Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are a few frequently asked questions about attending therapy. If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact us directly!

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Do you offer sessions in-person or virtually?

Keystone therapists offer a hybrid model for therapy with both in-person and virtual appointments available. Clients are encouraged to discuss their hopes for attending sessions in-person or virtually with their therapist to determine which setting is most appropriate for their treatment in therapy, and what availability the therapist may have in their schedule for either type of therapy.

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What are the requirements for attending sessions in-person?

Most therapists offer in-person sessions in our office a couple days per week. All therapists are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and continue to follow all recommended health and safety precautions. Client who would like to attend sessions in-person are required to either: 1) provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19; or 2) provide their therapist with a negative COVID-19 test no more than 24-hours prior to each schedule appointment. If clients get sick or aren't able to attend their scheduled in-person session, switching to virtual therapy is available at the therapist's discretion.

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What are the requirements for attending sessions virtually?

All therapists continue to offer virtual therapy sessions for increased accessibility to services for clients via HIPAA-compliant video programming. All virtual sessions require synchronous video and audio throughout session. Our therapists have taken every precaution to maintain confidentiality and avoid disruptions to the therapeutic process. *NOTE: All clients must be located in the state of Virginia at the time of their sessions as required by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

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Where is your office located? Where do I go?

Our offices are located in the Growth and Recovery Center in Fairfax City at 10400 Eaton Place, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030. When entering the building's lobby, take the stairs or elevator up to the second floor. Suite 200 is to the left and around the corner and just down the hall. Push the designated blue light button by your therapist's name to indicate you have arrived. Have a seat in the lobby and your therapist will meet you at the time of your session to bring you to the office. *NOTE: In order to minimize risk of exposure of COVID-19 or other viruses, we ask that all clients wait outside or in their cars until 5 minutes before their scheduled session.

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Where do I park?

There is an open parking lot surrounding the office building. You are welcome to park anywhere in the lot - parking is open availability. *NOTE: In order to minimize risk of exposure of COVID-19 or other viruses, we ask that all clients wait outside or in their cars until 5 minutes before their scheduled session.

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Is there public transportation nearby?

There is a bus stop directly outside our building. Electric bikes and scooters are frequently found surrounding our building, and are available for rent via phone app.

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How does therapy work?

Therapy starts with the professional relationship between therapist and client. Therefore, the first 2-3 sessions of therapy involve building rapport and allowing the therapist to get a full picture of applicable information for the client's presenting issue. Once the intake process is complete, the therapist and client will work together to develop a treatment plan with 2-3 goals the client would like to accomplish within the next 3-6 months. After goals are established, therapy work begins!

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How often do we meet?

Typically therapy begins with regular sessions once per week. As the client meets treatment goals, frequency of sessions is lowered to every other week, and even monthly before terminating. The therapist will speak directly with each client to determine the best schedule of sessions for ongoing therapy.

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How do I know if therapy is working?

Sometimes when beginning therapy, a client's symptoms can feel worse before they get better. This is because we are discussing the issues and bringing the client face-to-face with their symptoms. Your therapist will work with you to develop coping strategies to lower the impact of the symptoms. As therapy progresses, symptoms should significantly decrease in frequency and severity.

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What if I feel like therapy isn't working?

Give it time. Therapy is not a quick "fix," but a very personal process that provides space for a client to make long-term changes for the better. Growth takes time, however, if after a couple months of attending therapy you feel you are not receiving what you need out of therapy, discuss it with your therapist. Your therapist may reevaluate your treatment goals, recommend alternate therapeutic strategies, or even recommend another therapist to find the best fit for you.

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Should I take medications?

Medications and therapy have independently been proven to minimize the frequency and severity of symptoms. When used in combination, they prove even more effective. If you are interested in trying medication, discuss it with your therapist to determine if it is a good option for you. Therapists at Keystone are not able to prescribe medications, you should discuss your symptoms and concerns with your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist for a prescription.

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Are there any clients or issues you don't work with?

Our licenses allow therapists to work only in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We provide video or teletherapy in extenuating circumstances, such as a pandemic (COVID-19), but both client and therapist must be located in Virginia at the time of session. We do not work with young children below 4 years of age or provide custody evaluations. We do not complete psychological assessments, but can provide referrals as needed. We do not appear in court for any reason. As part of our ethical code, therapists do not work with populations or issues which we do not have adequate training or experience with. Should a client request services for areas we are not able to work with, we will provide appropriate referrals as needed.

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Do you keep records of what I say in sessions?

Yes. As part of our ethical practices we keep records of what we cover in sessions in a secure, HIPAA compliant electronic health records system. This allows therapists to track clients' progress in therapy, as well as common threads throughout sessions. Our notes are brief and only identify necessary information pertinent to clients' cases. If you would like to view your record, you may submit a written request directly to your therapist at any time.

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How do we end therapy?

While clients' goals in therapy vary, the ultimate goal of therapy remains the same: to "graduate" from or "terminate" therapy when the client is in a space where they experience minimal distress from their symptoms and feel comfortable and confident in being their true self outside of therapy, or "in the wild." At the beginning of therapy and throughout the process, therapists will evaluate the client's progress towards reaching their goals with a treatment plan. Once the treatment plan has been successfully acheived, the client will "graduate" from therapy. Should there be need for a planned pause in treatment, therapists will review the client's progress and will discuss plans for returning to therapy at a later date.

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