Frequently asked questions

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Counseling, or also called therapy, is a collaborate process where the therapist and the client work together toward a treatment goal. Counseling can help people make changes in thinking, feeling, and behaving. With counseling, a client can find potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication, emotion-regulation, and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. For some people, this can be a short process, such as 1 or 2 sessions with a non-judgment, supportive therapist; for others, the process may be longer. Ideally, counseling is terminated when the problem that the client pursued becomes more manageable or is resolved. 

Tele-mental health, or often called online therapy, is when a counselor provides counseling or support over the internet through email, videoconferencing, online chat, or a phone call. We currently offer tele-mental health services through a HIPAA-compliant videoconference platform. The advantages of virtual delivery of psychotherapy include reduced stigmatization, increased convenience for clients, and improved provider efficiency. Most importantly, tele-mental health services allow the ability for us and for you to be safe in the current COVID-19 environment. Tele-mental health is a safe alternative to in-person counseling sessions and is just as effective!

A psychological evaluation is when a psychologist uses tests and other assessment tools to measure and observe a client's behavior to arrive at a diagnosis and guide treatment.  A psychological evaluation can include a clinical interview, questionnaires, norm-referenced psychological tests, informal tests and surveys, interview information, school or medical records, medical evaluation and observational data. We currently offer a psychological evaluation for general diagnosis and treatment purposes, as well as specific evaluations such as psychoeducational evaluations, psychosexual evaluations, risk assessments, and substance abuse assessments.

Depression makes one feel in a constant stage of sadness or lack interest is things once enjoyed. Throughout one’s life they may feel sad or down. It’s normal to feel sad or down at times when it is a reaction to loss or life's challenges. However, when sadness becomes more extreme; which would include feelings of helpless, hopeless and worthless lasts for many days to weeks and eliminated the ability to living your life, it may be more than sadness.

Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to a stressful, dangerous or unfamiliar situation. It causes feelings of being uneasy and distressed and may cause physiological symptoms of heart rapidly beating, head pounding or sweating, to name a few. A certain amount of anxiety allows one to stay aware and alert of surroundings, however, one struggling with anxiety disorder it feels more debilitating.

Depression and anxiety can have similar physiological symptoms; such as, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, irritability and difficulty with concentration. Each disorder has its own defined causes with different emotional and behavioral symptoms. Often times one who has a history of an anxiety disorder in earlier life may develop depression. There is not sufficient evidence that one disorder will cause the other; however, one can have the diagnosis of both depression and anxiety.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is triggered by a traumatic event; an individual can either experience it or witness it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety. In addition, uncontrollable thoughts about the event can occur. Majority of people who go through traumatic events may have some trouble adjusting and coping; yet with time and positive self-care, they usually adjust back to normal life. However, if symptoms do not resolve or get worse with lasting for months or even years and interferes with day-to-day functioning, PTSD may be the cause.

Acute stress is an intense, unpleasant and dysfunctional reaction beginning shortly after a traumatic or highly stressful event and lasting less than a month. If symptoms persist longer than a month, people may be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Trauma-informed care is a strengths based approach that has an understanding of the influence of trauma has on an individual. Trauma informed care emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety for both providers and clients while creating opportunities for an individual to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment. 

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an emerging, efficient therapy for PTSD and other mental health symptoms. It is an evidence-based process derived from other evidence-based modalities, such as Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), to help resolve symptoms quickly (usually in 1-5 sessions). It fosters rapid recovery by reprogramming how the brain stores traumatic memories and imagery. The treatment program incorporates memory visualization techniques that are enhanced by the use of horizontal eye movements, as well as memory reconsolidation, a way in which new information is incorporated into existing memories.