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Below I have listed a few frequently asked questions. If your question is not listed, or you would like more information, feel free to contact me directly and I will gladly answer any questions you may have.

 

  • What is an MFT?

    Marriage and Family Therapy (formally Marriage, Family and Child Counseling) is a branch of psychotherapy that works with individuals, families and children to nurture change and development. It is typically solution-focused and brief. It tends to view things in terms of the systems of interactions between people. It emphasizes relationships as an important factor in psychological health. As such, problems are typically viewed as emerging from systemic interactions with others, rather than the sole creation of individuals. MFT’s may focus more on how patterns of thought and behavior maintain the problem rather than trying to identify the cause (as in psychoanalysis). It assumes that the family, and society as a whole, is larger than the sum of its parts. Requirements for licensure include a master's degree in Psychology, passage of a comprehensive examination and two years of full time, supervised experience.

  • What does a Sand Tray Therapist do?

    Sand tray therapy is used to assess and treat the mental health and well being of children by observing how they express themselves through the setting-up of a variety of miniature toys in a small sandbox (sand-tray). Children are asked to create a diorama (a story or miniature world) by arranging toy people, animals, cars, dinosaurs, etc. in the sandtray. The sand tray therapist studies and asks questions about the child’s choice and use of objects to help understand what they may be thinking about or struggling with. It is my experience that as children progress, they are able to work out and move through unconscious issues through their sand tray story, which evolves over the weeks. Because the process is beneath the child’s level of understanding, they can, for example, allow the child figure to eventually overcome the object of their fear or distress, gaining confidence and coming to a resolution.  Sand Tray therapy works especially well with children who have trouble comprehending and talking about difficult issues, such as domestic abuse or child abuse, incest, or the death of a family member.

  • What is Play Therapy?

    Play is the natural way that children understand their world, express thoughts and feelings, develop social skills and learn self-mastery. Child Centered Play Therapy is a medium for children to express their feelings, explore relationships, and talk about their experiences, wishes, anxieties, and feelings in a natural way. Children often have difficulty trying to say in words what they feel or how experiences have affected them. Through toys and art materials, children can show their inner feelings by the toys they choose and how they play with them. The Play Therapist simply observes these actions, follows the child’s lead, and allows the toys to explain what the child is going through. As in sand tray therapy, it is my experience that children learn from the resolution of their toys “problems” and release their emotions through their toys. In addition, play allows children to feel safe and comfortable and a relationship of trust develops for the child and the Play Therapist, allowing for transformation

  • How can Family Therapy help us?

    A Family Therapist helps family members find constructive ways to communicate and understand each other. They work in ways that acknowledge the contexts of people's families and other relationships, sharing and respecting individuals' different perspectives, beliefs, views and stories, and explores possible ways to more forward so that everyone benefits. In addition, family therapists assist families in coming up with acceptable solutions to problems, including creating behavior modification tools such as homework charts, star charts, and behavior management systems. Family Therapists also can teach parents valuable behavior modification/parenting techniques

  • How do you structure therapy with children and incorporate the family into sessions?

    Each situation is different, dependent on the presenting problem and the age of the child. However, generally I like to see the family together at the first session in order to get an idea of the big picture and to get the perspectives of both the young person and the parent(s). At that point I will continue with the child for several sessions, although I will want to check in with the family briefly at the beginning of each session. With a child around 10 or younger I utilize play therapy and sand tray therapy (please see above for a brief explanation). With an older child I prefer a mixture of play and talk therapy.  I will then call the family back together to reevaluate. If, at any point, family therapy is indicated, I will make that recommendation. I like to keep information in the child sessions confidential whenever possible, this assists with trust and allows your child to feel comfortable sharing with me (this is especially important with teenagers). However, I am legally obligated to share with parents any cases of children being hurt or wanting to hurt himself or herself or someone else. Also, I encourage and support children to be honest with his or her parents regarding things that are bothering them in order to help facilitate growth.

  • How long is therapy?

    That is a popular question, but unfortunately it is very dependent on the situation at hand. However, I can say that my style is more solution-focused - which by nature is brief. I also favor cognitive-behavioral therapy. Both of these styles of therapy focus on what the immediate concerns are and how we can make changes that would directly impact your day-to-day functioning (please see the about me page to learn more about my style in therapy). I can also say that my clients typically see me for about 6 weeks to 6 months, again depending on the issue that brings them in. If a client is motivated and immediately starts making changes in their life, they may feel better quickly. I do caution, though, that it is important to stick with therapy for a bit longer to ensure that you maintain your changes.

  • Is therapy confidential?

    Therapy is absolutely confidential, however there are a few exceptions I must mention. If I learn that a child has been or is currently being abused I must, by law, report it to the authorities. Also, if someone is in danger of hurting themselves or others I must take necessary precautions to keep them safe. In addition, your records can be subpoenaed by a court of law. Sometimes, it is productive to therapy if I speak with your doctor, a school counselor or your child’s teacher. I will not do this, however, without your written consent.

  • What is your fee and do you take insurance?

    My fee is $95.00 for a 60-minute session. I do accept some insurance plans; in addition I can submit bills to your insurance company as an out-of-network provider if you have that option in your coverage. Please contact me with any insurance questions. I will do what I can to determine your level of coverage. If you do choose to have your bills submitted to your insurance company, please be aware that I will have to disclose that you attend therapy and your diagnosis, but nothing more.

 

 

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Sheri Fay, LMFT LPC
267-872-5033

sherifay@childandfamilywellness.com

 

 

406 W. Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa 19119

221 Haveford Avenue

Narbeth, PA 19072 


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