There are many reasons you may consider seeking out counseling. Among them may be anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship problems, employment issues or dealing with past events that just won’t go away. Alternatively, you may just want to get more out of life and fully experience the world and your relationships.
Everyone could benefit from an empathic, neutral person who will listen and help you process the complexities of your life.
Most counselors also have a counselor to help keep them objective and on top of their work.
No. You are not crazy for seeking help. In years past, we had large support systems with wise people who could guide us through life’s challenges. Most of us no longer have that. Additionally, we know a lot more now about what troubles people than we did back then. That is how professional counseling came about.
Counseling is a place to express your challenges in a judgement free relationship and receive attention, care, and scientifically verified interventions to help you better deal with your life and the world around you.
The first counseling session has a few tasks that will need completion.
- Review of confidentiality, what can and cannot be shared about what you talk about.
- Introductions and getting comfortable.
- Review and completion of necessary paperwork.
- Setting up insurance or self-pay schedules.
- Gathering a lot of personal history information. This is the most critical part of the first session. A good assessment is critical for developing an appropriate treatment plan.
- Establish goals for counseling. What do you want to achieve? What will a better life look like?
- Some form of homework will be assigned to get progress going.
- Scheduling future appointment(s).
If you have insurance, you will need to provide accurate and current insurance information. If FtHC is in network, your insurance will be billed. You may have a co-pay or co-insurance to pay at the session. If you have a high deductible, you may have to pay in-full for sessions until the deductible is met.
Self-pay is simpler. FtHC accepts all major credit cards and cash. Checks are not accepted.
Call (859) 302-9877 or email [email protected] and schedule a 15-30 minute phone consultation. This is a critical part of the process where you decide if you feel comfortable meeting and the counselor believes that outpatient counseling is the right intensity of treatment.
No. If you need medication, you will need to work with an MD or APRN. This may or may not be a psychiatrist. Your counselor can work with your prescriber to coordinate your care.
Sessions are generally 50 minutes. Frequency of sessions will be decided by you and your counselor. Generally, weekly or bi-weekly sessions are typical at the start of counseling.
Licensed Professional Counselors have a 60 semester hour masters degree with a 600 hour internship and have passed a licensure exam. Independently licensed counselors have at least two years supervised full-time experience providing counseling.