The easy answer to this one is “Almost anyone who really wants to change!” Participation in psychotherapy can be helpful to those who truly want to enhance the quality of their lives. Reasons people may choose to participate include:
Wanting to achieve a greater sense of emotional balance instead of letting some emotions (such as anxiety, blues, irritability, or mood swings) get the best of them.
Needing help adjusting to challenging life changes such as relational break-ups (Please see our companion site The Relationship Center of Nashville), death of a loved one, health or career changes.
Inability to break some unhealthy relational patterns.
Wanting to make behavioral changes, but seemingly being unable to do so.
Struggling with the after-effects of some emotional injuries from childhood or adolescence.
Ms. Bledsoe sees psychotherapy as a contractual partnership between herself and the client(s). Each client sets his or her own long-term and short-term goals. Some clients come with very specific desires to change emotional, thinking, and/ or behavioral patterns. Other clients come to have a compassionate place in which to adjust to losses or changes. For others there may be a need to address present or past loss or trauma which is affecting their current quality of life. Many clients come with concerns about the relationships in their lives. (Please see our companion site The Relationship Center of Nashville.) Some people come to have a special time and safe place weekly with the therapist as support and advocate.
Ms. Bledsoe works from an integrated approach to psychotherapy. This means she draws on years of varied experience and training geared to working with every person as a unique individual. Every effort is made to provide a safe and fertile environment for growth. Ms. Bledsoe attempts to tailor treatment strategies to match each client’s individual goals, personality tendencies, history, and strengths. Therapy sessions may be largely strategic “talk” therapy. However, according to the client’s wishes, personality and concerns, other more “active” therapies (such as Gestalt, cathartic expression, body-focused work, etc.) may be suggested at times. Ms. Bledsoe has studied many methodologies, including, but not limited to: Psychodynamic, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Redecision, Cognitive-Behavioral, Developmental, Emotionally-Focused, 12-Step, Systems, and (individual) Personality Styles and Adaptations.
Ms. Bledsoe cannot prescribe medication. Many clients can make the changes they want to without it. However, medication may be very helpful when someone’s ability to function is significantly impaired by his or her emotional or cognitive states. In such a case, Ms. Bledsoe can, at the client’s request, make a referral to a physician, or coordinate treatment by staying in contact with the client’s regular physician. Of course, this can only be done with signed permission from the client. The physician and the client can decide together if medication is to be used short-term or longer.
Ms. Bledsoe follows the Federal HIPPA guidelines. Everything that is shared in psychotherapy is considered to be confidential, and cannot be shared with other parties without the client’s written permission or a court order. The exceptions to these rules are: If the therapist deems the client to be at immediate risk of harming him or her self; The client reports intent to harm someone else; Or the client reports having abused or neglected a person (such as a minor or elderly person) who cannot protect him or her self. In these exceptional circumstances a therapist is required by law to notify the necessary authorities.
If a client chooses to use health insurance to pay for treatment, he or she must be issued an official (ICD-9) diagnosis on paper. The insurance company and/or its affiliated behavioral health organization may communicate with the therapist regarding pre-certification of sessions and treatment planning. These companies have the right to request treatment-related information. In some cases, the issued diagnosis and some other information may be reported to a national medical information bureau. This may lead to inquiry when a client applies for new or different types of insurance.
Usually the first three sessions are of an assessment nature in that therapist and client(s) are getting acquainted and the therapist is getting full history, goal clarity, etc. After that the frequency of sessions and length of work is up to the client. Most find that it is helpful to come in weekly, particularly at first, and may over time choose to taper off as goals are met. New goals may emerge, or clients may ask for support for staying on track as they wind down their work. Some clients come for a few weeks, some for a few months, some for much longer. Clients usually know when their work is finished, and terminate therapy at that point. The door is, however, always open for “booster” work upon request. If a client's treatment is eligible for insurance coverage, the insurance company or its affiliated behavioral health organization will be the ultimate authority in determining frequency and length of treatment.
The standard fee for services is $110/ hour. Payment is accepted by cash or check. Ms. Bledsoe is an in-network provider on several insurance panels and will also file insurance as an out-of-network provider if she is not on a requested panel. Some fees may be negotiated on a sliding fee scale if a need is deemed. If clients do request a reduced fee, they are asked to bring in a copy of the previous year’s tax form.