Your Counselor's primary role is to help. You are definitely not strange in anyway because you engage in Counseling. You may not be aware of how current situations or ways of thinking are adding unnecessary stress to your life. This is where Counseling can help. Counseling provides a safe and non-judgmental environment where you can freely express yourself. You will receive encouragement, undivided attention, and a helping hand with anything you may be having a issue with.   

What is it like? The counselor will inform you of their counseling style, education, background, and answer any questions that you may have. Therapy requires you to be honest and open so that your counselor can learn as much as possible about you. We understand that it is very hard to disclose personal details sometimes to your therapist, but being honest is the best way to help you. Your therapist will use this information to assist you in meeting your goals and reaching what you would like to get out of counseling. The first session usually includes an assessment where historical information is gathered about you, your family, your childhood, current situation and problem areas. By the end of the session, your therapist will have a better picture of what is going on and discuss what you hope to gain out of counseling. Once therapy begins, some people experience uncomfortable feelings for the first few sessions like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness since counseling often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life. As you progress through therapy, you should begin to become more comfortable with handling problems, developing better insight, using coping skills, and feel a reduction in the symptoms that caused you to seek therapy. Therapy length is different for each individual, but willingness to participate and being active in session is key to bringing about desired results quicker. Treatment goals will be discussed in the early sessions and will be measured and re-visited as therapy goes along.

What is a LPC? A LPC is a "Licensed Professional Counselor". This means the person is credential by the State of North Carolina to be professionally skilled and competent to provide mental health treatment. The professional must have achieved their Master in Psychology or Counseling and completed a minimum of 2 years of post-masters clinical employment experience while receiving on-going clinical supervision. Then, they must pass the state licensure exam that measures their clinical skills. LPC's must educate themselves continuously by attending trainings so that they can keep their skills sharp. It is important to make sure that you seek some one who is "Licensed" to ensure that they have met the necessary criteria to provide counseling in your state whether it be an LPC, LCSW (licensed clinical social worker), LPA, etc LPC's spend the bulk of their training on counseling techniques, modalities, and sharpening their skills instead of other areas.

Is there anything required of me for counseling? How long do I have to attend? Therapy requires a commitment of time, energy, and money. Therefore, you should be very careful about the therapist you select. Therapy isn't something you can attend once and expect maximum results. It requires a commitment of energy & effort. Clients who are involved in and take responsibility for their treatment experience a better outcome than those who show little to no effort. It is our goal to work ourselves out of a job, so we work hard to help you accomplish your goals as soon as possible. Number of sessions will different for everyone and will be discussed in early sessions. We ask that if you cannot make a therapy appointment, to please give us at least 24hr advanced notice. Cancellations made within 24 hours will still be billed and charged to the consumer.

What about therapy with children? Is it different? Yes, it is. Children do not recognize or discuss their feelings, emotions and problems the same way as adults. Children also respond differently than adults to trauma, stress and emotions. In fact, they often lack the conceptual awareness of their own behaviors and how they are related to their feelings, fears and experiences. However, children do engage in play easily. This play is an expressive form of communication. Therapist trained in play therapy have specific techniques to engage children in play to assess their issues, help children express what is happening inside of them, and work through problem solving, natural progression and moving past issues that are causing them distress. As a parent, you are involved in the process from assessment to treatment. There may be points during treatment that your child's therapist asks you to join the session, but that depends on your child's needs.

What results can I expect from counseling? Therapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for therapy to be most successful, you will have to be an active, motivated, participant in your treatment. Good results require you to honestly disclose your history, describe your problem and assist in setting your own treatment goals. You must also be committed to work on things you discuss with your therapist both during sessions and at home. Therapy has been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, coping abilities, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. People who have engaged in therapy often describe an increase in self-confidence, self worth, feelings of competence in their lives, reduction of anxiety and increased resolve. However, no clinician is able to guarantee what you will experience.

Is this really confidential? The law protects the privacy of communications between a client and their therapist. In most situations, information can be released about your treatment to others only if you sign a written Authorization Form. Your therapist will go over any releases that they feel are important to your treatment where you will have to give consent prior to the information being shared such as discussing your treatment with your insurance company to assure coverage. Therapists take confidentiality seriously and make every effort to protect it! However, there are some specific & serious situations where your therapist is required to disclose information without either your consent or authorization. If we are specifically ordered by the court to release the information, if a government agency is requesting information for health oversight activities, if a client files a complaint or lawsuit and the counselor has to prepare a competent defense, and if a client files a worker compensation claim and services are being compensated through workers compensation benefits. There are some situations where your therapist is legally obligated to take actions, which they believe are necessary to attempt to protect others from harm. For example: if you pose and immediate threat to yourself or someone else, the therapist may limit confidentiality to preserve life. If your therapist has cause to suspect that a child under the age of 18 or disabled adult is abused or neglected, the law requires that any therapist file a report with the County Director of Social Services. If a therapist believes that a client presents an imminent danger to the health and safety of another, they are required to disclose information in order to take protective actions, including initiating hospitalization, warning the potential victim if identified, and call the police.

For more information or other specific questions feel free to send an email to info@couragecounseling.com