FAQ

Q:

Is Counseling right for me?

A:

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life. For the most part, we are usually successful in navigating through the difficulties we face. At the same time, there is wisdom in seeking out additional support and guidance when we need it. In fact, counseling is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they can benefit from help, want to take responsibility for their life, their marriage or their family, and make a commitment to change the situation by seeking help. Counseling is right for anyone who wants the most out of their life by taking personal responsibility and working toward long-term change. There are obviously many reasons why people come to counseling.

Q:

What are common reasons people consider counseling?

A:

Sometimes people need help in dealing with long-standing emotional struggles, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times someone wants help in response to unexpected changes in their life such as marital distress, work transition, or significant loss. Many seek the advice of a counselor as they pursue personal growth and spiritual direction. Working with a therapist can help provide support, insight, and new strategies and tools for all types of life’s challenges. Counseling can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict and difficulty communicating, grief, stress management, body-image issues, spiritual growth, and general life transitions.

Q:

How can counseling help me?

A:

There are a number of ways that counseling can be beneficial to you. Our therapists can provide additional support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and sexual problems—just to name a few. Our clients find that their counselor can be tremendously helpful in achieving personal and spiritual growth, improving interpersonal relationships, working through family concerns and marriage issues, and the stress of daily life. Our therapists can also provide helpful insight on a difficult problem, or point you in the direction to find lasting solutions. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how invested you are in the process and your willingness to put into practice what you learn.

Additional benefits include:

• Gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and how you’re wired
• Clarifying your goals, values and life purpose
• Developing the necessary skills for improving your relationships
• Resolving issues or concerns that led you to seek counseling
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
• Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communication and conflict resolution skills
• Changing unhealthy behavior patterns and developing new, healthier ones
• Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
• Building your self-esteem and strengthening self-confidence
• Understanding issues that interfere with spiritual growth and development
• Insights into establishing a personal relationship with God

Q:

Is counseling confidential?

A:

We recognize that confidentiality is an essential part of creating a safe and trusting relationship between a client and therapist. Therefore, we take the utmost care to protect your right to privacy. In general, Michigan law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and his or her therapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions to this rule which are required by law:

• Disclosure of suggested abuse or neglect of a minor, dependent adult or elder. All therapists are required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm him- or herself. Our therapists make every effort to work with their clients to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, or is unwilling to take responsibility for their safety, additional measures may need to be taken.

Q:

Do you offer Christian counseling?

A:

Our counseling staff is a team of dedicated Christian professionals. We recognize the Bible as the ultimate source of truth and authority in life and practice (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Hebrews 4:12). We rely on core principles outlined in scripture and proven effective by clinical research. We also affirm the life-changing power that is available through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1, 2; Galatians 5:22-25; 2 Peter 1:3-8). We make every effort to encourage our Christian clients through prayer, biblical insights, experiencing God’s love and forgiveness, and practicing spiritual disciplines. Our Statement of Faith summarizes the key beliefs we draw from our understanding of the Bible. (Click here to view our Statement of Faith.)

Q:

What if I don’t consider myself a Christian or have different religious views?

A:

We believe that everyone has innate value and dignity irrespective of their religious views, and therefore we provide the highest quality of care for all our clients, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion or beliefs. We are careful not to impose our beliefs onto our clients, nor do we reduce all the problems they are struggling with to spiritual issues. We do, however, consider the spiritual side of life as essential to overall mental health, in addition to the psychological, social and physiological aspects. As much as the client is willing, we seek to integrate each of these aspects of the whole person in the process of healing and growth.

Q:

Will my insurance company help me pay for counseling?

A:

Many insurance plans offer full or partial reimbursement for counseling services. However, Oakland Hills Counseling is not a contracted “in-network” or “preferred provider” with any insurance agency. Our experience over the last several years would suggest that more and more companies are dropping mental health benefits, and insurance providers are increasingly reluctant to make third-party reimbursements. Additionally, in order to make an informed decision, we believe prospective clients need to understand the down side to using insurance for counseling. In order to receive reimbursement for counseling services, insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis. A mental health diagnosis may become part of your permanent medical record in a national providers database, and typically has a negative impact on future coverage and/or inflated costs for life or health insurance. However, upon request, we will provide counseling service receipts with all required documentation, which you can submit to your insurance provider. To determine if you have mental health coverage, start by contacting your insurance carrier. Some questions to ask:

• Do I have mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session, including deductible?
• How many therapy sessions per year does my plan cover?
• How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
• What licensing requirements does the counselor need?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?