Whats Counseling All About Anyway...?

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice in St. Charles, Missouri. After much consideration I decided I needed to upgrade my website. I was told I would need to begin blogging to help myself be "relevant", whatever that means. I'll just come out and say it; I have no idea what I am doing! I just finished writing the frequently asked questions portion of my website and decided to share it in a blog post... Yay I have an acceptable idea for a blog topic... I think... Man, I hope someone reads this! I wanted to talk a little about the biggest obstacle I run into as a therapist which is people’s belief that only people who are "crazy" or in "crisis" go to counseling. What is that all about? I don't know about other therapists but many of my clients are as "high functioning" as the next guy! I find that there is no normal, perfect, or ideal. Every person has "issues" because no matter what you do life is happening and much of the time you are not in control. Our experiences impact how we function at work, in relationships, and in every aspect of our daily life. As a therapist, I genuinely care about people! It makes me happy to see people learn how to navigate this crazy mixed up world we live in. I don't know about you but I usually feel pretty good after I can talk with someone about what’s going on with me, which is a lot of what goes on in therapy. How can you change the future if you do not learn from your past? Counseling helps people increase awareness of their core beliefs and patterns of behavior and learn or redevelop a more healthy way of functioning. My goal is for clients to achieve their goals whatever they may be; therapy is the solution. So let’s talk!   

Below are the FAQ's from my website. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! 

FAQ's
Do I need counseling? 
I believe anyone can benefit from counseling as everyone struggles to overcome challenges at some point in their life. People attend therapy for a variety of reasons ranging from a desire to learn better stress management and coping skills to learning to manage symptoms of a mental health diagnosis. Some clients are simply looking for someone to listen and provide non-judgmental, compassionate understanding. 

How do I find the right counselor for me? 
A counseling relationship is like any other relationship in your life, it has to be a good "fit". It is important to feel comfortable with your therapist for counseling to be successful; it may take a few meetings to determine this. You can ask questions about a counselor’s theoretical approach and their "style" as some counselors are directive and provide homework assignments while other therapists are completely non-directive. The most valuable indicator of successful therapy is a good relationship between client and counselor.

What happens in counseling? 
Many therapists will have you complete paperwork prior to the first appointment. Typically the first session will be spent completing the initial assessment, gathering information regarding clients history and need for treatment. Office policies, limits of confidentiality will be reviewed at this time. Following initial assessment, client and counselor will work together to identify goals for counseling. Client and therapist should take the first few sessions to determine if they are comfortable working together; sometimes it is not a "fit" and the therapist will provide referrals to another counselor able to serve the client’s needs. 

How long do people go to counseling? 
Individual counseling sessions are 50 minutes. Couples counseling sessions are 90 minutes. A counselor can adjust time as needed. Some people attend counseling for as little as a month; others may attend therapy for a year. Client and counselor will work together to determine goals for therapy which will determine length of counseling attendance. 

What is an LPC, what does that mean?  
Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are master’s-degreed mental health service providers, trained to work with individuals, families, and groups in treating mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. To obtain licensure in the state of Missouri an individual must obtain a Master's degree, complete 2,000 hours of post graduate experience as a Counselor in Training or a Provisionally Licensed 
Professional Counselor, and must pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE). In order to maintain licensure an LPC is required to complete a predetermined number of continuing education and uphold the legal and ethical codes. 

How confidential are the session? 
Information disclosed by clients is held completely confidential. However, by law, there are times that confidentiality must be broken. If you threaten to harm yourself or someone else, if child abuse is suspected/reported or if disclosure is ordered by a court of law. If any of these circumstances were to arise, I would do my best to disclose only required information which we would discuss at length and I would proceed in the most professional way possible. If you choose to use insurance, be advised, that therapists are required to submit information to the insurance company regarding your sessions. Information required varies depending on insurance company policies.