Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling
What are your counseling specialties?
Why do people choose counseling?
What is a 'typical' therapy session?
What can I gain?
What if I don't know my goals?
Is Therapy Confidential?
What are your counseling specialties?
Individual, Couple, and Family Counseling.
Family conflict counseling and Grief counseling
Individuals and Families struggling with cancer and chronic medical conditions
Individuals struggling with Adjustment Disorders, Anxiety issues, and Depression
Consultation with local businesses, churches, and non-profits on conflict and employee relationships.
Why do people choose to enter into therapy?
People enter into therapy for a variety of reasons. Some people are faced with sudden and unexpected life changes which may make them feel "off-kilter." These experiences can stress one's ability to cope, causing individuals to become overwhelmed with guilt, shame, fear, self-doubt, anxiety, or despair. Input from an unbiased therapist can allow clients to explore not only what occurred, but how they were then impacted by this change.
Oftentimes people find themselves caught up in the process of self-exploration and a quest for personal growth. Therapy can provide the necessary support required for clients as they learn to cope better and to find new solutions for the problems which might be causing them to struggle with depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, relationship difficulties, unresolved childhood issues, bereavement, spiritual conflicts, and stress management. Those who choose to enter into therapy are usually willing to take responsibility for each of their beliefs and behaviors, even when doing so might cause them discomfort. These individuals usually are seeking a more fulfilling life and are willing to work towards making this happen.
Sometimes parents will seek help dealing with their children's depression, anxiety, fears, nightmares, problems in school, or at-home behavioral issues. A few sessions in therapy for Emotion Coaching or Structural Family Therapy can be of help to parents as they learn how best to communicate with their children, while lessening the level of conflict in the home.
What might I expect from a 'typical' therapy session?
A therapy session usually involves clients sharing the concerns and issues facing them daily, perhaps a particular situation or concern facing them, sometimes choosing to take a look at other factors facing them in their life including those which are of an intergenerational pattern. A clinical hour session lasts 50 minutes, but some people request longer sessions. Most beginning in therapy usually meet once a week and then move to once every two weeks as progress and stressors are decreased. However, some individuals need and request more frequent sessions in times of crisis or extreme distress, while others request less frequent visits.
In therapy, I might ask my clients to focus upon topics which we have discussed between sessions. Or I might ask my clients to complete other tasks (i.e. reading a book or handout, keeping a journal, or completing an assessment or worksheet). Therapy is most effective for those individuals who take an active participant role in their own mental health - both inside and outside the therapy room.
At Pathways Pastoral Counseling, I do not offer traditional Play Therapy for young children. I do, however, have referral resources for those in need of Play Therapy and qualified therapists in the local area offering such services to families with very young children in crisis.
What can I hope to gain from entering into therapy?
The benefits of therapy can be immeasurable. Oftentimes just knowing that another person cares and understands can be helpful. Having the knowledge, insight, and perspective of another can be beneficial, as you and the therapist work together to resolve life's challenges. Therapy can be quite beneficial in helping individuals as they strive towards personal growth, meeting life goals and challenges, improving their relationships, and addressing and resolving family conflict. It can help to lessen stress, depression, anxiety and to improve one's ability to participate in and enjoy life. Therapy can help those seeking relief from the emotional pain of their past. Over time, therapy can help to lessen the impact of intrusive thoughts, anxiety/ panic attacks or other unhealthy and unwanted side effects to stressors. Therapy can help people in becoming 'unstuck' from harmful thought processes, or from continuing in unhealthy interactions with others. Therapy can help with the improvement of communication skills, in discovering new ways of problem-solving, in becoming more assertive and less aggressive, in gaining a higher level of self-confidence and in improving your self-esteem.
The benefits obtained from therapy depend much upon how much time and energy the client is willing to invest in their own growth and healing. Alone, we at Pathways Pastoral Counseling can not make your desired change happen. But working together, we can go far in achieving your goals.
What if I don't know what my goals are for therapy?
During the first few sessions of therapy, we will work together to discover which goals might be best to begin work upon. These goals may change over time and usually do as therapy progresses. Goals can be helpful as benchmarks to successes and progress. Whether or not you choose to set goals the decision and direction of therapy is always in your control.
Yes. Confidentiality is the foundation for effective therapy. With full assurance that your shared information is kept in strict confidence allows one the freedom to explore differeing perspectives, avenues, and areas of need.
South Carolina law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are a number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected abuse of a child or dependant (including handicapped) adult or elder abuse. In those situations, we are required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening with suicidal or homicidal intent, or serious bodily harm to himself/herself or to another person/s, we must make a report to the proper authorities. Having said that, we will truly make every effort possible to enlist the cooperation of our client in insuring their own safety and the safety of others. But if they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.
- When client records are subpoenaed by a Judge in Court. At Pathways Pastoral Counseling, I function with two types of confidentiality privilege: therapist/client privilege and clergy privilege, due to being an ordained Presbyterian Minister and functioning as a Pastoral Counselor. Even when subpoenaed for client records by an attorney or court, I reserve the right to exercise clergy privilege, even when client consent is given, in order to protect the full extent of patient confidentiality.