Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect counseling to be like?
Each client is different, therefore everyone's counseling experience will be unique. But, there are some things you can expect to experience when you are ready to come to counseling. Your counseling will take place in a safe and quiet environment. A waiting room is provided for you and your counselor will greet you in the waiting room and walk you back to the office where your session will take place.
In the first session, your counselor will review basic issues like confidentiality and you will sign a few necessary forms. Your counselor will also go over with you all of the terms of your treatment. This is called "Consent for Treatment." You should feel free to ask as many questions are you need to ask about this process.
Either before your first session or in between your first two sessions, you may be asked to complete some paperwork about your life, which you will review with your counselor as you get to know each other.
How long does counseling last?
A normal counseling session lasts 50 minutes. Clients should plan on devoting one hour to each counseling session, as session sometimes last longer than 50 minutes, but do not exceed one hour unless otherwise scheduled.
Clinically, "brief treatment" is considered 6-8 weeks of consistent counseling. This is normally enough time to deal with a short-term, brief issue. For those seeking permanent life-sytle and thinking changes, counseling varies in duration.
Counseling begins weekly and as goals are accomplished sessions may spread out to bi-weekly or monthly appointments.
What do all of the letters beside a counselor's name mean?
Counselors come from many background and can be licensed by the state in many different areas. Here are a few of the most comon abbreviations you will see when looking for a qualified counselor...
MSW= Master of Social Work (a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work)
ISW= Intern in Clinical Social Work
(a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work & is registered with the state to complete a lisence from the Dept. of Health)
LCSW= Licensed Clinical Social Worker
(a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work and has completed lisensure with the state Dept. of Health)
MS= Master of Science in Counseling
(a counselor who has a master's degree in either Mental Health Counseling, Christian Counseling, or other Counseling Degree)
MA= Master of Arts in Counseling
(a counselor who has a master's degree in either Mental Health Counseling, Christian Counseling, or other Counseling Degree)
LMHC= Licensed Menal Health Counselor
(a counselor who has a master's degree in counseling and has completed lisensure with the state Dept. of Health)
LMFT= Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(a counselor who has a master's degree in couneling or marriage and family therapy & has completed lisensure with the Dept. of Health)
CAP=Certified Addiction Professional
(a counselor who is not required to have a master's degree but has specialized training in counseling for addiction and related issues only)
SAP=Substance Abuse Prosessional
(a counselor who is not required to have a master's degree but has specialized training in counseling for addiction and related issues only)
Do I have to talk about things I am not ready to talk about?
Counseling should always be a safe place where you are free to express yourself. There are no right or wrong topics to discuss in counseling. As the client, counseling is focused around you and your needs. You should never be forced or intimidated to share things you are not ready to share.
Is there homework?
Worksheets, reading, journaling, and other techniques are often used in between sessions to help clients make progress on their goals. However, each client is free to decide how much they are able to do between sessions.
What if I don't know what to say?
In your first few sessions, your counselor will be getting to know you. It is ok for you to be silent sometimes. It is your counselor's job to keep your session flowing and this is accomplished when the client and counselor are both honest about what issues need to be discussed.
Each client is different, therefore everyone's counseling experience will be unique. But, there are some things you can expect to experience when you are ready to come to counseling. Your counseling will take place in a safe and quiet environment. A waiting room is provided for you and your counselor will greet you in the waiting room and walk you back to the office where your session will take place.
In the first session, your counselor will review basic issues like confidentiality and you will sign a few necessary forms. Your counselor will also go over with you all of the terms of your treatment. This is called "Consent for Treatment." You should feel free to ask as many questions are you need to ask about this process.
Either before your first session or in between your first two sessions, you may be asked to complete some paperwork about your life, which you will review with your counselor as you get to know each other.
How long does counseling last?
A normal counseling session lasts 50 minutes. Clients should plan on devoting one hour to each counseling session, as session sometimes last longer than 50 minutes, but do not exceed one hour unless otherwise scheduled.
Clinically, "brief treatment" is considered 6-8 weeks of consistent counseling. This is normally enough time to deal with a short-term, brief issue. For those seeking permanent life-sytle and thinking changes, counseling varies in duration.
Counseling begins weekly and as goals are accomplished sessions may spread out to bi-weekly or monthly appointments.
What do all of the letters beside a counselor's name mean?
Counselors come from many background and can be licensed by the state in many different areas. Here are a few of the most comon abbreviations you will see when looking for a qualified counselor...
MSW= Master of Social Work (a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work)
ISW= Intern in Clinical Social Work
(a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work & is registered with the state to complete a lisence from the Dept. of Health)
LCSW= Licensed Clinical Social Worker
(a counselor who has a master's degree in clinical social work and has completed lisensure with the state Dept. of Health)
MS= Master of Science in Counseling
(a counselor who has a master's degree in either Mental Health Counseling, Christian Counseling, or other Counseling Degree)
MA= Master of Arts in Counseling
(a counselor who has a master's degree in either Mental Health Counseling, Christian Counseling, or other Counseling Degree)
LMHC= Licensed Menal Health Counselor
(a counselor who has a master's degree in counseling and has completed lisensure with the state Dept. of Health)
LMFT= Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(a counselor who has a master's degree in couneling or marriage and family therapy & has completed lisensure with the Dept. of Health)
CAP=Certified Addiction Professional
(a counselor who is not required to have a master's degree but has specialized training in counseling for addiction and related issues only)
SAP=Substance Abuse Prosessional
(a counselor who is not required to have a master's degree but has specialized training in counseling for addiction and related issues only)
Do I have to talk about things I am not ready to talk about?
Counseling should always be a safe place where you are free to express yourself. There are no right or wrong topics to discuss in counseling. As the client, counseling is focused around you and your needs. You should never be forced or intimidated to share things you are not ready to share.
Is there homework?
Worksheets, reading, journaling, and other techniques are often used in between sessions to help clients make progress on their goals. However, each client is free to decide how much they are able to do between sessions.
What if I don't know what to say?
In your first few sessions, your counselor will be getting to know you. It is ok for you to be silent sometimes. It is your counselor's job to keep your session flowing and this is accomplished when the client and counselor are both honest about what issues need to be discussed.