At Christian Counseling of Texas we provided Licensed Professional Counseling from a Christian perspective. We focus on identifying solvable problems, setting realistic goals, applying interventions, examining progress, and measuring outcomes. Given the inexact nature of counseling no guarantees can be made regarding the outcome. The outcome of your treatment depends largely on your hard work, the counselor’s knowledge and skills, and God’s healing graces. We cannot promise that your behavior or situation will improve but we do promise to support you and do our very best.
First, we will review policies and procedures, talk about fees, and decide if you want health insurance to pay your fees or not. Second, we will discuss what to expect during counseling, including the type of therapy, the length of treatment, and the risks and benefits. If your counselor is practicing under the supervision of another professional, your counselor will tell you about their supervision and the name of the supervising professional. Third, you will form a treatment plan, including your short- and long-term goals, and the steps you will take to achieve them. Over time, you and your counselor may edit your treatment plan. After intake, you will attend regular therapy sessions at your counselors office or through telehealth. Participation in therapy is voluntary - you can stop at any time. At some point, you will achieve your goals. At this time, you will review your progress, identify supports that will help you maintain your progress, and discuss how to return to therapy if you need it in the future.
How can Counseling Help me? A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
The interventions you receive will depend on what the physical therapist finds in the examination/evaluation. Our intervention programs include coordination among all people involved in your care (other health care professionals, family,
friends, caregivers, and others), communication to ensure a good exchange of information, thorough documentation of the care and services provided, and instruction to you and others involved in your care to promote and optimize our
services. Most physical therapy plans of care will include three categories of interventions: therapeutic exercise; functional training in self-care and home management; and functional training in work or school, community, and leisure
environments. Other interventions might include manual therapy techniques; use of equipment such as supports, orthotics, or prosthetics; airway clearance techniques; skin repair and protection techniques; electrotherapeutic modalities; and
mechanical modalities.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
How is my progress measured?
Because your physical therapist will perform a meticulous examination/evaluation, quantifying and qualifying all the deficits and problems you are presenting with, re-examination to determine progress is possible. You will be reexamined based on your diagnosis as well as on the chronicity of the problem. Additionally, the physical therapist always needs to be aware of follow-up visits with your physician, if you were referred by one, as a reexamination may be performed so
that the physician can be updated at that time.
What is Therapy like?
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy? It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work? To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
What is confidentiality? Confidentiality is a very important part of counseling. So important that the Federal government has laws to protect your privacy. Your privacy is protected under "Protected Health Information" law. Every counselor should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called "Informed Consent." Sometimes, however, you may want your counselor to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your counselor cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. There are legal exceptions to confidentiality. When a counselor suspects past or present abuse or neglect of children, elders, or physically or mentally handicapped individuals the law requires counselors to report the abuse or neglect to the authorities, including Child Protective Services and/or law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources. Also, if the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person they are legally required to report this to the authorities.