and maybe it even feels a bit overwhelming. Well, that’s what this FAQ section is for. We’ve got you. Whether you’re considering therapy for the first time, looking for holistic health services, or just curious, we’re want to help make your process as comfortable and straightforward as possible. We’ve compiled a list of common questions (and answers!) about starting therapy and/or other health services with us. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, our team would be happy to help.
We have organized our FAQ into 6 “buckets,” to better help you find the answers you’re looking for.
These are:
- Before You Reach Out
- Getting Started
- Appointments
- Insurance & Payment
- About Our Care
- You Might Be Wondering
Before You Reach Out
Sometimes people think they need to find themselves in a “crisis moment” or be facing a massive life stressor for therapy to be appropriate. While these are certainly wise times to seek professional support, you certainly don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. We often have people connect with us for therapy because they’re navigating challenges that are just part of life sometimes - feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, burned out, navigating relationship challenges, or simply wanting to better understand themselves. And facing those in partnership with a caring, trained professional creates fertile ground growth, change, and healing.
That’s completely okay! We get that a lot.
Our wise and experienced administrative team will help you determine which service or provider is the best fit based on what you’d like to work on, your schedule preferences, and your insurance. We’re happy to help guide you through any questions you might have and get you connected with the right fit – so, no need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
We provide whole person mental health, therapy, and healthcare services, including:
- Individual Therapy
- Couples Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Child & Adolescent Therapy
- Psychiatric Medication Management
- Occupational Therapy (OT)
- Acupuncture
- Integrative/Functional Nutrition
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Therapeutic Yoga & Mindfulness Services
- Groups, Workshops, & Presentations
It’s not uncommon for our clients to seek more than one type of therapeutic service with us (since oftentimes, these resources complement one another and make the therapeutic process more effective). But we certainly have lots of clients who come for just therapy (or acupuncture, or whichever service they are primarily seeking). We meet you where you’re at!
First off, (and it’s sad that this makes us “different” than many clinics out there) we are deeply human-centered in our approach to care. We put people before profits, and do our best to engage in every interaction – both with our clients and with each other as colleagues – with respect, compassion, and radically inclusive welcome.
Additionally, from a care philosophy standpoint, we believe that mental and physical health are deeply connected. As it turns out, our minds/brains are not separate from our bodies (who woulda thunk?!). So, we offer whole-person care by bringing together mental health professionals along with evidence-based, holistic healthcare providers who can work collaboratively to support your goals. We partner collaboratively with you to hear your story, your strengths, and your struggles; and then, in the space of our clinic community, we have opportunity to help you connect (if desired) with whatever additional scientifically-backed resources will support your growth and healing.
Nope. Most clients contact us directly without a referral. But we do value working collaboratively with your outside providers – whether your primary care provider or someone else who is an important partner in your health and wellbeing. We give our clients the opportunity to give us permission to coordinate care with their doctor, as appropriate.
Some insurance plans may have specific requirements, and we’re happy to help you determine what’s needed.
Getting Started
Getting started is simple. Thank goodness! We all have enough complicated things in our lives – getting connected with therapeutic support shouldn’t be one of them.
Just give us a quick call to our office (612-706-9630) or complete the New Client Inquiry form on our website and we’ll reach out to you. Our team will gather a few pieces of information - including your insurance, scheduling preferences, and what you’re looking for - and they’ll help match you with an appropriate provider. Easy peasy, and you’re all set up to get started. We also can often offer the opportunity to chat briefly with your therapist before officially scheduling – to get a feel for the therapeutic fit before making the final decision to schedule.
It helps to have:
- Your insurance card
- Basic contact information
- Your availability
- Any provider preferences (if you have one)
- A brief idea of what you’d like support with
Don’t worry if you’re unsure or don’t have immediate access to one of these pieces of info. We can walk with you through the scheduling process at your pace.
The short answer is that it’s usually quick! While appointment availability varies by provider and specialty, we can typically get folks in for mental health therapy or medication management within one or two days. You heard that right, you could get connected with a therapist or med provider within a day or two from when you talk with us about scheduling. Some of our other services may take a little longer to get in. Our scheduling team works hard to connect you with the earliest appropriate opening while also considering your preferences, and the availability of the specific provider type you are looking to see.
Yes. You definitely are in the driver’s seat when it comes to choosing your clinician.
If you already know which provider you’d like to work with, we’ll do our best to schedule you with them. If the clinician you are hoping to work with doesn’t have availability right away, or if you’re unsure of who you’d like to see, we’ll make some recommendations based on your needs and preferences.
We are firm believers that the fit of therapeutic relationship is critical to the success of the work you and your clinician do together. And empirical research supports this, too! Most of the time, our clients find a great match right away.
If, for any reason, you feel another provider may be a better fit or things just aren’t gelling with your provider, we’ll gladly help you transition to someone else. Your comfort and progress matter, and we respect your sense of what feels right and helpful in your care.
Appointments
Your first session is primarily about getting to know you and your story. It’s also a chance for you and your provider to start building a healthy therapeutic connection together. Most likely, your provider will also share a bit about what to expect during the course of your care with us – to help you get your bearings.
You’ll discuss what’s bringing you in, your goals, relevant history, and begin developing a plan with your provider. There’s no pressure to share everything immediately - we move at your pace. But getting some groundwork laid in that first conversation so your therapist understands the “big picture” of your life, will help set the stage for a successful therapeutic process together.
Yes, we do. Some providers are fully in person, some are fully virtual, and most do a little bit of both.
The telehealth appointments we provide utilize a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform – so you can rest assured that your information and care is held with the utmost confidentiality and rigorous standards.
Availability of telehealth and in-person care varies by provider and service type. Our front desk team and our website can give you more details, if desired.
Appointment lengths vary depending on the service you’re receiving.
Most therapy sessions are approximately 50–60 minutes.
This can be a possibility, if you and your provider think it would be helpful for your progress and care. For adults, family members or partners generally can’t be present unless you give your permission, though – because we value your privacy and your right to consent to care that you’re comfortable with.
Depending on your goals and your provider’s recommendations, family members or partners may participate in certain sessions. And you and your provider can discuss that together.
Yes. Your privacy is extremely important to us, and our clinicians and administrative staff undergo extensive training about the laws and ethics surrounding the security of your personal information. We operate under the HIPAA laws and regulations as well as the ethics codes of the licensing boards of our providers. We can’t share your information unless you ask us to, with a signed release of information.
Your provider will explain any exceptions during your first appointment, for the very rare cases in which other laws override those confidentiality regulations.
Insurance & Payment
Yes. Our clinicians are in-network with most major insurance plans.
Our administrative team can often help verify your benefits and answer questions about coverage before your appointment. For additional details about in-network insurance coverage, please see FAQ below.
We welcome self-pay clients. And some of our providers offer a sliding scale.
Please contact our office for current rates and payment options. We’re committed to helping you get access to quality care.
We do our best to provide accurate information regarding insurance benefits and estimated costs before services begin. Our session rates are outlined in the financial policy you will receive as a new client. Our front desk team is happy to walk you through any details you’re curious about prior to scheduling.
Because every insurance plan is different, final responsibility is determined by your individual policy – and we encourage our clients to confirm coverage with your specific health insurance carrier.
Our licensed mental health therapists (LMFT, LPCC, LICSW), licensed psychologists (LP), psychiatric physician assistants (PA), occupational therapists (OT), functional nutritionist (RD), and acupuncturists are all credentialed to be in-network with the major insurance companies. We value offering accessible care for all, so we work with your insurance company to make our services covered and as affordable as possible.
We are credentialed under our original clinic name, Medical Care Services, PA - and we do business as (DBA) Minnesota Clinic for Health and Wellness (MCHW). We are one and the same!
In-network coverage at MCHW includes, but is not limited to: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), HealthPartners, UCare, PreferredOne, Medica, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthCare (UHC), Hennepin Health, United Behavioral Health, Optum, Medical Assistance, and Medicare/Medicaid insurance companies.
Some plans do not offer uniform coverage of all services and diagnoses, so please contact your health insurance "Member Services" (on the back of your insurance card) to confirm that Medical Care Services, PA - our originally registered name - is in your network. You will also want to confirm that the practitioner you are wanting to see is in-network with your specific plan. And if you will be seeking services with a clinician who is pre-licensed, you will want to confirm that their supervisor (not the clinician, themself) is in your coverage network.
If you have questions, our friendly admin team can help walk you through this all.
About Our Care
Definitely – but it’s totally up to you. Many clients can benefit from combining services such as therapy, medication management, occupational therapy, acupuncture, or nutrition support. When appropriate (and always with your permission) our providers can collaborate to coordinate the most effective treatment for you. And some clients choose to primarily utilize one type of care here, and that’s just fine too!
Yes. Minnesota Clinic for Health and Wellness provides therapeutic services for people of all ages. Many of our providers work with children, adolescents, and families – and have received additional training and education to specialize in this type of therapy. We always collaborate with you to help find the right fit, and can help match you with someone who specializes in your child’s age, needs, and concerns.
Our providers support individuals experiencing many issues including (but not limited to):
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress & Burnout
- Trauma & PTSD
- ADHD
- Relationship concerns
- Grief & Loss
- Life transitions
- Parenting challenges
- OCD
- Chronic illness adjustment
- Identity exploration (including LGBTQ+)
- Emotional wellbeing
- School challenges
- Spirituality and Religious Trauma
- Chronic pain
- Many other mental and physical health concerns
You’ve come to the right place.
Our clinic was built around the belief (and the research) that healing happens when we care for the whole person – and when we take a comprehensive view of the various integrated pieces that contribute to your health and wellbeing. Alongside psychotherapy and psychiatry, we offer evidence-based integrative services such as acupuncture, occupational therapy, nutrition, yoga, and mindfulness.
If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Our contact form should not be used for emergency situations.
You Might be Wondering…
Although people may use these terms interchangeably, and stress and anxiety can feel similar, they're not exactly the same.
Stress is often a response to a specific challenge or demand, such as work deadlines, family responsibilities, financial concerns, or major life changes. As those stressors improve, stress often decreases. Sometimes therapy can be helpful not just for managing stress in the moment, but also for building tools and habits for decreasing stress over time.
Anxiety may continue even when there isn't an obvious external cause. It can involve persistent worry, fear, or physical symptoms that feel difficult to control. Anxiety disorders are a very common reason for people to seek therapy.
Many people experience both stress and anxiety, and understanding the difference can help determine the most effective treatment approach. At MN Clinic for Health and Wellness, we offer therapeutic support for stress management as well as working with folks to address anxiety disorders.
Yes. This is one of the complicated (and confusing) things about anxiety. The way the brain interacts with the body’s other systems can make the experience of anxiety a very physical one. If you’re feeling anxious you might notice a number of different bodily sensations.
Some common physical symptoms include:
• Rapid heartbeat
• Muscle tension
• Chest tightness
• Tingling
• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
These symptoms can feel scary and confusing, especially if you've never experienced them before – and it is not always easy to differentiate them from medical conditions. And to add further complexity, sometimes our anxiety can exacerbate various bodily ailments (and vice versa). Fortunately, many people find that learning how anxiety affects the nervous system and body - and developing practical tools to manage it - can significantly reduce these symptoms over time.
Yes. Chronic stress can affect nearly every system in the body. Many of us have had some experience with this in our own lives, and the research backs it up. When we experience ongoing stress, our nervous system can remains in a heightened state of activation, making it more difficult for the body to recover and regulate its various systems. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are designed to function in shorter term bursts, and when our stressors don’t let up, our body is impacted negatively when these hormones remain elevated over longer periods.
People might notice headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, or trouble concentrating. Others may feel more emotionally reactive or find that everyday challenges become harder to manage. Prolonged stress can even impact our immune system and our body’s natural ability to heal and recover.
While stress isn't the only cause of these symptoms, it can be a significant contributor. Our providers work with clients to better understand the connection between stress, emotional wellbeing, and physical health while also encouraging collaboration with medical providers when needed.
Burnout is more than simply feeling tired after a busy week. It is a mind/body state that can develops gradually after prolonged periods of stress without enough opportunity to recover. Burnout risk is higher in situations where people have a high volume of work to complete, emotionally intense work, insufficient balance with work/life, lack of control in their circumstances, and inadequate support. Caregivers can also experience burnout.
Common signs of burnout include:
• Constant exhaustion
• Feeling emotionally drained
• Increased irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of motivation
• Feeling detached from work or relationships
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities
Burnout can affect work performance, relationships, physical health, and overall quality of life. And since it’s not always clear how to differentiate stress from burnout from depression, seeking support from a mental health professional can be wise. The good news is that recovery is possible with the right resources and sustainable changes.
Yes. There is hope!
The process of therapy can help you better understand what's contributing to burnout so you can start to regain a sense of agency over your life and choices. You and your therapist can collaborate to build healthier strategies to manage stress, set boundaries, improve emotional resilience, and reconnect with the things that matter most to you. Knowledge is power, and the therapy process not only helps you better understand yourself and your patterns, but empowers you to feel capable of making meaningful changes.
Many people discover that burnout isn't only about working too much – there are often other personal tendencies that set the stage for burnout to grow. These patterns can include perfectionism, people-pleasing, unrealistic expectations, difficulty saying no, chronic stress, and/or feeling disconnected from their values. Figuring out your own “root causes” enables you to break free from the patterns keeping you stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed.
Yes, this is a common topic that brings folks into therapy with us.
Many of us spend a considerable part of our day at work, and when things feel challenging in the workplace, it can take a toll on mental health and life overall. Maybe you're navigating challenging relationships with co-workers or your boss, or maybe you’re feeling the pressures of being in a leadership role during these uncertain times. Or perhaps you’re feeling deep dissatisfaction with your job and are wanting to explore career transitions – or coping with the compassion fatigue that can come in roles that involve caring for others. Or some folks are simply feeling overwhelmed by juggling it all. Therapy and our other services like OT offer a confidential space to better understand what's happening and develop practical strategies for moving forward.
Many people wonder whether their concerns are "serious enough" for therapy. While this is understandable, you don't have to wait until life feels unmanageable before seeking support.
Therapy can help with everyday stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief, major life transitions, depression, burnout, self-confidence, parenting challenges, and many other experiences. Some people come to therapy because their mental health is really suffering, while others seek therapy/counseling because they want to better understand themselves, continue growing, and proactively problem solve so that small concerns don’t spiral into larger issues down the road.
Every person's experience is unique, as the therapist and client co-create a plan and process that is tailor made for you. But generally speaking, therapy is a collaborative conversation where the therapist and client work together to more deeply understand the factors contributing to the issues you want to work on – and then, together, coming up with goals and a plan for how to help you move toward positive change, feeling better, and living more in alignment with your goals and values.
During your first appointment, your therapist will spend time getting to know you and your story, learning about your concerns, discussing your strengths, and beginning to develop a plan together that feels appropriate for your situation – to help you address the concerns that bring you in to therapy. Your therapist will also help you understand more about the process and their own approach during this initial visit (sometimes called an “intake” or a “diagnostic assessment”).
Follow up sessions are usually weekly to start, and sometimes taper down to every other week once you and your therapist feel it’s right. And remember, therapy isn't about having all the answers on day one – nor is it about eliminating all difficult feelings. It's a process of learning, growth, healing, and shifting patterns to feel more balanced, whole, and to move toward feeling better in your overall frame of mind.
That's completely okay. Therapy isn’t about having the perfect words or coming in with a clear sense of exactly what needs to happen. That’s what your therapist is for! They’re here to use their experience, clinical training, and their genuine care to help guide the conversation in a helpful direction.
You don't need to prepare a speech or organize your thoughts perfectly. In fact, being present with your authentic self – just where you’re at – is the perfect place to start. We’ll help you find your way through. That’s what we’re here for!
Certainly. Anytime we do something new, especially if it involves sharing your personal thoughts and feelings with someone we don’t know yet, it can feel a little intimidating or uncomfortable. Feeling nervous is super common when starting therapy.
The nice thing about the therapy process is that your therapist already knows that you might be feeling that way, and makes it their goal to help you feel comfortable, welcomed, and respected. There is no expectation that you share everything during your first appointment, and you get to move at your own pace. And truly, if you’re feeling a bit nervous, it’s even okay to share that with your therapist. That’s what they’re there for – and they actually find it helpful to know about what you’re experiencing throughout the process.
Yes, thankfully it can. Because sometimes we all need a little guidance or help navigating challenges in our important relationships.
Healthy relationships require good communication, emotional awareness, trust, and the ability to navigate conflict effectively. We don’t always learn these skills in our families while we’re growing up. Therapy can help individuals and couples better understand relationship patterns, improve communication skills, strengthen boundaries, increase ability to express emotions constructively, and develop healthier ways of connecting with others.
Many couples wait until problems feel overwhelming before seeking help, but therapy can be beneficial at any stage of a relationship.
Some couples come to strengthen communication, prepare for marriage, navigate parenting, rebuild trust, or improve emotional connection. Others seek support after experiencing conflict, betrayal, or significant life changes.
Early support often makes it easier to address concerns before they become larger problems.
Yes, we have many therapists who work with kiddos and teens.
Just like us grown-ups, children and adolescents experience stress, anxiety, grief, school challenges, friendship difficulties, family transitions, and emotional struggles - although they often express them differently than adults.
Therapists who specialize in working with children use developmentally appropriate approaches to help young people feel safe and seen in therapy, understand their emotions, build coping skills, and strengthen communication with their families.
Mental and physical health influence one another in many ways. If you think about it, our brain is an organ in our body, and all of our systems are interconnected. So, it’s actually hard to completely separate mental health from physical health. Scientific research shows this, too.
Some people benefit from combining psychotherapy with services such as acupuncture, psychiatric medications, nutrition counseling, occupational therapy, mindfulness, or other wellness approaches that support overall health and nervous system regulation. Weaving in these additional approaches can address other factors in our human system that impact our mental health that go beyond what can be addressed solely in talk therapy.
Depending on your goals, an integrated approach may help address multiple aspects of wellbeing while allowing providers to collaborate - always with your permission - to support your care.
We’re glad you asked! At MN Clinic for Health and Wellness, this is our jam. Whole-person care recognizes that emotional, mental, physical, relational, and spiritual health are connected. And it acknowledges that we are embedded in an environment, context, and in systems that impact all aspects of our wellbeing. We believe this kind of care is what promotes deep and lasting change.
Rather than focusing on only one aspect of wellbeing, whole-person care considers the many factors that may influence how someone feels, functions, and experiences daily life. This is why, while the majority of our clinicians are psychologists and mental health therapists, we also offer services like OT, medication management, acupuncture, functional nutrition, and integrate mindful movement like yoga into the work we do.
The “whole person mental care” approach encourages collaboration, personalized care, and evidence-informed treatment tailored to each individual's unique needs and goals. The therapists at our clinic generally share this philosophy, so even if you only come to us for mental health therapy/counseling (and don’t seek additional services), your therapist will be taking the whole you into account.
Research shows that the better the fit between the therapist and client, the better the outcome of the therapy process. So we at MN Clinic for Health and Wellness really value helping you find the right therapist for you.
When you contact our clinic, we'll ask questions about what you're hoping to work on, your scheduling preferences, insurance, and any preferences you may have for a provider. Based on that information, we'll recommend a clinician who we believe is a good match for your needs. And to help empower you in this process, all of our clinicians have bios on our website that you can read to explore the fit, as well. Many of our providers are also open to a brief phone call before scheduling, so you can talk things through and get a sense of the therapeutic match – if you’d find that helpful.
If you already have someone in mind, we'll do our best to schedule you with that provider. And if at any point in the process you aren’t feeling like your therapist is right for you, you can talk with them about it (and/or our front desk team), and we can get you pointed in the direction of someone who will align better with what you’re looking for.
