What to Expect

Expectation

Counseling intake is held in our physical office unless you’ve signed up for an online session. Your provider will be waiting for you depending on the time of day. If the provider is with another client, please wait for them in the front and send a message through the portal with your initials stating that you have arrived. Your provider will come to get you when ready.

Once in session, expect to go over confidentiality, your intake paperwork, what brought you in, your goals for therapy, our rules for therapy, and whether you feel the provider is a good fit for further sessions.

Session Energy

Your information is kept confidential by law and we don’t gossip; it’s unethical and we value your privacy

Expect our providers to be professional but to also be themselves in and out of session. Don’t go in expecting what you see on TV, we assure you, you’ll be disappointed or shocked.

Your provider will ask personal questions. They’re not nosey, they are striving to help. You have to let your guard down for the therapeutic process to work.

Trust the process. Be open-minded to the service as we embark on this healing process together.

Lastly, expect to be treated as an equal human being. You are safe to be yourself in a judgment-free zone. We will respect you and your time, we only ask that you do the same for us.

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Common Terms

Types of Professionals

Mental Health Provider – Someone who has gone through state-approved training and can provide expert mental health services to clients in need

Psychotherapist – a person who treats mental disorders by psychological means and conducts therapeutic sessions also commonly referred to as counseling (i.e LPC, LCSW, and Psychologist)

Licensed Professional Counselor – State-approved professional with a Master’s degree who counsels and focuses on providing emotional and behavioral therapy support

Licensed Clinical Social Worker – State-approved professional with a Master’s degree who counsels and works on a broader scope to help their clients find support within their social environments

Psychologist – A Doctorate level version of an LPC and LCSW who can provide counseling alongside IQ tests

Psychiatrist – Medical doctors that can Counsel, conduct numerous types of psychological tests, and can prescribe medicine

Common Words/Phrases Used

Counseling – Helping and guiding someone to fix personal, social, or psychological difficulties

Therapy – The treatment of mental or psychological disorders or personal issues by psychological means

Diagnosis – An identification given to a client due to the nature of an illness or other problem. May only be given by a trained professional after an examination of the client’s symptoms

Super Bill – A detailed form (receipt), used by providers which explains services provided to a client. Often used for insurance reimbursements.

Therapeutic Specialty – A type of therapy (counseling topic) that a provider is great at. They have a great mastery of the topic.

Psychological Theory – A scientific ideology used to treat mental illness. These are the different branches within the Psychology field. I.e behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, personality, etc.

Therapeutic approach/modality – a concentrated form of psychological theory that is used to help the clients. I.E Cognitive-behavioral (CBT), Psychoanalysis, Person-centered, solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), etc.

Self-regulation – The ability to be mentally and totally aware of one’s thoughts, behaviors, and emotions and control them according to their long-term goals. Also known as self-discipline

Professional – Someone competent, reliable, and respectful especially in their craft.

Human – A type of species, also called Homo sapiens, Latin term: “wise man”. Me, you, all, us, we. The human race. A group of living organisms that believes they are at the top of the intelligence and food chain.

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FAQs

Q: Why would I want to talk to a stranger about my problems?

A: Your best friend used to be a stranger. Let that sink in for a moment. Once we introduce ourselves, we are no longer strangers. We are now two people embarking on a therapeutic journey together.

Q: I can go to my friends or family for help for free, why would I pay someone for that?

A: Friends and family are great, but they aren’t trained to deal with mental health issues. They also do not have to keep your problems to themselves.

Look at it like this, would you go to your plumber for help on how to fix your air conditioner? The answer is no, if you answered yes, schedule that appointment asap, there are some things we should discuss friend. No judgment.

Q: What if I don’t like my provider?

A: Please let the provider know. These people are professionals, they can take honesty. Give a reason only if you’re comfortable, but we will refer you to someone who can help you. Please remember we do this for YOU. If you’re unhappy, we’re not doing our jobs or you’re not listening to the advice. Either way, there’s something wrong that we need to make right. Please allow us to help.