Beginning
What kind of help do I need?

Psychiatrists (MD)
These individuals typically have medical degree and prescribe medication. If you are looking to treat or temper symptoms through pharmaceuticals, you may want to seek a psychiatrist. Counselors and psychologists are not able to prescribe medication. 

Psychologists (PhD, PsyD)
Psychologists have doctorate level training and can provide diagnostic testing. They do not prescribe medication. If you are looking for diagnostic testing and highly specialized counseling services, you may want to seek a psychologist. 

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC, LPSW, LMFT)
Counselors can come with many different acronyms. If you are looking for counseling to improve emotional, relational, cognitive, spiritual, or behavioral aspects of your life, you can may want to seek a professional counselor. Professional counselors have a Masters and years of supervision. Typically, any professional with one of the listed acronyms counsel individuals or families.

Others 
Services are available by other professionals such as:
Pastoral Counseling which is provided by a clergy member or religious leader for spiritual guidance. They are often trained and have received specific education in this area. They are typically licensed by the state (LPC).
Christian Counseling provides a Christian perspective in their counseling service. They are typically licensed by the state (LPC) and trained to provide specialized services. 
Biblical Counseling can be provided by laypeople who have been trained and work under the employment of a religious organization (church). They are not licensed by the state. They emphasize biblical and spiritual growth. 
Life Coaching  provides specific goal oriented services for the purpose of improving particular areas of life.  These professionals are often certified through a third party. They are not licensed by the state and cannot provide counseling services. 

What can I expect when I see a counselor?

It depends...
Largely on the counselor you see. Most counselors will provide a warm, judgment-free, understanding environment. From there, each counselor has a specific approach and orientation in which they have been trained. Most counselors in modern day have an eclectic approach, pulling from a number of orientations and techniques. More information about my approach can be found on the About page. 

How long will this take and how much will it cost?

In regards to length, again, it depends...
Therapists want to see their clients progress and achieve their goals. However, complex goals or complicated barriers to these goals may mean more time. By the end of the day, it's up to the client whether the time and cost is worth it. Typically, brief therapy is considered 6 sessions. Brief therapy is a perfect fit for short term goals and life skills challenges. However, for more in-depth relationship changes, more time is usually needed. 

Fees
At our West Houston Counseling Center, the rate for an LPC us $150. This includes a 45-55 minute session for individuals, couples, and families. Cash, Check, Debit or Credit is accepted. 

Do you take insurance?

I'm currently in-network with Aetna. I can help you apply for out-of-network benefits as well.  Please note that there are pros and cons for using your insurance benefits. Initial costs are lower for individuals. However, insurance companies and potentially companies that provide insurance to employees may have access to diagnosis codes and other sensitive material of clients. More so, some insurance plans limit the number of sessions a client can have, and only pay for specific treatments and diagnoses. Nonetheless, it may also be the only option available for those with limited finances.  

What can I expect for the first session?

Individual
The purpose of the first session is to gather information about you and your situation. It's also a time for you to get to know me and test how comfortable you feel in the setting. Much of the progress in counseling comes from the level of trust established between a therapist and a client. Expect paperwork, exploration of the problem and its background, goal setting, and treatment plans. I want to offer you the best service possible. To do this, I must understand you and your story before moving forward. Typically, the counseling "work" starts in the second or third session.
Couples
In the first session, the couple goes over paperwork, describes the conflict, and provides background. After this, I see each partner individually for one 45-min session to further explore their perspective and family background. Then the couple returns for an 50 minute session to discuss goals and the treatment plan. Since there are more moving parts in relationships, it takes a few sessions for action to happen. However, couples typically experience faster change once it starts. 
Families
For families, the first session is with the parents. Here, the parents have an opportunity to share their concerning issue and the family history. Parents can expect the first session to be mostly about information gathering. At the end of the first session, I may recommend seeing the other family members individually or continue with a full family observation. In the first family session, I will attempt to understand your family without too much intervention or change so to observe what it's like to be part of your family. After this, the family will set a common goal and work together to achieve it. 

Middle
So when will things actually start getting better?

Change is difficult and necessary. Some individuals experience change gradually, while others see it sharply. The difference often comes from a few factors: trust in the process, a commitment to change, and effort to try something new. The more investment in the change process, the quicker clients typically see it occur. I want you to achieve your goals, and will check-in on your level of satisfaction. If you're unsatisfied with the rate of change, we will set a new course. However, I can only bring the change process, as you bring the content. 

What will therapy be like?

Experiences vary for each individual. Some find counseling as moving and insightful, others as a help skill-building tool, most find it somewhat uncomfortable at times. In session, topics may often be explored that aren't commonly discussed in everyday life. I am here to facilitate the process, and will only go into areas that are tolerable for individuals. For couples, new behaviors are practiced to improve listening and connection. These practices may be new to the couple and require some level of discomfort. For families, ineffective patterns are recognized and challenged. Learning new ways of interacting may lead to to some discomfort as well. However, in discomfort, growth occurs. 

End

When does therapy end?

 Typically, when your goals are met or when you decide to end it. I will check-in on your progress throughout our time together. It's important that you feel you are benefiting from our sessions together. Termination will be discussed one or two sessions before it happens, so you are well aware of it before it comes up.

What happens in the last session?

We review the progress, and say goodbye to each other. A 3-month or 6-month check-in is set up to fine tune any changes.