Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What Is Counseling?

A: Counseling is an exploration through a person’s deepest pains... griefs... fears... traumas etc.  And the counselor is the guide on the journey.  A counselor’s job is not to change you; but, rather, to create a suitable environment for change to take place.  The basics of this involve creating safety, earning trust, removing obstacles, and gaining your confidence.  

With that said, your first couple of sessions will be focused on creating a refuge, intently listening to your story, and working to earn your trust and confidence.  Because we’ve been there ourselves, we know and will be sensitive to the idea that going to a counselor (and sharing your stuff) for the first time can be daunting, to say the least.

You’ve likely had people (maybe even misguided counselors) tell you what needs to change.  And because of our quick-fix culture, a lot of people come into counseling with the mindset that if they do A, B, and C everything will get better.  Follow these 3 easy steps to freedom.  

While steps can be helpful, we believe counseling is much more than advice-giving or step completion.  In fact, we believe that unsolicited advice or excessive reliance on tasks is a mishandling of a person’s life story.  Not to mention it can stifle growth and/or damage the therapeutic relationship if it’s bad advice or unproductive homework.  Again, counseling is a journey of courage, hope, and change, not a fast-food fix to your problems.

Our approach to helping you grow is more relaxed and focused.  We spend our time building relationships with you and allowing change to occur on the bedrock of trust, hope, and safety.  Many of our therapists use person-centered, narrative, or existential therapies.  While these tend to be less direct approaches, this does not mean that your therapist will not be direct when they deem it necessary.  Your recovery and healing are our top priority, not our own comfort!

Please know that not every counselor works well with everyone. We have strengths and weaknesses like every other professional.  And sometimes it’s just not a good fit.  Please let us know if this is the case and we'll gladly help you find the right fit for you.  

Q: How can I tell If my Therapist Is or isn’t a Good Fit For Me?

Here are some signs your therapist is NOT a good fit:

  1. You have to constantly repeat important details of your story (forgetting names is one thing; continuously forgetting your important life events is another)  

  2. Your therapist is acting unethically (i.e., crossing boundaries, treating you poorly, etc.)  

  3. Your therapist doesn’t value/appreciate your beliefs (they address situations according to their beliefs and not your belief system)

  4. Your therapist shares too much of his/her personal life with little/to no benefit to you (what they share about themselves should only be used as a tool to teach you a relevant concept)

  5. Your schedules don’t match up

  6. He/she falls asleep during a session

  7. You don’t feel heard, respected, or understood (before judging, make certain this is your counselor's issue and not your own leftovers from a broken past)

  8. You don’t feel like you’re making progress (while counseling takes time, there should be clear signs that you're moving in a better direction over time)

  9. You just don’t jive with them

Q. Should I Fire My Therapist?

Before you fire yourself, ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Is this the counselor or is this my issue due to my junk?  (After all, we seek therapy because we need help relating to ourselves, others, and the world).

  2. Is this something that I don’t feel can be worked through with this particular counselor/therapist?  (It can be very therapeutic to address issues about therapy/your therapists during sessions.  It’s only natural that people bring their stuff into the session, a good therapist will understand this and help you grown through it).  

Also, here are some things your therapist should NEVER do:

  • Become romantic/sexual with you

  • Disrespect you or your way of seeing the world

  • Belittle you or your struggles

  • Share your materials or conversations with others that are not a part of your recovery team

Q. I Suspect some is Suicidal, please help!

If you suspect someone is suicidal, don’t hesitate to ask them. Contrary to popular belief, asking doesn’t “make” them want to hurt themselves. You or they can call:

  • SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 988

  • COLORADO CRISIS & SUPPORT LINE: 1-844-493-TALK

    These numbers are also text-message accessible for those who don’t feel comfortable talking to someone on the phone. And, of course, you can always call 911 in the event of an emergency.

    Some helpful screenings/resources are available at mentalhealthcolorado.org. On the Resources tab select Screenings. There are mental health screenings for both parents and youth.    

If you need more intensive therapy you can call:

  • SAMHSA’S NATIONAL HELPLINE: 1-800-662-HELP

    Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, SAMHSA is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

Q. I need help with Addiction

If you need immediate help finding a treatment/detox center you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.

LOCAL COLORADO DETOXES & TREATMENT FACILITIES:

Q. I need help Understanding Colorado Medicaid

We get many comments and concerns regarding how difficult Medicaid is to navigate. We'd like to offer some clarity! Simply put, Colorado Medicaid is split into seven regions, and they’re called RAEs (Regional Accountability Entities).  These RAEs all have contracts with Medicaid and, from our understanding, they compete for counties just like we compete for your business (thank you for your business, by the way!)

LEARN HOW COLORADO MEDICAID FITS EVERYTHING TOGETHER, VISIT: COLORADOHEALTHINSTITUTE.ORG

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As of late, what’s been confusing for a lot of people (no, you’re not alone) is that on July 1, 2018, the contracts switched, and some new RAE’s came in.  Put another way, things got thrown out of whack and confused everyone - including us.  However, we understand now, and hopefully, soon, you will too.

To make matters hairier, they changed the way they assign (attribute) a person to a RAE.  Really, all you need to know concerning your behavioral health benefits is that how they assign you to a RAE is no longer based off the county you live in.  Now it’s figured by four different criteria, in a certain order.

Below are the four criteria:

  • Utilization

  • Family Connection

  • Proximity

  • Member contact with enrollment broker

In other words, based on these four determinants, you may have gotten put into a RAE that is in a different county than you live. If this is the case, don’t fret.  It’s not a problem if you want to see a therapist that is in the RAE you live in.

For example, you may live in El Paso County (the green area) but be in the Colorado Access RAE (the dark blue area) because your primary doctor’s office is in Denver or Castle Rock.  One of the main ways they determine which RAE you’re in is by where your primary doctor is (utilization).  There is something you can do to see a therapist in El Paso County though.  In this case, you have two choices (that we know of anyway):

  1. Switch doctors (to one in your county), and see the therapist of your choice in your county.

  2. Keep your doctor, and see a therapist in the same county as him/her.

If you feel it best to switch to your own county, it’s simple.  Just call Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program), 303-866-2993, and have them switch you to the RAE of the county you live in.  In our above example, for instance, the person would have to choose a primary doctor in El Paso County to see a therapist in El Paso County.  

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that they don’t switch you to the new RAE until the 1st of the following month.

We hope this helps!

 
 

If you have Additional questions not addressed here, please contact us, we’d love to hear from you.