Frequently Asked Questions

 

HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH THERAPY?

Contact us by calling (585) 257-2864 or emailing lifestrategiesroc@gmail.com. You will receive a response within 24 hours. After you get a sense of whether Life Strategies Counseling Services is a good match for your needs, we will collect your information, determine finances (insurance or private pay). Next, you will schedule an intake session, visit the Client Portal, and connect with your therapist.

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WHAT IS COUNSELING LIKE?

In your first session, you and your therapist will talk about what is bringing you in for counseling and start defining goals for your work together. You will share what brings you to counseling and your therapist will gather information about your situation and needs. It may take 1-2 sessions to formulate your goals and start working together on a plan for you to reach your goals for your life.

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Counseling sessions typically occur every 1-2 weeks and last about an hour. During ongoing sessions, your therapist will check in to determine what will be most helpful to you from each session. Therapy is a collaboration between you and your therapist, and you will have conversations about where you are in your life and how you and your therapist can get you to where you want to go. Your therapist is primarily a sounding board for your ideas, goals, thoughts and dreams. Where there are deeper issues underlying the inability to reach certain goals, your therapist will deal with the roots of those problems. Your therapist may also assign "homework" in between sessions if appropriate to your situation.

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​HOW CAN COUNSELING HELP ME?

A number of benefits are available from participating in individual, couples and/or family counseling. 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, anger management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that therapists 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 and assist you in getting your life in the place you want it to be. The benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from counseling include:

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• 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

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​ARE THINGS DISCUSSED IN COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS CONFIDENTIAL?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist. Successful counseling requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist'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), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

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However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

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• Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders 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.

 

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