What is counseling? Is it right for me?
Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.
That’s the official definition, but what does that mean for you?
Working with me means that you will have the sole attention of a non-judgmental, trained and licensed healing professional during our sessions. I’m here to be your sounding board, your encourager, to help you see and understand aspects of yourself, your past, your relationships, that you may have been unable to before. I’m here to challenge you, as needed, to help you work toward the goals that you set for yourself. There is some pain in growth, so counseling will not always feel comfortable, but I am here to support you and help you find your own strength.
Learn more about me and my credentials by clicking “About.”
What if I need more than counseling?
I’ll be glad to make a referral to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other trusted professional. I believe that getting healthier involves the many different aspects of our lives—physical, mental, emotional, relational, vocational, and spiritual. I don’t expect to meet every one of your needs so I’ve been intentional about gathering other resources to better serve my clients.
What can I expect at the first appointment?
I am offering sessions both in-person and via Telehealth. (Learn more about the process of getting started here.)
For telehealth sessions, to access the link for your first session, you will log-in to the client portal, select the “Appointments” tab at the top on the page, and then click on the button labeled “Join Video.”
For in-person sessions, when you arrive prior to your appointment time, you may have a seat in the waiting room. If you prefer to wait outside or in your vehicle, please send a text message to notify me of your arrival.
At the beginning of the hour, we will start with any questions you have about the paperwork—you’ll have access to new client paperwork ahead of time—or anything else. Then I will ask a few questions to follow up on the information you provided and we’ll discuss what brought you to counseling and what you’d like to get out of this process.
Toward the end of our session, we will decide on rescheduling and which payment option works best for you.
Why don’t you take insurance?
While insurance may seem like a convenient way to pay for counseling, it can sometimes make the process more complicated.
- Insurance companies require a DSM-V diagnosis to pay for services rendered and not everyone who comes to counseling will meet the criteria for such a diagnosis.
- Insurance options can be limiting. Insurance companies may not cover the number of counseling sessions or type of counseling services that would be most beneficial.
- Insurance companies can make decisions about your care. They require information about the plan and progress you make and can make decisions about what they’re willing to reimburse for.
The services and prices that I offer can be found under the “Services” section. If the standard fee will create undue financial hardship for you, I do offer an income-based sliding scale. Please inquire about the fee options prior to our first meeting or if your financial situation changes during the course of our work together.
How long will I need counseling?
There’s not really a short, simple answer to this question. Duration of the counseling relationship and frequency of the sessions are unique to each client and dependent on several factors. With that in mind, just know that it’s not forever. Indeed, one of the goals for every one of my counseling relationships is to help clients get to a place where they don’t “need” me anymore. If you come to counseling with very specific goals, it will be easy to see when those goals are met, and that’s when we can end our work together. Other times, clients may choose to see me frequently for a season and then less often after that season passes; using the less frequent counseling sessions as more of a “check-up.” I trust that you will know when you’re ready to discontinue our meetings and know that I support your ability to do so.