Frequently Asked Questions

Like all relationships, you and your therapist must have a good working relationship. Some of the factors to consider when looking for a therapist include: do they provide individualized treatment plan? Do you feel comfortable and heard? are your boundaries respected? Is your therapist working within the scope of their practice expertise? cost? Do your schedules align? Are you making progress towards your goals? Does your therapist ask for your feedback? 

At Hopestone Counseling, clients are encouraged to be assertive and communicate their needs to the therapist. The first few sessions are to build rapport and get to know one another, so please be patient. Like all relationships, your relationship with your therapist takes time and effort on both sides. If things are still not working out for you once you have addressed the issues, don't give up on therapy. Continue to search for a therapist that fits your needs and ask your therapist for help in the search process. 

The therapeutic process seeks to meet goals established by you and your therapist, usually revolving around a specific topic(s) or complaint(s). Participating in therapy may include benefits such as the resolution of presenting problem(s), as well as improved intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. The therapeutic process may help reduce distress, provide means for a healthy outlet/support, increase your ability to cope with stressors and/or past difficult events, improve ability to set healthy boundaries, enhance overall communication style, etc. Participating in therapy can lead to greater awareness of oneself, goals, and values as well. This can contribute to an overall improved quality of life. 

In working to achieve therapeutic benefits, clients must take action to achieve desired results. Although change is inevitable, it can be uncomfortable at times. Resolving difficult past/present events and/or making changes in relationship patterns may arouse unexpected emotional reactions. Seeking to resolve problems can similarly lead to discomfort, as well as relational changes that may not be originally intended. You and your therapist can work collaboratively toward a desirable outcome. Please note, there can be no guarantees made regarding the ultimate outcome of therapy.

Please keep in mind that in the event that your therapist has to breach confidentiality, the therapist will do their best in sharing only necessary and relevant information. 

Anything said in therapy is confidential and may not be revealed to a third party without your written authorization. However, here are some examples of the items that your therapist is mandated to report without notice to you: 

• Reports of child or vulnerable adult abuse and/or neglect
• Threats, plan or attempts to harm yourself or others
• Court orders or legal issued subpoenas 
• You may be asked to share personal information with the telehealth platform to create an account, such as your name, date of birth, location, and contact information. Your therapist carefully vets any telehealth platform to ensure your information is secured to the appropriate standards. 

*There are some limitations to confidentiality when it comes to means of communication such as email or other forms of online communication. 

In order for clients to reach their therapeutic goals, it is essential that they attend sessions regularly and complete tasks assigned to them between sessions. Therapy is not a quick fix. If after a few months of attending therapy without any positive outcomes reported by client or observed by therapist, medication evaluation may be recommended in combination with therapy. This should be a healthy discussion between you and the therapist. Should you decide to get a medication evaluation, the therapist can assist you in finding a physician. During the therapy process, we identify goals, review progress, and modify the treatment plan as needed. This is a collaborative process, and therefore open communication between you and your therapist is strongly encouraged.

• Intake Phase – During the first session, therapeutic process, structure, expectations, policies, and procedures will be discussed. You and your therapist will also explore your experiences surrounding the presenting problem(s) or symptoms that brought you in. Please be sure to complete ALL of the intake forms sent to you prior to the intake sessions. Should the forms not be entirely complete, you will be asked to either complete them in session prior to beginning (takes time away from the session), or to reschedule the appointment. Also, technical difficulties are possible, which can result in more delay. Please note your therapist reserves the right to charge a $75 fee as this will be considered a late cancellation.  
• Assessment Phase – During this assessment phase (can take up to 2-4 sessions), the therapist will be getting to know you by asking questions to gain an understanding of your worldview, strengths, concerns, needs, relationship dynamics, etc.  During this relationship building process, the therapist will be gathering a lot of information to aid in the therapeutic approach best suited for your needs and goals. If it is determined that the therapist is not the best fit for your therapeutic needs, you will be provided referrals for more appropriate level of treatment.
• Goal Development/Treatment Planning – After gathering background information, you and your therapist will collaborate to identify your therapeutic goals and needs. Once each goal is reached, you both will sign off on the goals and you can receive a copy at your request. 
• Intervention Phase – This phase occurs anywhere from session two until graduation/discharge/termination. Each client is encouraged to actively participate in therapy sessions, utilize solutions/tools discussed, and complete assignments between sessions. Progress will be reviewed collaboratively and goals adjusted as needed.
• Graduation/Discharge/Termination – As you progress and get closer to completing goals, you and your therapist will collaboratively discuss a transition plan for graduation/discharge/termination.

Hopestone Counseling, PLLC is committed to protecting your privacy. The Practice is required by federal law to maintain the privacy of Protected Health Information (“PHI”), which is information that identifies or could be used to identify you. The Practice is required to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (included in your intake forms), which explains the Practice's legal duties and privacy practices and your rights regarding PHI that we collect and maintain.

Telehealth is a great option and tool for you to utilize.  Here are some items for you to consider: 

Possible Benefits

• Flexibility. You can attend therapy wherever is convenient for you. With that in mind, please consider safety and privacy within your setting while attending telehealth sessions.
• Ease of Access. You can attend telehealth sessions without worrying about accounting for travel time, and also during inclement weather or illness.

Possible Risks

• Privacy and Confidentiality: You may be asked to share personal information with the telehealth platform to create an account, such as your name, date of birth, location, and contact information. Hopestone Counseling carefully vets any telehealth platform to ensure your information is secured to the appropriate standards.
• Technology: At times, you could have problems with your internet, video, or sound. If you have issues during a session, your therapist will attempt to assist you to the best of their ability. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to make sure you are able to log in at the time of the session by testing your equipment. 
• Crisis Management. It may be difficult for your therapist to render immediate support during an emergency or crisis as the therapist is not "on-call". You and the therapist can work towards developing a plan for emergencies or crises when necessary, such as recognizing triggers and warning signs, implementing coping skills, choosing a local emergency contact, creating a communication plan, and making a list of local support and crisis services as needed.

Recommendations for telehealth

• Make sure that other people cannot hear your conversation or see your screen during sessions.
• Do not use video or audio to record your session unless you and your therapist have discussed this in advance and both parties agreed to it.  
• Make sure to let your therapist know if you are not in your usual location before starting any telehealth session.