FAQ - Lipscomb Family Therapy Center

Here are some frequently asked questions about Lipscomb's Family Therapy Center.

What is marriage and family therapy?
  • Marriage and Family Therapy is a mental health profession similar to psychology, social work, and counseling. Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and many other mental health problems while also addressing relationship concerns including couple conflict and parent-child issues. Whereas other mental health professionals work mainly with individuals, marriage and family therapists treat individuals, couples, and families from a relationship-centered perspective, evaluating how clients’ interactions with family, friends, and coworkers affect their mental, social, and emotional health.
  • To learn more about the field of marriage and family therapy, visit the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy webpage at www.aamft.org.
Who are your clients?
  • Our supervisors and therapist interns welcome the opportunity to work with people of all faiths, creeds, races, ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, genders, sexual orientations, health statuses, and education levels. It is our job to provide an empathic ear and wise, research informed counsel to everyone we work with, regardless of any similarities or differences we may have in our core convictions or demographic characteristics.
  • It is an honor to work with our clients. We admire their strength, courage, and humility and are grateful for the opportunity to be their therapist.
How experienced are your therapists?
  • Our supervisors have been seeing clients for 4 to 20+ years. All of our therapist interns work under their supervision while earning a minimum of 300 face-to-face client contact hours before graduating.
How much does therapy cost?
  • The standard fee per 50-55 minute clinical hour is $50 with a sliding scale that runs as low as $10 per session depending on client income. 
Do you accept insurance?
  • Interns at LFTC do not accept insurance reimbursement for sessions. Clients who would like to seek insurance reimbursement on their own may request an invoice from their therapist intern.
Does therapy really help?

  • Numerous studies going back decades have shown therapy to be beneficial for many clients managing a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, relationship distress, and parenting issues. When clients are motivated to change and they have found a therapist intern who they trust, they have every reason to be hopeful and confident that therapy can help.

    To see how our clients do in therapy, check out our Outcomes page.

How can therapy help me?
  • Participating in therapy has many benefits. Our therapist interns can provide general support, problem-solving skills, and strategies for coping with issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, stress management, body image, relationship troubles and unresolved childhood issues. You might also find our therapist interns are a great asset to help you better manage personal growth, understand interpersonal relationships, and deal with family concerns, marriage issues and perhaps just the hassles of daily life. Throughout our sessions and discussions we can offer a new perspective on a difficult problem or situation, or guide you toward a positive outcome. What you gain from therapy depends on how well you use what you learn and what you put into practice.
  • Benefits of therapy at our center include:
    • Attaining a better understanding of yourself
    • Developing skills for improving relationships
    • Learning new ways to cope with mental health issues and other struggles
    • Managing emotional pressures such as anger or grief
    • Improving communication and listening skills
    • Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
    • Discovering new ways to solve problems in your relationships
    • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is the cost and do you accept insurance?
  • The fees for each session is based on a sliding scale and will range in cost from $10-$90 depending on your household income and family size. However, we make every effort not to turn anyone away because of an inability to pay. We do not accept insurance.
Do you do court ordered visits?
  • Yes.
If I am seeking help for my child, do I need to go to therapy, too?
  • When a child is facing a difficult challenge, the entire family is affected. Whenever possible, we like to work with whole families. This does not mean every family member needs to attend every session. Who will attend each session is a collaborative decision made by family members and the therapist intern. For the first session, a parent or legal guardian does need to be present with the child in order to help complete the intake paperwork and sign the consent for treatment.
I am coming to talk about my relationship. What if my partner will not attend with me?
  • If your partner does not agree to come to an initial session, do not let that keep you from getting the help you need. Schedule the session. Your therapist intern can work with you on strategies to engage your partner in future sessions.
Is Lipscomb Family Therapy Center only for Lipscomb students and employees?
  • No, the center is open to the public. The services are provided by therapist interns in the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Lipscomb University. Our graduate therapist interns are supervised and trained to deliver valuable, constructive, and beneficial feedback to those in need. All therapist interns adhere to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Code of Ethics and are dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals.
How long do sessions last?
  • Each session usually lasts for approximately 50 minutes.
What types of problems can I bring to therapy?
  • As an outpatient clinic, we provide services to meet a wide range of issues such as: relationship problems, depression, family concerns, learning challenges, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, school or work issues, decision making, and crisis support needs. Therapy is a time for support and growth and we are here to serve our clients' needs.
What is group therapy? Do I have to talk if I don't want to? Is it confidential?
  • Group therapy offers you an opportunity to connect with others dealing with certain issues or struggling with personal growth. We offer a variety of group therapy opportunities, such as divorce adjustment.
  • Group therapy is a great way to develop personal awareness and to connect with peers dealing with the same issues. Members are encouraged to participate, but no one is forced to say more than they are comfortable with. Group leaders are professional and experienced in creating a safe and confidential environment. We’re always open to new ideas, so feel free to make suggestions.
Will my therapy be confidential?
  • Our number one priority is safeguarding your privacy. No one can know that you are attending sessions or what is being said in your sessions unless you tell that person. If we are contacted, we cannot give out any information, or even confirm you are attending therapy, unless you have given us written and verbal authorization to release information. Only certain extremely infrequent situations call for exception: life and death situations, child or elder abuse and those situations mandated by law.
  • Even though your therapy session will be recorded on a secure network, normally, only the immediate supervisor will be able to review your recording in the presence of your therapist interns. This is done to provide the best possible feedback to the therapist interns, promoting high-quality care and experiences for our clients.  No one outside of our treatment team will have access to view the recording.
Can I choose if I am paired with a male or female therapist?
  • If you feel more comfortable seeing a member of the same sex (or opposite sex) we can accommodate that. We want you to feel as comfortable and relaxed as needed to ensure a successful meeting.
I’ve never been to therapy before but I’m starting to feel overwhelmed and need to talk to someone immediately. Can I just walk in?
  • We will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding therapy and scheduling of a first session either in person or over the phone. However, we are unable to accommodate same day scheduling due to space limitations and scheduling constraints. In case of emergencies, please call 911 or contact the Tennessee Office of Crisis Services at 855.274.7471.
Do you have to be a Christian?
  • No. Lipscomb Family Therapy Center is open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation or spiritual persuasion.