- What is BCC's Philosophy and Approach to Counseling?
Our counseling approach is multifaceted from a broad spectrum of theories from psychoanalyzes to a solution oriented focus. Our clients needs and expectations will determine the best strategies to achieve their goals. We believe people work in relationship systems, and that each person in the relationship is important to the balance of the whole. When the relationship ecosystem is out of balance, it is the result of many factors, all of which can be examined in therapy sessions.
In therapy we explore three interrelated lenses: The situational lenses (the here and now), the existential lens (family system and personal development), and the spiritual lens (coping strategies and beliefs). Real growth begins in the heart, and it reorients the personality, personal priorities and dreams.
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- What is the Nature of a Counseling Relationship?
Counseling is a relationship between you and your therapist, who is devoted to your well-being and growth. Relieving your pain, reducing your symptoms, or changing your behavior or lifestyle may be parts of that goal. It is never your responsibility to take care of your therapist's needs. A counseling relationship can be defined as a one-way friendship.
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- Is Therapy Hard Work?
Therapy is often hard work. You will learn to pay attention to your thoughts, your feelings, and your relationships; to honestly acknowledge them (including feelings you wish you never had); to work with unwanted aspects of yourself; to learn to feel painful things and to face ugly realities of life
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- What is the Counselor's Role, and what is My Role?
The therapist does not do your work for you. The therapist's job is to listen carefully; to point out strengths that have gone unnoticed, and possibilities that have been ignored; to look for hope when you feel hopeless, and danger when you are being unaware of dangerous situations
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- How Can I Make My BCC Counseling Experience Most Effective?
You may or may not have been to a counselor before. If this is your first experience with therapy, you may feel nervous or apprehensive. That's normal. Below are seven suggestions to help make your counseling experience most effective:
- Before your scheduled session, write down questions, topics or issues you want to focus on.
- Communicate your expectations to your counselor so that both of you are working together toward your goals.
- Provide ongoing feedback so your counselor knows how you are doing. (Example: "I want to focus on my anger" or "I like doing communication exercises.")
- If you feel a need to increase or decrease the frequency of your sessions, or to end counseling, feel free to communicate this to your counselor.
- If you have another professional involved in your care (i.e., physician, chiropractor, attorney), we will be happy to coordinate with him or her if you wish. However, it is not advisable to have more than one mental health counselor involved in your treatment at one time.
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- What is BCC's Code of Ethics?
BCC is bound to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. We also work under the laws of the State of New York. For a copy of our code of ethics, log on to www.aamft.org
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- What Are the Known Benefits of Counseling / Psychotherapy?
In general, the typical counseling client is better off after therapy than he or she was before therapy. After therapy, counseling clients are better off than 80 percent of untreated persons.
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- What Kind of Person Does Especially Well in Therapy?
People who can talk and listen reasonably well, who are reasonably comfortable being alone with another person, and who are willing to pay attention to their own feelings, thoughts and motivations probably will do well in counseling.
Therapy can help people who are passive to become more assertive, and to feel better because they are more in charge of their lives. Therapy has been shown to help people with high anxiety to feel more tranquil and to become better able to calm them. People who are depressed often are helped a great deal - especially to identify and change ideas and beliefs that contribute to their depression. Most successful counseling clients change behaviors and lifestyles that keep them unhappy or stuck.
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- Are There Any Success Factors in Counseling?
Based upon over a century of consistent clinical experience, we know counseling helps many people achieve meaningful improvement in their lives. We have found six variables to be predictive of success:
- The counselor is comfortable with his or her role and believes in what he or she is doing.
- Counselor and client share a collaborative relationship in which they respect each other and feel a positive bond.
- The client is allowed to talk freely and to feel emotions fully.
- There is enough empathy between the counselor and client so that the client feels safe and supported in taking risks and in accepting the therapist's challenges or confrontations.
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- What Are Some Common Risks Associated With Counseling?
The first and most important risk is that people often feel worse as the therapy progresses. Sometimes this is natural: after all, talking about problems breaks down our usual avoidance of them, and the pain associated with them can then be felt more vividly.
It is important to let your counselor know how you are experiencing the therapy. If it seems to be making you feel worse, perhaps it is. Telling this to your counselor allows exploration of what is happening, so you can decide whether the worsening is to be expected or whether the therapy is moving too fast for you.
Marital Therapy:
Marital therapy can help with marriage and relationship problems. However, you should know that some research suggests that when one spouse or partner meets alone with a therapist to discuss problems involving the other partner, although it may help the person in therapy, the chances of separation may increase.
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- What Are My Rights As a Client at Breakthrough Counseling Care?
- You are entitled to information about any procedures, methods of therapy, techniques and possible duration of therapy. If you desire, your counselor will explain his or her usual approach, as well as his or her qualifications.
- You have the right to decide not to receive therapeutic assistance from your counselor, and you can seek a second opinion from another therapist. Feel free to ask for the names of other qualified professionals whose services you might prefer.
- You have the right to end therapy at any time without any moral, legal or financial obligations other than those already accrued.
- In a professional relationship such as ours, sexual intimacy between therapist and client is never appropriate.
- You have the right to expect confidentiality within the limits described under #7 (below).
- At you written request, any records can be released to any person, or agency you designate. (Note that consent from all clients in the treatment unit is needed for a release of records.) Also, you may authorize your therapist, in writing, to consult with another professional about your therapy.
- You have the right to file a written grievance and to request a hearing with the Counseling President if you have concluded that your rights as a client have been violated.
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- Are There Any Exceptions to Confidentiality?
There are certain situations in which we are required by law to reveal information obtained during therapy without your permission. These situations are:
- If you disclose the intention to harm yourself or another person.
- If a court of law issues a legitimate court order (signed by a judge).
- If you reveal information relative to physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect of a child (in the past as well as in the present.)
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- What Are My Financial Obligations to BCC?
- Our standard fee for counseling is per 50-minute session. If we agree to longer or shorter sessions, you will be charged accordingly. Payment in full is expected at the end of each session. Most clients prefer to pay at the beginning of the session. If you are facing financial hardship talk to your counselor about that.
- There may be a charge for other services, including consultation with other professionals, preparation of reports or correspondence, any necessary court appearances (in the case of children's cases only), phone calls lasting over 10 minutes, and missed appointments.
- When diagnostic testing is appropriate and recommended, the costs for testing are in addition to the usual therapy fee. The cost for testing varies, depending upon the test. Some psychological assessment needs may be referred to another mental health professional, which will determine his or her own fee.
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- How Long Will Take to Complete My Counseling?
We cannot say how long it will last, but we will share our best estimate with you once we know what the problems are. If anything changes as we go along, we will talk it over with you and will never do anything without your consent. BCC counselors are committed to a comprehensive approach to a solution-focused counseling process.
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- Define BCC convictions on spirituality?
- Spirituality is NOT a therapeutic technique.
- Spirituality and religion are powerful and important concepts for most of our clients.
- Effective therapeutic work lies along a continuum between the points of "avoidance" and "proselytizing."
- Spiritual differences are important. Honor, do not marginalize nor minimize these differences. Having separate umbrellas is ok.
- Respect and support are not synonymous. Spiritual agreement is not a necessary requirement for a therapeutic relationship.
- Competent therapy is possible only if we are truly willing to own our beliefs about spirituality when working with our client's spiritual beliefs.
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- What to avoid in
- Using religion to deny reality and a medical condition.
- Using religion as a short cut to the healing of damaged emotions.
- Using religion as a mask to hide the true self.
- Using religion as an alternative to counseling and medication.
- Using God as an alternative to personal responsibility.
- Using religion to justify abuse, oppression and domestic violence.
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