Questions and Answers

Q: Why consider counseling?

A: Counseling can be seen as a positive and proactive approach to improve one’s quality of life and reach one’s goals.  Through special techniques, educational tools and coping skills, life issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, relationship issues, self esteem and others can be successfully confronted.

Q: What is involved in therapy?

A: Therapy is an open and honest relationship between you and your counselor that enables you to explore how relationships, people and experiences influence how you feel, think and act.  It is a cooperative relationship that allows you to discover, set and achieve goals for your personal growth and improvement in relationship.

Q: In what areas of counseling are you most experienced?

A: I have had extensive post-graduate training in marital counseling, anxiety, depression and parenting issues.  I have been trained in Imago therapy, received training from John Gottman (author of Why Marriages Succeed or Fail), trained in the area of attachment disorder and adoption (Liz Randolph and Nancy Thomas), and in the areas of personality disorders and cognitive behavioral therapy.  Integrating my medical background with the psychological, I have researched and been trained on how the mind and body as well as spiritual aspects of individuals influence each other.

Q: What is required of me in counseling?

A: Therapy requires a commitment of your time, energy and finances.  Therefore, you should seek the individual that offers you the best collaborative relationship for meeting your goals and expectations.  Generally, therapy requires a minimum of three months or twelve sessions to produce desired results or change; however, this will depend on your specific situation and issues.

Q: What are your confidentiality policies?

A: My office is dedicated to maintaining your personal confidentiality and health information records (IIHI).  As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I am required by law to maintain the confidentiality of health information that identifies you.  I cannot release or discuss your information without your consent unless life endangerment is involved.  I also adhere to the code of ethics established by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, North Carolina Board of Counselors, The American Counseling Association, and the Association of Christian Counselors.