Frequently Asked Questions
What is counseling?
Counseling is a process through 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 a safe place to discuss and create solutions to issues with which you are struggling, and provide a fresh approach and resolution to those issues.
Counseling utilizes many techniques including:
- Talking
- Identifying and expressing emotions
- Identifying, challenging, and replacing negative thoughts
- Homework assignments
- Identifying and expressing emotional needs
- Practicing effective communication skills
- Assessing and changing negative behavior patterns
- Play therapy for children
- Using creative arts (drawing, painting, expressive art, music, etc...)
- Journaling
- Role-playing
- Consultation with teachers, doctors, or other relevant third parties
Why do people seek counseling?
People seek counseling to help them deal with stressful situations, find new solutions, learn new skills, or to share issues with a compassionate outsider. Counseling can be helpful if you:
- Are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, or grief
- Are struggling with how to deal with a situation or life transition
- Are not coping well
- Want to make a decision or discuss options about a situation
- Are experiencing difficulties in a relationship
- Are experiencing difficulties with communication
- Want to learn new skills including parenting, communication, and coping with stress
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 in counseling are:
Mental Health
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Obsessive thoughts
- Compulsive behaviors
- Bereavement/Grief/Loss
- Coping with chronic/terminal illness
- Overcoming stress
- Women's issues
- Self-concept
- Marital/Couple issues
- Sexual issues
- Parenting
- Child behavior issues
- Academic issues
- Interpersonal
- Work
- Social
- Family
- Coping strategies
- Setting new life goals
- Decision making
- Time management
- Developing relationships
- Spirituality
- Cooperative parenting
- Child custody evaluations
- Court-referred counseling
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.
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) you are experiencing symptoms is important. If you are having symptoms every day, many days a week, or multiple times a day, then counseling may be helpful to alleviate your discomfort.
- The duration (how long) of symptoms is important. If symptoms have persisted most every day for at least two weeks, counseling may be helpful to teach coping skills or to prevent a long term issue from occurring.
- The number of symptoms (how many) at one time can affect how you cope. If you are experiencing multiple symptoms, this may mean the issue is more problematic or overwhelming for you.
- How are you coping with the situation? If your daily life and functioning are affected, counseling can provide you with relief.
- How many areas of your life are affected by the situation? Determine which areas of your life are affected: personal, work/school, social life, relationships, and family. If multiple areas of you life are affected, you may be feeling overwhelmed and need help reducing the stress.
- Assess your general feelings about the situation and your ability to cope with the situation. Trust your instincts. If you think you need help, counseling can help.
If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, seek immediate help through your doctor, local emergency room or help line {(225) 924-3900 or (800) 437-0303}.
What can I expect on my first visit?
Before your first visit, you should complete the necessary forms and bring them to your session. If you are unable to access the forms, contact the office and we can email them to you. If you would prefer to complete the forms in the office, please call the office to inform us, and we will have the forms ready for you when you arrive. Expect to arrive about 15 minutes early in order to complete the necessary paperwork in the office.
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 than in subsequent sessions. In addition, Dr. Belaire will discuss how counseling works, confidentiality, what to expect from the counseling process, and financial obligations. 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 Dr. Belaire 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.
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
- Your willingness to look at yourself critically and determine how you contribute to the problem and what you can change to solve the problem
Do you accept insurance?
Dr. Belaire is a provider for:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Humana/Ochsner Health Plan
- Aetna
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.
How much do the sessions cost?
The fee for a 50 minute appointment is $125.00. If you are filing insurance, you portion of the fee will depend on your policy benefits (see question “Do you accept insurance?”)
If you are paying out of pocket, there is a pre-payment discount for paying for multiple sessions up-front. If you pre-pay for four (4) sessions, you receive a $100.00 discount.
If you are paying with insurance, Dr. Belaire is a provider for Aetna, BCBS, Humana, and Benefit Management. If your insurance company is in-network, your fee could be either your copay or deductible according to your plan. If your insurance company is out-of-network, you will pay the difference between the $125.00 and what the insurance pays. You will need to call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask for your “outpatient mental health benefits." If your insurance company is out of network, then also ask for your "out of network benefits." In addition, many of the insurance companies contract out their mental health plans, which means that your primary insurance company may not handle your mental health claims and may or may not be in-network with us. You are responsible for your portion of the fee, whether that is copay, coinsurance, deductible, or the entire fee. Filing an insurance claim does not guarantee that the insurance company will pay for your services, and you are responsible for full payment if the insurance company denies a claim.
The fee for custody evaluations is $2000.00. Fee breakdowns are determined by your court order. If the court order does not specify payment responsibility, it is assumed that each parent will pay half of the fee unless another arrangement has been made.
How do I make an appointment?
Initial appointments are made by phone. Once you have attended the first session, online scheduling may be available.
To make your first appointment by phone: To make additional appointments :
- Online: Schedule appointment
- Phone or email: Contact Us
Are my sessions confidential?
Yes. Confidentiality is crucial to the success of the counseling process as it creates a safe, trusting environment. Information obtained in counseling is protected by HIPAA. Any disclosure to a third party requires you to sign written consent to release your information. Information revealed in counseling will remain strictly confidential except under the following circumstances in accordance with Louisiana state law:
(a) The client signs a written release of information indicating informed consent of such release (b) The client expresses intent to harm him/herself or someone else
(c) There is a reasonable suspicion of abuse/neglect against a minor child, elderly person (65 or older), or a dependent adult
(d) A court order is received directing the disclosure of information.
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 as well as 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 can be shared with the unit at Dr. Belaire's discretion. Care is taken to keep individual confidentiality; however, information that is detrimental to the goals of the couple or family counseling may be shared to aid in progress and healing. Any disclosure to a third party requires written consent of all persons involved in the counseling process.
Counseling Adolescents and Children: Confidentiality is crucial in successful treatment of adolescents and children. Additionally, 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 believes 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 complicated. 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 Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor Board of Examiners and the Louisiana Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Board of Examiners. Copies of the ethical codes are found here for counselors LPC and marriage and family therapists LMFT.
Can you prescribe medication?
No. As a licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Belaire is not a medical doctor and cannot prescribe medication. However, if you or Dr. Belaire think that you may benefit from adding medication to your treatment, Dr. Belaire will refer you to a medical doctor for an evaluation.
Office Information:
Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 1:00pm – 6:00pm For the first session, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 appointments are available. After the first session, you will have access to the later appointment times.
Address:
5536 Superior Drive Suite B
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Phone numbers:
(225) 291-1335 -Office
(225) 291-1336 –Fax
Directions:
From I-12: Take the Sherwood Forest exit #4 and go south. Continue down Sherwood Forest Boulevard for approximately 1.8 miles; Turn left on Market Place Avenue (there is a Neighbors bank on the corner). Turn right onto Superior Drive. We are close to the middle of the street and there is a blue awning on the front of the building. Park on the left-hand side of the building. We are in suite B.
From Airline Hwy: Turn north onto Sherwood Forest Boulevard and go approximately .3 miles. Turn right onto Wentling Avenue (there is a Laser Tag business on the corner). Turn left on Superior Drive. We are close to the middle of the street and there is a blue awning on the front of the building. Park on the left-hand side of the building. We are in suite B.