Frequently Asked Questions...

The Center for Integrative Psychotherapy was founded to promote psychotherapeutic methodologies that integrate the mind, body and spirit and to support health practitioners in their own journey of self-integration.

Every person comes to therapy, counseling, or energy work in their own way. Be as honest with yourself as you can in assessing what you need when seeking a professional. Your relationship with yourself is just as important as your relationship with the person you select.

- Mary T. Sise, LCSW -

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between coaching & counseling?

Counseling is most often one-on-one and will give the client tools to recognize and move through their life patterns, including releasing trauma when necessary. It usually involves focusing on what isn’t working; there is a mental health diagnosis (e.g. anxiety, depression, etc).

Coaching, on the other hand, can have a broader scope involving long-term goal setting, skill building, and periodic “life compass checks.” It is for people whose life is basically working, but they are stuck in an area such as work, relationships, health, spirituality etc. Life Coaching can be done via phone, e-mail and even in groups.

What types of clients do you see and how long will it take?

For some clients, our work will be rather simple. It might take just a few sessions of goal setting and removing limiting beliefs until you are ready to move on. For other clients, especially if your childhood was painful, you might be more fragmented (with different aspects of yourself being in conflict), so our work might take longer.

The length of time in treatment is not a barrier to working with me. However, due to the nature of my schedule, and speaking commitments I am no longer available to work with clients who need constant support, crisis interventions or weekly sessions. I am also no longer taking many insurance plans. For those of you who need that, I have provided a list of resources for you on this website, along with clinicians I have trained and whom I recommend. They will be a better match for your needs. I am also willing to do an initial evaluation for you, and with your written permission, consult with one of these practitioners on my clinical impressions. Please call the office to discuss.

Click HERE to see my Referrals List.

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How do I know which therapist is right for me?

The best way to determine which therapist is right for you is to sit down and ask yourself, “What do I need? What do I want?” If you are sensitive to criticism, you might want a therapist who is gentle and very patient. If you are really sick of listening to yourself and you want to move quickly, you want a therapist whose style is much more direct. Everyone works differently, everyone heals differently and either way is fine.

If you are afraid to make decisions, you want a therapist not to just tell you what to do, but rather to be patient with you as you explore your own mind. Most importantly, you want to go deep to become aware of the fears and beliefs that keep you afraid and hold you back, and use energy psychology methods to release them. In other words, asking yourself: How did I learn to be so afraid? What am I really afraid of? How did I forget who I really am? Unless you discover these answers your life will continue in a series of patterns with the same theme, just different stories and you won’t grow. The goal is to learn how to listen to your inner guidance and your intuition, not to depend on anyone outside of yourself (therapists included!) to tell you what to do.

Each therapist is different, and each relationship is unique. Understand that a therapist cannot take you further than she has gone herself, so sometimes you might work with a therapist who really helps you through certain issues, but later you feel stuck with her. This is not unusual! It is often helpful to express this with your therapist, and if it can’t be worked through, then bless her for how she has helped you, and move on to another therapist. Trust your intuition; life is too precious to stay stuck!

Will my insurance pay for this?

Insurances will pay for counseling if there is a mental health diagnosis. The therapist usually has to submit a report to the insurance company which approves of a certain number of sessions. Following those sessions, the therapist has to submit another report of symptoms. The therapist also has contact with your medical doctor and the diagnosis goes into your medical records.

Many insurance plans (CDPHP, MVP, Blue Shield) also have their own “network”. I am no longer participating in those networks but many clinicians that I recommend on my website do participate.

Other insurance plans have an “out of network” benefit (NY State workers have this). In these cases, you pay me directly and my billing person will bill your insurance company, and the payments come to you.

Some people have a POS plan. This plan means that you can use any licensed social worker. Some Empire Blue Cross plans are POS plans. I continue to take this plan, and will submit your bill to the insurance company for you. You pay your co-pay at time of service. Prior to calling me, please call your insurance company to see which plan you have and what is covered.

My rate is $125.00 per hour.

How long will it take?

Everyone is different. Some of my clients have been seeing me for years. Others just come for a few sessions. It is up to you. If you are paying for services, as long as we both feel you are making progress, you can be seen by me. If your insurance is paying for this, we will have to meet their criteria.

What ages do you work with?

The energy healing methods I use are proven safe and effective with all ages. However, I primarily work with adults. In special circumstances I will work with children, especially a child who has experienced a recent trauma that needs processing.

What methods do you use?

I am trained in many energy psychology methods [Click here to learn more about the methodologies I use] – link to Methods page. I am also trained in medical qigong, and I have energetic tools such as blessed selenite crystal, and a crystal bowl which can help release stuck energy such as fear, shame, anger and guilt, leaving you with a sense of peace. I will teach you many of these energetic methods to use at home. Although I use my intuition to determine what method I might use it is not unusual for clients to prefer one method over another and to come in to a session requesting that we use that particular method. I welcome this, as it indicates to me that they are becoming much more aware of what their intuition is telling them, and they are confident enough to speak up.

Can we work over the phone?

Yes, I do work with clients over the phone if it is appropriate. It is really not appropriate for someone who has had trauma where the body has been hurt (such as a car accident, physical or sexual violence) mainly because often there is body memory or dissociation and it is most helpful to have the person in the room with you that you trust while you are working on these types of memories.

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Will you try to change my religion?

Absolutely not. I believe the best religion is the one that brings you closest to God. My religious tradition is Catholic, and I have also studied and participated in other religious traditions. My life experiences and love of God is integrated in my work and my life, so it can’t be separated. I see clients of all different religions without a problem. Although my love of Jesus is never in question, my concepts of energy, dharma and karma might not fit well with some fundamentalist beliefs, so I might not be a match for you.