Initial Assessment
Your therapist conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your concerns, history, and goals to create a personalized treatment plan.

Personalized one-on-one psychotherapy designed to address anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns.
Understanding Emotional Distress
Living with untreated anxiety, depression, or trauma can feel overwhelming and isolating. You may notice persistent sadness, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating at work, or strained relationships with those you care about most. Sleep disturbances, avoidance of social situations, and a general sense of hopelessness can gradually erode your quality of life. Many people struggle silently, unsure whether what they are experiencing warrants professional help or uncertain about where to begin.
Individual therapy provides a structured, evidence-based approach to understanding and resolving these challenges. Through modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and trauma-focused techniques, your therapist works with you to identify harmful thought patterns, develop practical coping skills, and process difficult emotions in a safe environment. Most patients begin noticing meaningful improvements in mood, relationships, and daily functioning within the first several weeks of consistent sessions.
The Science of Psychotherapy
Individual therapy, also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy, is a collaborative treatment process in which a licensed mental health professional works one-on-one with a patient to address emotional, behavioral, and psychological concerns. Recognized by the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for numerous mental health conditions, individual therapy utilizes evidence-based techniques tailored to each patient's unique needs and goals.
Psychotherapy works by helping you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most widely studied approaches, has demonstrated large effect sizes (g=0.75 to g=0.88) across major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder in meta-analyses encompassing over 144 clinical trials. Your therapist may also incorporate dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma processing, or psychodynamic techniques to explore deeper relational patterns.
During a typical session lasting 45 to 60 minutes, you and your therapist will discuss current concerns, explore emotional responses, and practice new coping strategies in a confidential setting. Sessions are conversational yet purposeful, with your therapist guiding the discussion toward therapeutic goals while ensuring you feel heard and supported throughout the process.
Research consistently shows that most patients experience meaningful symptom improvement within eight to 16 sessions, though treatment duration varies based on the complexity of concerns being addressed. The therapeutic alliance — the trusting relationship between you and your therapist — is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes, with meta-analyses showing a consistent correlation (r=0.28) across more than 30,000 patients studied.
Evidence-Based Mental Health Care
Therapy is tailored to your specific concerns, goals, and learning style
A private, judgment-free environment to process difficult emotions safely
Develop practical strategies you can use long after therapy concludes
Gain communication skills and emotional awareness that strengthen connections
Available in-person and via telepsychiatry to accommodate your lifestyle
Compare Your Options
| Treatment | Mechanism | Time | Results | Duration | Downtime | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Therapy | One-on-one psychotherapy | 45-60 min/session | 2-4 weeks onset | Ongoing as needed | None | Complex or personal concerns |
| Group Therapy | Peer-supported sessions | 60-90 min/session | 4-8 weeks onset | 8-12 week programs | None | Social skills and shared experiences |
| Online Self-Help Programs | Digital modules | Self-paced | Varies widely | Program-dependent | None | Mild symptoms with high motivation |
Finding Your Path to Wellness
Individual therapy benefits a wide range of adults who are experiencing emotional distress, behavioral challenges, or significant life transitions that interfere with daily functioning and overall wellbeing.
During your initial evaluation, your therapist will assess whether individual therapy is the most appropriate treatment or whether a combined approach with medication management or other services would better serve your needs.
Your therapist conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your concerns, history, and goals to create a personalized treatment plan.
Through guided conversations, your therapist introduces evidence-based techniques such as CBT, DBT, or EMDR tailored to your needs.
You explore thought patterns, emotional responses, and behavioral habits with your therapist in a supportive, confidential setting.
Your therapist regularly evaluates your progress and adjusts the treatment approach to ensure continued growth toward your goals.
What to Know
It is normal to experience temporary increases in emotional intensity as you explore difficult topics in therapy. Some patients report feeling emotionally drained, tearful, or slightly anxious after sessions that address deep-seated concerns. These responses typically diminish as you develop stronger coping skills and are a natural part of the healing process.
In rare cases, patients may experience a temporary worsening of symptoms when first confronting traumatic material or deeply held beliefs. This is most common during exposure-based treatments for PTSD or OCD and is carefully managed by your therapist through gradual pacing and emotional regulation techniques. Fewer than five percent of patients experience clinically significant symptom worsening during evidence-based psychotherapy.
All therapists at Refresh TMS are licensed mental health professionals who adhere to strict ethical guidelines and evidence-based protocols. Dr. Paula-Ann Francis provides psychiatric oversight to ensure patient safety throughout the therapeutic process. If at any point therapy feels overwhelming, your treatment plan can be adjusted to match your comfort level.
Individual therapy sessions in the Weston, FL area typically range from $150 to $300 per session, depending on the therapist's credentials, session length, and specific therapeutic modality used. Several factors influence the overall cost of treatment, including the frequency of sessions, the complexity of concerns being addressed, and the duration of your treatment plan. Exact pricing will be discussed during your initial consultation based on your individual treatment needs.
Many insurance plans provide coverage for individual therapy sessions with licensed mental health professionals. Refresh TMS works with a variety of insurance providers to help make therapy accessible. Our team can verify your benefits and explain your coverage before your first appointment, including copay amounts and any session limits that may apply.
We believe that financial considerations should never prevent you from receiving quality mental health care. Refresh TMS offers flexible payment arrangements to accommodate different budgets. Contact our office at (754) 216-0840 to discuss payment options and insurance verification for your individual therapy sessions.
Weston's Trusted Provider
Board-certified psychiatrist supervises all therapeutic care for clinical excellence
Therapy seamlessly coordinates with medication management and advanced treatments
Calming, luxurious office designed to put you at ease from the moment you arrive
CBT, DBT, EMDR, and other proven modalities matched to your specific needs
Your Questions Answered
Individual therapy is a one-on-one treatment process where you work with a licensed mental health professional to address emotional, behavioral, and psychological concerns using evidence-based techniques such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
Counseling typically focuses on specific situational challenges and short-term problem-solving, while therapy often addresses deeper emotional patterns, mental health diagnoses, and longer-term behavioral change. At Refresh TMS, our licensed therapists provide comprehensive care that encompasses both approaches.
Treatment duration varies based on your specific concerns and goals. Many patients experience meaningful improvement within eight to 16 weekly sessions, while more complex conditions may benefit from longer-term treatment. Your therapist will regularly review progress and adjust the plan accordingly.
Individual therapy effectively treats anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, grief, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. For complex conditions, therapy may be combined with psychiatric medication management for optimal outcomes.
Many insurance plans cover individual therapy sessions with licensed mental health professionals. Our team at Refresh TMS can verify your benefits and explain your coverage, including copays and session limits, before your first appointment. Call (754) 216-0840 for insurance verification.
If emotional distress is affecting your daily functioning, relationships, work performance, or overall quality of life, therapy can help. Common signs include persistent sadness, excessive worry, difficulty sleeping, withdrawal from activities you once enjoyed, or feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns.
Yes, and research shows that combining individual therapy with psychiatric medication management often produces better outcomes than either approach alone. At Refresh TMS, Dr. Francis and our team provide integrated care, coordinating therapy with medication management and advanced treatments like TMS Therapy when appropriate.
Yes, Refresh TMS offers individual therapy through our Telepsychiatry & Online Psychiatry services, allowing you to attend sessions from the comfort of your home. Virtual sessions are conducted via secure video conferencing and are as effective as in-person therapy for most conditions.