Frequently Asked Questions
01 How do I decide if I really need to see a counselor?
Many people experience times when they need help dealing with problems and life challenges that cause emotional distress and impact your job, your health, your relationships, or your academic performance. If you are having a problem that seems too overwhelming and is affecting your daily routine, you’d probably would first seek the support of a good friend or family member. However, sometimes you find you need more. At those times, you can benefit from the assistance of a licensed professional counselor. Counselors provide can provide a safe environment where you can speak freely and openly and in this environment you learn to understand your thoughts, feelings, choices and behaviors.
02
What's the difference between meeting with a social worker, counselor, psychologist and psychiatrist?
Generally speaking
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Psychiatrists attend medical school and earn an MD. They can prescribe medications and often refer their clientel to Psychologists, counselor and social workers for therapy while they manage medication.
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Psychologists typically earn a Ph.D. (however some states only require a Master’s degree). Many provide psychotherapy "talk therapy" with a focus on research and scientific methods.
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Counselors (Licensed Clinical Profession Counselors) earn a MS or MA. They provide psychotherapy "talk therapy" with emphasis on skills dealing with differing age groups (like children, adolescents, older adults) or issues (like drug or alcohol abuse, spirituality eating disorders, depression, etc)
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Social Workers earn a MSW or LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Work). They provide psychotherapy "talk therapy" and often focus on connecting people with the community and support services along with therapy.
03 How long does the counseling session last?
Counseling sessions are 50 minutes (a clinical hour). However, if clients are late, the session may have to end at the originally scheduled time. During the first few counseling sessions your counselor will discuss the length of treatment that may be needed to achieve your goals. And, typically, counseling is terminated when the problem that brought you to counseling becomes more manageable or resolved.
04 Is everything I say confidential?.
State licensure laws protect clients confidentiality. However, if a client presents a imminent danger to himself or to others, or if confidential information is required in a court case, it will be disclosed. Any disclosure will be made with your full written, informed consent and will be limited to a specific period of time.
05 Will my health insurance cover counseling?
In most cases, your insurance company will pay for your visits while you are response for a co pay and/or deductible (if required). If you are unsure of your responsibility, please call your insurance company. Following service, if your insurance carrier fails to reimburse us, you will remain responsible to pay the fee for services.
Some answers adapted from: The American Counseling Association Copyright 2009, American Counseling Association, All Rights Reserved