Counseling is a collaborative process between an individual and a trained, licensed therapist to address a mental health concern. The step to seek outside help is often the first act of change in a positive direction. Counseling should be seen as an investment.

Successful counseling requires time and resources, honesty and vulnerability. By nature, counseling relies heavily on the interaction between the therapist and the client to address these concerns. One should expect to be treated with compassion, decency, and one’s values should be respected.

Counseling requires coming to session prepared, constantly developing the therapeutic relationship, engaging topics in session, and using skills gained in session in an applied manner outside of the office. Early in counseling it is important to establish a relationship of trust and acceptance, to clarify goals, and to identify existing skills and supports. While there are no guarantees, most who follow these keys report positive results.

Absolutely! While counseling is not to be confused with receiving a sermon or mentorship, matters of faith and values can be legitimate foci or elements of services. I welcome matters of faith and am willing to address or include faith elements into session.

My goal is to help whoever walks through my door. I don’t hide the fact that I’m Christian, but counseling isn’t about preaching or proselytizing.

Counseling requires mutual respect, honesty, and a willingness to step into uncomfortable or difficult walks of life. That can’t be done in an environment that doesn’t accept potentially different world views.

People from all walks of life can expect to be treated with dignity and respect.

While this is a common question, it’s impossible to give a simple answer. The better question is not how long or how often, but rather what do you need?

Every person and every situation is unique. For some, counseling can mean coming in for a couple sessions to address a very specific need. For others, it can be tackling complex, ongoing issues that take quite a bit of time to work through. Like a cake being baked in an oven, it is done when it is cooked all the way through.

Streams In The Desert currently accepts the following insurances: Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care, UMR, WebTPA, Health Choice and Aetna.