Frequently Asked Questions

1) Is counseling right for me?

The choice to engage in therapy is yours and yours alone. At one time or another, each of us faces situations where our own best efforts to cope are lacking, and at times, these efforts over time may even seem to make matters worse.

Whether the situation is something quite surprising or expected, whether a short-term concern, long-standing psychological issue or struggle from our past, we can wrestle with overwhelming emotions, entrenched behavior patterns, or negative and distorted thinking. Or for many, they are concerned for their loved ones or their relationships strained by hurts, conflicts, loss or transitions.

In contrast, others may not be facing problematic circumstances, but simply seek personal exploration or growth to enrich their life. Whatever your concern, working with a counselor provides the support and encouragement to get the most out of your life!

You will improve your well-being, as you gain greater self-awareness and discover effective strategies to tackle any of life’s challenges and transitions.

2) Why choose to see a counselor rather than utilize “self-help” strategies?

It is essential that you help yourself in facing life’s challenges. You likely have successfully handled and gotten through many trying situations presented you in life, but there is nothing wrong with reaching for extra support when you need it.

In fact, it is admirable that you have the personal awareness to realize that seeking help reveals you are being responsible to accept and then change your situation. Counseling will give you the added support and tools you need to reduce stress, reverse negative behavior or thinking patterns and overcome hurtful situations or a difficult past.

3) How long are sessions?

Individual sessions are 55-60 minutes and couples sessions can be 60 minutes, but typically are 180 minutes.

4) How long will the course of therapy last?

Initially, it is beneficial for individuals and couples to come weekly, to establish a safe therapeutic relationship and gain some “traction” in approaching the concern(s) you face.

Towards the middle or end of therapy it is possible to meet less frequently. While counseling is about change, the pace of that change is different for each individual or couple, depending upon many factors, including the severity and duration of their difficulty.

With a readiness and commitment to change, it is entirely possible that individuals can make desired changes within 6-12 sessions. For couples, the process is a bit slower, but changes are often evident by 12-20 sessions.

5) Do you have evening and weekend times available?

Few evening times are available (W,F)  and weekend times are offered on a limited basis. Please check for availability, when you schedule your appointment.

6) Is counseling confidential?

Communication between a client and counselor is protected by law. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, I am bound by law to keep everything that is said in session confidential. However, there are situations in which the law requires I break confidentiality to ensure the safety of the client or others.

I must break confidentiality if you report current child or elder abuse, you threaten to harm yourself or another, or a judge requires I open a client file. I will not release any of your information to family members, medical professionals or clergy unless you give me written permission.

7) Do you accept insurance?

I only accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Carolina Behavioral Health Alliance (CBHA) and CIGNA insurance at the current time, but am happy to provide you with a receipt to file for out of network benefits or file to utilize a medical flexible spending account. 

8) Do you accept credit cards?

Yes. Payment is due at the end of each session. I accept cash, checks and Visa or Mastercard.

Counselors approach therapy from a developmental and wellness perspective. In short, counselors trust that individuals are on a natural path of growth and change.

This normal maturation process can be stressful and create challenges in and of itself. Each life stage or family transition inevitably requires persons to adapt and change, which one can be unprepared for or resist, creating “problems.”

Rather than seeing that something is wrong with the person and needs to be fixed, a counselor focused on wellness works collaboratively to identify clients’ strengths and utilize the client’s own available resources to adapt to these life changes and resolve its challenges.

A counselor maintains that a positive, growth-oriented and integrative approach is most beneficial. Counselors can diagnose mental and psychological disorders, but cannot prescribe medicine. However, counselors can and often collaborate with a psychologist or psychiatrist to augment their efforts and improve functioning and further relief symptoms for the client.

A psychologist and a psychiatrist, both approach mental health concerns from a medical model, seeking to discover a problem and fix it, whether by psychotherapeutic interventions and/or by prescribing medicine. This is certainly helpful and necessary for many mental disorders, especially those that can be successfully treated with medications and there are some mental disorders that psychological testing is essential for diagnosis and treatment.

However, the problems people face do not always have an organic basis to them, rooted in something in the body that needs correcting, and for many issues, testing is not needed.

Both of these professions are needed and helpful for treatment of mental disorders, but to approach human difficulties from a medical mindset can, at times, be harmful, as it pathologizes some issues and can diminish human resiliency. Additionally, the medical mindset might not consider or emphasize how the mind, body and spirit work together to facilitate healing and wholeness. Understood from a wellness perspective, many perceived problems are quite understandable, adaptive and normal, given the circumstances.

Providing support, counseling can foster self-awareness to unearth underlying dynamics and self-defeating patterns and to discover better strategies to successfully manage, cope and even overcome the challenges you face.

Please contact me directly via email. I’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours.