Counseling Services

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life, such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek the advice of a counselor to help pursue their own personal exploration and growth.

Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body image issues, and general life transitions.

Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, garnering helpful feedback, and working toward positive change in their lives.

I can usually handle my own problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life – and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it.

In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy.

Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, to redirect damaging patterns, and to overcome whatever challenges you face.

There are a number of benefits from participating in psychotherapy. 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 you put into practice what you learn.

Some of the benefits from therapy can include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your 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 communication 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

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around 45 minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.

There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as taking a different approach or ways of thinking about concerns, reading relevant material, or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions. For therapy to be most effective, you must be an active participant, both during and between sessions.

People seeking psychotherapy (psychological therapy) are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work toward self-change, and create greater awareness in their lives.

Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:

• Compassion, respect, and understanding
• Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings
• Real strategies for enacting positive change
• Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance

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 underlying cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress.

In some cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrated approach to wellness. Your medical doctor can help determine what's best for you.

We are committed to providing respectful professional treatment to all individuals whom we are qualified to serve. For those desiring treatment from a Christian approach, we are glad to apply care from this perspective. For those of other perspectives, their values will be honored, and therapy will be provided that is respectful to their views.

Counseling provided through Cornerstone Family Health is consistent with Scriptural (Biblical) principles. It is our firm belief, as Christians, that God, who created man, also provided the necessary guidelines for a life of purpose and positive relationships.

We believe that individuals are responsible for themselves. Events and people influence each of us, but ultimately, we are the ones who decide what we do with what has happened. We decide how to respond to the people and situations in our lives.

The counselor will not provide solutions or work out the problems for you. What the counselor will do is assist you by helping you:

• View problems in different ways so that they are more manageable
• Acquire new skills that will enable you to respond more positively in problem resolution
• Develop greater self / other awareness so that you are free to move toward greater satisfaction in life, both personally and in interpersonal relationships

Getting counseling takes courage. It requires honesty and hard work. It means taking risks. But the growth that results from such efforts makes it a worthwhile endeavor to those who are serious about wanting change.

The law protects the confidentiality of communications between client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, the therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself, the therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.

The following fee schedule includes discounts for those paying out-of-pocket at the time of service (that is, for those not having or using medical insurance). If you use medical insurance, you may be responsible for a copay and/or deductible.

• Psychotherapy: 45-minute sessions – $115. ($35 discount will be applied if paid at the time of service.)
• Psychotherapy: 25-minute sessions – $90. ($35 discount will be applied if paid at the time of service.)
• Psychotherapy: 1-hour initial evaluation session – $175. This is for the first session only. (This fee is reduced to $100 if paid at the time of service.)
• A sliding fee is available on a limited basis. This is based on income and on your number of dependents.

Cash, check, MasterCard, and Visa cards are accepted for payment.

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. For example, family counseling is often (but not always) covered by insurance companies, and couples counseling is typically not covered by insurance unless there is a partner with a diagnosed condition.

Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:

• Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
• What is my deductible, and has it been met?
• How many sessions per year does my insurance cover?
• What is my copay amount?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Is approval required first from my primary care physician?
• Is the therapist I am planning on seeing a current provider for my insurance company? (There are some differences in insurance coverage between the therapists.)

If you do not show up for your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified us at least 24 hours in advance, you may be required to pay a portion of the cost of the session.