Counseling FAQs
Here’s some frequently asked questions we get at the Community Counseling Center. Please contact us if you have additional questions.
What is counseling?
Counseling is an opportunity for you to discuss struggles and concerns in a confidential and safe setting with a trained and objective person. It is a safe place to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so you can develop goals to best handle life's challenges.
You will learn new skills and ways of viewing your challenges in order to resolve them and become more capable of solving new challenges on your own in the future.
What happens in counseling?
Once you have decided that counseling might be a good option for you, you can schedule a free half-hour visit with one of our therapist. This allows you to introduce yourself, your goals and issues, as well as ask any questions you might have regarding the therapist’s background and approach. The purpose of this meeting is to get a feeling for the therapists to see if you will be able to work together. This is also a way for the therapist to assess if your needs match the capabilities of her or his training. At the end of this visit, you may be able to continue for the rest of the hour to begin the intake (depending on the therapist’s schedule). You are also free to set up a full-session (intake) appointment for later, or go home and think about it. You can always call back later to make an appointment.
In the first full-session with your therapist, you will fill out the necessary paperwork and the therapist will discuss confidentiality with you, along with how s/he plans to approach counseling. In this intake session, it is an opportunity for you and the therapist to discuss the nature of your concerns and the role of counseling in addressing these concerns. We are still assessing for "fit" even in the intake appointment. Following the intake session, you will meet with the therapist on days and times that work for both of you.
We have day and evening hours available to suit your needs. You and your therapist will work together to achieve your mutually agreed upon goals. The number of sessions and how often you meet with the therapist varies from person to person and depends on each person’s unique needs.
Once you and your therapist have mutually agreed that your goals have been achieved and your needs have been met, your relationship with the counselor will end.
Who goes to counseling and for what?
Counseling is not just for those suffering from severe psychological problems. People come to counseling for a variety of reasons including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, domestic violence, sexual abuse, marriage and/or family problems, child/adolescent problems, suicide concerns, addictions/compulsions, disability adjustment/management, and sexual or gender concerns.
For many, it is also common to seek counseling to deal with the stress of work/school, career indecision, loneliness, isolation, time management, relationship issues...the list goes on. People even seek counseling to learn skills on how to interact better with others, understand how other people perceive them, and/or build self-esteem. Many times people seek counseling just to have someone objective to talk to or have a mental-health “check up,” much like going to the doctor.
There are a range of reasons to go to counseling and it does not mean you are “sick,” cannot handle life, or are a bad person. Counseling is one of many ways to be a healthier you. So, give us a call, let us help!