Frequently Asked Questions
We know starting therapy—or simply looking for a supportive place to learn and grow—can come with questions. Below you'll find answers about TIC Wellness Center and TIC Healing Center so you can decide which option best fits what you're looking for.
TIC WELLNESS CENTER — THERAPY & CLINICAL SERVICES
What is TIC Wellness Center?
TIC Wellness Center is a trauma-informed mental health practice providing professional behavioral health services to individuals, couples, and families. Our approach is compassionate, culturally responsive, evidence-informed, and centered on safety, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and respect.
Our goal is to create a space where you can feel seen, heard, and supported while working toward meaningful change.
What does TIC stand for?
TIC stands for Trauma-Informed Care.
Trauma-informed care recognizes that past and present experiences can influence emotional health, relationships, behaviors, coping patterns, and a person's sense of safety. Instead of only asking, “What’s wrong?” we seek to understand “What happened, what are you experiencing, and what do you need to feel safe and supported?”
Who does TIC Wellness Center serve?
TIC Wellness Center provides services for individuals, couples, and families. We are especially committed to creating culturally responsive and affirming spaces for Black and Brown individuals and families while welcoming clients from all backgrounds and lived experiences.
What concerns can I receive therapy for?
Depending on clinical appropriateness and provider availability, therapy may address concerns such as trauma and abuse, domestic violence and intimate partner violence, relationship trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, emotional regulation, self-esteem, boundaries, relationship challenges, and the lasting effects of difficult or traumatic experiences.
Do I need to have experienced trauma to receive services?
No. While trauma-informed care is at the heart of our practice, you do not need to identify as a trauma survivor to seek therapy at TIC Wellness Center.
People seek support for many different reasons, including stress, relationships, anxiety, depression, major life changes, personal growth, and simply wanting a safe place to better understand themselves.
What states does TIC Wellness Center serve?
TIC Wellness Center serves clients in New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Virginia, based on clinician licensure, availability, and the location of the client at the time services are provided.
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Yes. Virtual therapy may be available to eligible clients located in states where the treating clinician is appropriately licensed to provide services.
Availability and appropriateness are discussed during the consultation and intake process.
What can I expect from my first therapy session?
Your first session is an opportunity for us to begin understanding you, what brings you to therapy, what you would like support with, and what you hope to accomplish.
You will not be expected to tell your entire story at once. Trauma-informed care means respecting your boundaries, choices, readiness, and pace.
Will I have to talk about my trauma immediately?
No.
You are not required to disclose every detail of a traumatic experience before you are ready. Your clinician will work collaboratively with you to establish safety, identify your needs and goals, and determine an appropriate approach to treatment.
TIC HEALING CENTER — EDUCATION, COMMUNITY & WELLNESS
TIC Healing Center is not therapy. Participation in TIC Healing Center workshops, educational programs, community experiences, or non-clinical groups does not establish a therapist-client relationship and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
What is TIC Healing Center?
TIC Healing Center is the community wellness, education, group, and workshop space of TIC Wellness Center.
It was created to give people opportunities to learn, connect, heal, and grow through educational workshops, wellness experiences, psychoeducational programming, community conversations, and other non-clinical offerings.
TIC Healing Center is not a therapy practice, and participation in TIC Healing Center programming is not psychotherapy or mental health treatment.
Is TIC Healing Center therapy?
No. TIC Healing Center is NOT therapy.
Participating in a TIC Healing Center workshop, class, community program, educational group, membership, or wellness experience does not establish a therapist-client relationship with TIC Wellness Center, TIC Healing Center, or a facilitator.
TIC Healing Center programming is intended for education, personal development, community connection, wellness, and support. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or provide clinical treatment for a mental health condition.
If you are seeking psychotherapy or individualized mental health treatment, please inquire about clinical services through TIC Wellness Center.
What is the difference between TIC Wellness Center and TIC Healing Center?
TIC Wellness Center = Clinical Services
TIC Wellness Center provides professional mental health services, including psychotherapy, when clinically appropriate. Clinical services involve a formal therapist-client relationship, informed consent, assessment, treatment planning, clinical documentation, and applicable professional and privacy requirements.
TIC Healing Center = Education + Community + Wellness
TIC Healing Center provides non-clinical educational, wellness, workshop, and community-based experiences.
Participation in TIC Healing Center does not create a therapist-client relationship and should not be considered a substitute for psychotherapy, psychiatric care, medical care, or other professional treatment.
What types of programs will TIC Healing Center offer?
Programming may include educational workshops and experiences focused on topics such as understanding trauma, healthy relationships, boundaries, self-worth, emotional wellness, stress management, breaking unhealthy patterns, healing after difficult relationships, domestic violence awareness, parenting and trauma, personal development, and other wellness-related topics.
Specific programs may change throughout the year, so visitors are encouraged to check the Groups & Workshops page for current offerings.
Are TIC Healing Center groups support groups?
Some programming may include community or peer-support elements, while others may be educational workshops, classes, discussions, or psychoeducational experiences.
Each offering will clearly identify its purpose and format before registration.
Unless a program is specifically identified and provided as a clinical therapy group through TIC Wellness Center, TIC Healing Center programming should not be interpreted as group psychotherapy.
Will a licensed therapist facilitate TIC Healing Center workshops?
Some programs may be taught or facilitated by licensed mental health professionals or other qualified professionals.
However, a facilitator's professional license does not automatically make a workshop or community program therapy. When a licensed clinician participates in TIC Healing Center programming, they are serving in the role identified for that particular program, such as educator, presenter, or facilitator—not necessarily as your individual therapist.
Does attending a TIC Healing Center program make me a client?
No.
Registering for or attending a TIC Healing Center program does not, by itself, make you a psychotherapy client of TIC Wellness Center or establish an individual therapist-client relationship with a facilitator.
Clinical services require a separate intake, informed-consent process, determination of clinical appropriateness, and acceptance as a therapy client.
Can TIC Healing Center replace individual therapy?
No.
TIC Healing Center can complement your personal wellness journey, but its non-clinical programming is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment.
If you believe you need professional mental health treatment, we encourage you to connect with an appropriately licensed mental health professional.
Is what I share during a TIC Healing Center program confidential?
Participants should respect one another's privacy; however, a community workshop or non-clinical group cannot guarantee the same level of confidentiality that may apply within an individual psychotherapy relationship.
Participants should use discretion when sharing sensitive or personally identifying information. Any specific privacy expectations or participation guidelines will be explained when you register for a program.
Can I participate in TIC Healing Center while seeing another therapist?
Yes. Because TIC Healing Center's non-clinical programs are educational and wellness-focused, you may participate while receiving therapy elsewhere.
Your participation does not require you to transfer your therapy services to TIC Wellness Center.
Are workshops appropriate if I am currently experiencing a mental health crisis?
No. TIC Healing Center workshops and community programs are not crisis services and are not designed to provide emergency mental health assessment, crisis intervention, or individualized clinical care.
If you are experiencing an immediate mental health or medical emergency, contact 911 or your local emergency services. In the United States, you can also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
How do I know whether I need TIC Wellness Center or TIC Healing Center?
If you are looking for individualized psychotherapy, clinical assessment, treatment planning, and ongoing mental health treatment, TIC Wellness Center may be the appropriate place to start.
If you are looking for education, workshops, wellness activities, personal development, or community connection without entering therapy, explore TIC Healing Center.
Some people may choose to participate in both, when appropriate.
How do I get started?
For therapy, select Schedule a Consultation to learn more about clinical services through TIC Wellness Center.
For workshops, groups, educational experiences, and community programming, select Explore TIC Healing Center to see upcoming opportunities.
TIC Wellness Center — Helping You Heal Safely.
TIC Healing Center — Learn. Connect. Heal. Grow.