What is Therapeutic Counseling all about?

Therapeutic Counseling invovles a psychological process to enable change and to bring about mental, emotional and spiritual healing and growth. It is a path to develop more effective ways of coping with conflict and stress. Personal integration occurs as you move to become the kind of person, couple or family you wish to become.

What problems are brought to a counselor?

All kinds, here is a partial list:

• Struggles with anxiety, depression, and doubt
• fears due to peer pressure and school competition
• marriage and family conflicts
• stress related to job or vocation dilemmas
• stress related to parenting, growing up or aging
• a sense of failure or lack of fulfillment
• concerns about chemical use and its effects on relationships
• family issues related to divorce, remarriage and stepfamily life
• emotional problems associated with physical illness or accident
• coping with loss or grief

What happens during a counseling session?

An opportunity is provided to explore your concerns, relationships or other issues. With increased insight and understanding, you can clarify and find it easier to move toward your chosen goals. This process will be facilitated by the caring concern, training, and experience of your counselor.

Does counseling really help?

As in any other personal process, individual satisfaction with the counseling may vary. Generally though, a vast majority of our clients express good satisfaction in having addressed the goals they set for themselves. Most clients report improvement in relationships that are important to them and with their overall satisfaction in life.

What may I expect of the counselor?

You may be confident tha tin the counseling relationship his/her first concern will be you. You may expect your counselor to be professionally competent - a person you can trust. You may share your private concerns with the utmost confidence knowing that your counselor is a person you can confide in.

What would the counselor expect of me?

Your desire for change must be strong enough for you to make the commitment of time, energy and personal resources. In order for significant change to occur, it will be important to meet regularly as agreed upon.

Is counseling confidential?

Yes. Information or material about you cannot be released without your written approval. Your counselor would explain and discuss any release of information with you before asking you to sign. (In emergencies - as when your life or someone else's life is in danger or if children are being harmed or abused - the law requires that other helping professionals be notified to protect those in danger.)

How are issues of faith discussed?

If you choose to introduce faith issues, your counselor will respond in a thoughtful and informed manner. If you choose not to address faith issues, your counselor will respect your wishes.

How would Hope Counseling Center interact with my clergy, physician, previous counselors, or other members of the helping professions?

It is often helpful to contact persons with whom you have worked previously. Should you or your counselor feel it would be beneficial, a release of information would be signed prior to any contact being made.

How long will counseling take?

The number of sessions vary. Some problems can be dealt with in a few sessions while others may take longer. Long standing difficulties or major life transitions rarely yield to simplistic solutions. In the initial session or two, your counselor will gather information about you and the concerns you bring. Following this, the counselor will share findings with you and make recommendations about how to proceed.

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