Can I talk about work without violating client confidentiality?

Generally speaking, discussing client details in supervision or consultation with a licensed therapist doesn’t violate client confidentiality. You can also share information hypothetically, or generically, without any concerns. However, therapy usually focuses on your experiences, reactions, and emotional impact—not specific client details (like the client’s name or their identifying information). Most often, you’ll discuss dynamics, dilemmas, or feelings rather than identifying details. If you want to share something specific and are unsure how to do so, we can review the rules, and plan upfront to keep it ethical and safe.

Can therapy help with compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma?

Absolutely. Sessions target symptoms like numbness, irritability, and reduced empathy with trauma-sensitive tools to rebuild resilience and empathy without more self-sacrifice. You’ll get strategies to process exposure and prevent further erosion.

How long does therapy take? Can I be successful in therapy, if I can only make a short-term commitment?

It’s hard to say, because the length of time required to get good results in therapy varies between individuals, and based on each person’s needs and resources, as well as on the frequency of sessions. Though some folks might only need six weeks of intensive work to meet their goals, others may continue their work in therapy for a year or more. We can usually estimate the length of time you’d need to invest at the end of the first or second session.

Does this go through insurance, and what about billing privacy?

The full list of self-pay fees for all services is offered here. Private pay (or self-pay) is a common option for privacy, because it ensures total confidentiality- even the fact that you are in therapy will not be shared with anyone. Affordable, reduced fees are also available to individuals in public service occupations. Some insurance-based options are available, as well. If you are planning to use insurance or an Employee Assistance Program to pay for therapy, the list of accepted carriers is also provided on the same page. Co-payment and co-insurance amounts vary.

I barely have time to breathe... How can I find time for therapy? 

Therapy does require some degree of time commitment. However, the amount of time needed may be less than you think. Virtual sessions are available throughout Mississippi and Massachusetts, and in-person sessions (in the place of your choosing, if it’s sufficiently private) are also available throughout the Pine Belt region. Session frequency and timing are tailored to your reality: some folks start with weekly appointments, while others begin with biweekly or a focused, time-limited series of sessions around a particular crisis or transition. 

Do I even need therapy if my problem is “just” burnout?

Burnout, moral injury, vicarious trauma, and workplace stress are not “just” anything—they are the predictable result of caring deeply in systems that ask too much. While there has been lots of discussion in popular and social media about “cures” and “hacks” for burnout, they often don’t work, and some only work when coupled with meaningful, long-term life changes. Specialized therapy, specifically oriented toward these concerns, is often a good option to make sure you don’t waste your time on “cures” that don’t work, or allow burnout to fester. Using an action-oriented, present-focused, trauma-sensitive approach that respects the seriousness of what you carry helps you build a life that doesn’t require constant self-sacrifice to maintain.

I am a helping professional, but I have my own history of mental health concerns. Is Emerge Calm a good fit for my needs?

Maybe- it’s hard to say whether any therapist is a good fit for any client, if the two have never met. However, many helping professionals come into this field carrying their own histories of struggle. Having such a history (or, current concerns) shouldn’t pose a barrier to good care.

I want to get EMDR (or another specific treatment technique). Can we do that?

Not necessarily. Agreeing to use a specific treatment with a client before that treatment is assessed to be the best option for the client’s needs is really problematic. What would you think of a doctor who agreed to prescribe antibiotics without knowing whether their patient had a susceptible infection? Would that constitute good care? The policy at Emerge Calm is to accept clients only based on mutual compatibility, and never for a specific, predetermined treatment technique.

Will your approach involve analyzing my childhood or my family of origin

Not usually. While some self-knowledge or insight about your longstanding patterns can be helpful, it doesn’t lead directly to actionable changes. This is why the approach used here is present-focused and action-oriented. We’ll tackle current stressors with concrete plans. However, it is important to note that a solid assessment is critical for good quality care. This assessment, completed early in the therapeutic relationship, involves some history taking and questions about childhood and family. If you are primarily interested in exploring family-of-origins or childhood issues, this approach is likely not going to be a good fit.