Are My Sessions Confidential?
The law protects the relationship between a client and a counselor, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission. Exceptions include: Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which a counselor is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately. If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, a counselor must notify the police and inform the intended victim. If a client intends to harm himself or herself, a counselor will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, the counselor will take further measures without their permission that are provided to them by law in order to ensure their safety. If a counselor is legally ordered by a judge or court, they may be compelled to testify under certain circumstances.
How can Therapy Help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is Therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
We do not bill insurance. We will help you determine your insurance Out Of Network (OON) benefits, and then we will do our best to match those for you. We will then provide you with a monthly SuperBill that you can, if you choose, submit directly to your insurance company for consideration against your deductible and out of pocket expenses, and possible reimbursements, or to justify your use of a Health Savings Plan (HSA/FSA) card. We cannot guarantee that your insurance company will accept or reimburse your expenses.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you might do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Why we don’t bill insurance — And why that’s good for you!
At Connect Christian Family Counseling, we believe counseling should be about healing, not labeling. That’s why we’ve made the intentional choice not to work with insurance companies—not because we don’t care about affordability (we absolutely do), but because we care even more about your freedom, dignity, and long-term well-being.
Here’s what most people don’t realize:
In order to use insurance for counseling, you must receive a diagnosable mental health disorder. That means a counselor has to label you with a condition that meets the insurance company’s criteria for a reimbursable illness. Even if the diagnosis seems mild—like “adjustment disorder” or “mild depression”—it still goes into your permanent medical record as a mental illness.
And that label? It can follow you...
It might not matter today, but it could impact future employment, background checks, security clearances, custody cases, or even your right to purchase a firearm. Once labeled, that diagnosis belongs to your medical file—and you may not have any say in how it’s used later.
The truth is, most people who seek counseling are not mentally disordered. They’re hurting. They’re overwhelmed by grief, loss, life transitions, broken relationships, or stress. They’re human. And they need someone to walk with them—not label them.
At Connect, we don’t “diagnose to bill.”
We listen to your story. We help you understand what’s keeping you stuck. We walk with you toward clarity, strength, healing, and change. Not because you’re mentally ill—but because you’re a person in pain, and that’s what real counseling is for.
If you truly need mental health treatment, we’ll help you find the right specialist. But if you’re like the vast majority of people who walk through our doors, you just need someone who will walk beside you, not categorize you. That’s what we do.
We’ve priced our services to match typical out-of-pocket costs—often no more than what you’d pay using insurance. We have built in some special discounts and even have sliding scale in our budget. And we’ve done that on purpose, so you can get the care you need without the red tape or stigma.
If you’re looking for help, we’re here. No labels. No diagnosis codes. Just real counseling for real life.
We hope you choose Connect—but whatever you decide, we want you to know that you have a choice.
Is Counseling Private?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful counseling and therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the counselor's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called "Informed Consent". Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney, or insurance company), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders requires therapists to report to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
* A court can, under certain circumstances, compel testimony from your therapist or counselor even when privilege applies.
**Also, to use your health insurance, your information must be provided, including diagnosis, treatment, and progress to your insurance provider as a third party for billing.