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What is counseling?
Counseling is a process in which you can discuss personal issues with an unbiased third party who is not directly involved in your life. Talking with a counselor can provide you with a safe place to discuss and find solutions to issues with which you are struggling and provide a fresh approach to your issues.
Counseling may include many techniques including:
- Talking
- Role playing
- Using creative arts (drawing, painting, expressive art, music, etc...)
- Homework assignments
- Journaling
- Play therapy for children
- Consultation with teachers, doctors, or other relevant third parties
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Why people seek counseling?
People seek counseling for a variety of reasons. Counseling can be helpful if you or a loved one:
- Are struggling with a situation or life transition
- Are not coping well
- Want to make a decision or discuss options about a situation
- Are experiencing troubling symptoms
- Are experiencing difficulties in a relationship
- Are experiencing difficulties with communication
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What issues can I discuss in counseling?
Counseling is an open forum for any issue you wish to discuss. Some common issues that are addressed (but not limited to) in counselng are:
- Mental Health
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Obsessive thoughts
- Compulsive behaviors
- Bearevement/Grief/Loss
- Family Issues
- Marital/Couple issues
- Parenting
- Child behavior issues
- Academic issues
- Sexual issues
- Communication
- Interpersonal relationships
- Work
- Social relationships
- Family
- Child Custody
- Cooperative parenting
- Child custody evaluation
- Post-judgment monitoring
- Personal growth
- Coping strategies
- Setting new life goals
- Decision making
- Self-esteem
- Time management
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Loneliness
- Stress
- Women's issues
- Spirituality
If you are experiencing these or any other issues, counseling may be helpful for you in resolving these issues.
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How do I know if I need counseling?
If you are struggling with issues and trying to decide if you should seek counseling, consider one or more of the following:
- The frequency (how often) of symptoms. If you are having symptoms every day or multiple times a day, then counseling may be helpful.
- The duration (how long) of symptoms. If symptoms have persisted most every day for at least two weeks, counseling may be helpful.
- The number of symptoms. Several symptoms may mean the issue is more important for you.
- How you are coping with the situation. If your daily life and functioning is affected, counseling may be helpful.
- How many areas of your life are affected by the situation. Determine which areas of your life are affected: your personal functioning, work/school, social life, relationships, family.
- Your general feelings about the situation and your ability to cope with the situation. Trust your instincts.
Counseling is one method of addressing issues in your life. If you are unsure about whether or not to seek counseling, it can be helpful to schedule one session and discuss with a counselor how you might address your issues in counseling.
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What can I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, you should expect to arrive about 15 minutes early in order to complete the necessary paperwork. During the initial session, you and Dr. Belaire will discuss the issues that brought you to counseling and review the relevant history of your life. In many cases, the initial session serves as an information gathering session and, as a result, Dr. Belaire may ask more questions that in subsequent sessions. In addition, Dr. Belaire will discuss how counseling works, confidentiality, and what to expect from the counseling process. By the end of the first session, you should expect to be able to articulate the issues that brought you to counseling, state your goals for the counseling process, and gain an understanding of how counseling can help you work through your issues.
In addition, the initial sessions also serve as "getting to know each other" sessions. During this time, you and Dr. Belaire will begin developing the working relationship. Feel free to ask Dr. Belaire any questions that will help you feel comfortable with the counseling process and provide any information you think is necessary.
The counseling sessions are intended for your growth and wellness. During the initial sessions, it is important for you to feel comfortable both with the counselor and the counseling process. If you have any reservations about how the counseling sessions are going, please discuss these issues in the counseling session. Sometimes, counselors and clients may not work well together due to personality differences. If you think this is the case, Dr. Belaire will refer you to another counselor who may be a better match for you.
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How many sessions will I need to solve my issue?
The number of sessions it will take to complete the counseling process will depend on several factors:
- The intensity and severity of your symptoms
- The duration and frequency of symptoms
- The frequency of counseling sessions (i. e. once a week versus once a month)
- Your willingness to address issues and work on those issues both inside and outside of the counseling session
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Am I crazy if I need counseling?
No. Counseling is a service intended for everyday people struggling with everyday life events. Life happens to all of us, and at some point, we all need help dealing with difficult life events or transitions. Counseling is one way to seek help for those difficult events. Most people seeking counseling are looking for relief from troubling symptoms, a new perspective on their issue, more effective coping strategies, or help with decision making.
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Do you accept insurance?
Dr. Belaire is a provider for:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Magellan Behavioral Health
- Humana/Ochsner Health Plan
If you have a plan through the companies listed above, check with your insurance company to determine if your plan covers outpatient mental health benefits and determine your specific benefits. If you have coverage, Dr. Belaire will file the insurance for you, and you will be responsible for the appropriate co-pay and/or deductible.
If you are not covered by the companies listed above, many other insurance companies provide out of network benefits that will pay a portion of the fee. Check with your insurance company to determine if your plan covers out of network benefits for outpatient mental health and obtain your specific benefits. If you have coverage, Dr. Belaire will file the insurance for you, and you will be responsible for paying the difference between the total fee charged and the amount the insurance pays.
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Are my sessions confidential?
Yes, your information will be kept confidential. Confidentiality is crucial to the success of the counseling process as it creates a safe, trusting environment. According to Louisiana law, there are a few instances in which confidentiality must be violated:
- If you are imminently suicidal (thinking about or trying to hurt yourself)
- If you are homocidal (thinking about or trying to hurt someone else)
- Active cases of child abuse
- Active cases of elder abuse
Special Circumstances
Marriage/Couples/Family counseling: When more than one person is seeking counseling together, the client is considered to be the entire unit. Therefore, confidentiality exists for the unit rather than the individuals within that unit. For the successful treatment of the unit, it is important that information is discussed openly and that secrets are not held between the counselor and any member of the unit. Therefore, any information gained inside or outside of the counseling session is deemed part of the counseling session and will be shared with the unit at Dr. Belaire's discretion.
Counseling Adolescents and Children: Confidentiality is crucial in successful treatment of adolescents and children. However, parents have a legal right to know information that is discussed in counseling sessions. Balancing these issues can become tricky. Dr. Belaire's policy with children is to inform both parents and children of the limits of confidentiality and ask that parents respect the child's confidentiality within the counseling session. Dr. Belaire discusses with both parents and children that she will report progress in general terms with parents without divulging pertinent details as necessary. In addition, when Dr. Belaire thinks that information needs to be shared with parents, she will discuss these issues with the child and they will jointly decide how to inform the parents about the issues at hand.
Group counseling: When multiple people join a group independently, confidentiality can become tricky. Group counseling should provide an environment that is safe and trusting; therefore, confidentiality is crucial for success. At the beginning of a group, Dr. Belaire will discuss the importance of and the limits of confidentiality. It is expected that the group members will provide all other members the same level of confidentiality that they wish for themselves.
Dr. Belaire adheres to the Codes of Ethics as set forth by the American Counseling Association and the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy. A copy of the codes are available upon request.
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Can you prescribe medication?
No. As a licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I am not a medical doctor and can not prescribe medication. However, if you or I think that you may benefit from adding medication to your treatment, I will refer you to a medical doctor for an evaluation.
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