Common Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our responses to frequently asked questions regarding counseling and therapy.

How Can Counseling
Help me Or My Family?

Professional counseling offers various benefits, including support for issues like depression, anxiety, and relationship troubles.

Therapists can provide enhanced coping strategies, a fresh perspective on problems, and guidance toward solutions. Participating in therapy can help you gain a better understanding of yourself, improve relationships, find resolutions to concerns, and develop skills for coping with stress and emotional pressures.

It also facilitates personal growth, improved communication, and breaking old behavior patterns. Ultimately, the benefits depend on how well you engage in the process and apply what you learn.

What Is Therapy Like?

Therapy varies based on individual needs and goals. It typically involves discussing current events, relevant personal history, and progress from previous sessions. Sessions can be short-term for specific issues or longer-term for deeper patterns and personal development.

Regular sessions are common, and active participation enhances results. The goal is to apply what’s learned in therapy to daily life. Therapists may suggest outside activities, and clients should be ready for positive change, open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.

Medication or Therapy?

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. 

What is Christian Counselling?

At Agape, our counselors, all licensed mental health therapists, maintain a personal relationship with Christ and bring extensive experience in various areas. They integrate Christian principles into counseling based on each client’s readiness, respecting individual preferences.

We believe in a loving God, offering grace and forgiveness to everyone through a personal relationship with Christ. Our mission is to accompany you on a healing journey shaped by your choices, with God by your side. Life brings challenges, and seeking therapy is a commendable act of self-awareness and responsibility.

It equips you with lasting benefits, empowering you to manage triggers, redirect harmful patterns, and overcome challenges.

Are Visits Confidential?

Confidentiality is crucial in the client-therapist relationship, fostering trust necessary for successful therapy, especially when discussing sensitive subjects confined to the therapist’s office. Therapists provide a written confidential disclosure agreement, ensuring that session discussions remain private, known as “Informed Consent.” While there may be instances where you wish your therapist to share information with your healthcare team, they are legally bound to obtain your written permission before releasing any details.

State law and professional ethics mandate therapists to maintain confidentiality, except in cases involving suspected abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders, where reporting to authorities is required. Additionally, confidentiality may be breached if the therapist has reason to believe the client poses a serious risk of self-harm or has threatened harm to others.

What About Insurance?

While most of our counselors aren’t in-network with insurance companies, a few are, each with different providers. If you have out-of-network mental health benefits, contact your insurance carrier to confirm. It’s crucial to check your coverage thoroughly and ensure you comprehend their responses.

Helpful questions to ask them:

  • What are my mental health benefits?
  • What is the coverage per session?
  • How many sessions are covered?
  • What is the insurance coverage for an out-of-network provider?
  • Is approval needed from my primary care physician?

Our client service administrators can make the call on your behalf. Contact us at 585-385-6030 to speak with one of our administrators.