Speak with your therapist to set up a schedule that works for you.  The more flexibility you are able to have with your schedule, the easier it will be for you to set up an appointment with your therapist as evening and morning are usually the fastes to fill up.

Cancellations:

Please notify your therapist at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancell a scheduled appointment.  You will be charged for an appointment that has not been canceled with a 24-hour advance notice, excepting for emergencies or presenting weather conditions.

I have strong religious beliefs.  Will my counselor try to change them?

No, Therapists at the Presbyterian Counseling Center respect people's spiritual beliefs, whatever they may be.  We see persons from all different faith traditions, and persons who espouse no faith tradition.  Whether you are Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or atheist, we welcome you at PCC, and your beliefs will be respected.  Our mission is to allow people to grow into the fullest people they can be, not to convert anyone to our beliefs.

Will what I say be kept private?

Everything that is shared in a counseling session with a therapist at the Presbyterian Counseling Center is private and confidential.  Because you are sharing important and sensitive information about yourself, our staff dedicates itself to provide a relationship of confidentiality.  In such an environment, you may speak freely and honestly.  This means that it will not go outside of that room, and your therapist and you will be the only ones who know what gets shared in your counseling session.

It is important that you understand that by law there are certain things that any counselor must disclose if you share them.  These include:

• Reports of abuse of a minor or disabled/ederly person
• An active plan to harm yourself or someone else (such as a plan to shoot someone, or yourself)
• Any information that a court of law subpoenas from a therapist, when that therapist is not able to receive an exemption from the subpoena 

All of the therapist at the Presbyterian Counseling Center are certified by their professional disciplines and are bound by their code of ethics and state laws related to priviledged communication and confidentiality and privacy.

Does this mean that if I have ever felt like harming myself, my counselor will tell someone?

No. Only imminent danger or harm is required to be reported.  This means that you can safely share any history of feeling suicidal in the past, or abuse in your childhool with your counselor withoutfear that it will need to be reported.  Only issues that place you in imminent harm must be reported.  And even those, your counselor will work with you to find ways of keeping you safe that do not involve breaking your confidentiality.

Benefits and Risks of Counseling

There are benefits and risks involved in receiving psychotherapy.  Therapy can help increase self-awareness and understanding, bolster self-esteem, reduce internal and interpersonal conflict, alter distressing moods, and improve communication.

What you achieve depends primarily on your own goals and motivation.  At the same time, you must know that you may experience unpleasant feelings while discussing matters that trouble you.  You may also discover that some situations cannot be changed to your satisfaction; thus leaving you with difficult decisions to make.  Nevertheless, your therapist is committed and qualifed to assist you in facing such feelings and circumstances.

You are in full control of what you want to accomplish in counseling.  Your success depends largely on your willingness to speak openly and honestly.  Because you are sharing important and sensitive information about yourself, our staff dedicates itself to provide a relationship of confidentiality.

How to Know When You or Someone you Know Needs Help?

You may be the first to recognize when someone-including you-may need help.  These are some distress signals to pay attention to in yourself or in someone close to you.

• feelings of loneliness, moodiness, depression, failure, anxiety
• persistent feelings of dissatisfaction with marriage or family life
• sexual problems or concerns
• unexplainable fatigue
• difficulites in talking with fiance', spouse, children, parents, other family members, friends, or co-workers
• problems with a child's behavior, school adjustment, or performance
• the need for tranquilizers, energizers or sleeping aids
• family stress due to repeated illnesses or illness in which stress plays a major role
• a recent traumatic event (death, job loss, accident, injury, divorce, break-up)
• problems with alcohol or drugs
• repeated financial difficulties
• difficulty in setting or reaching goals
• drastic weitht fluctuations or irregular eating patterns
• work difficulities, frequent job changes, problems with co-workers
• unmanageable anger, hostility, or violence

Written by Patricia Ellen Burgin, MA., (and taken in part from a Counsumer's Guide to Marriage and Family Therapy by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.