Why Counseling

Where Counseling Services Can Help?

The benefits to counseling are numerous, and immeasurable.  Our clients tell us counseling is challenging, life-changing, and worth it.

Counseling can help improve:

How Does Counseling Work?

Counseling is a process, and generally consists of three phases. This may look different for each client. That’s the benefit of small, private practice – able to customize to fit the client’s needs.

Beginning Phase of Counseling

Once a client has recognized a need for help and has chosen a provider, then they are ready to do the harder work.  The first part of the process involves Your Story. Some situations are very complicated and may take many sessions to untangle.  Others are less complicated and may be direct and to the point. Regardless of Your Story, we will join you in understanding both where you have been and where you are before we begin to set goals about where you want to go.

Middle Phase of Counseling

This is where we set goals, work towards them, measure them…typically lasting a few weeks to a few months, and seen every two weeks or so.

Once clients put down their paint brushes and the counselor has a good sense of where clients have been and where they are, it is time to set specific goals focused on the primary issues, and do so in a way in which a client can measure their progress.

It is important to Lotus Group that a client accomplishes what they set out to in counseling, even if what they want or need has needed some clarification.  Often times clients don’t know how to even state or say what it is they want…..we help them clarify and define goals that are measurable so they have a real sense of accomplishing what they need and want.  If a client is not seeing advancement toward their goals, we assess if the problem is the client or the counselor.

Sometimes, clients are simply stuck.  Sometimes we have to reassess if the client is with the right counselor.  If needed, we consider placing the client with another counselor.  This is never a problem at Lotus Group.  In fact, we encourage clients to routinely assess if they are with the right counselor for them.  Lotus Group is built on the principal of making sure decisions are always made with the clients’ best interests in mind, not the counselors’ or Lotus Group’s.  Once goals are set, the heart of counseling begins….change.

At Lotus Group, you should expect change….in a good way.  We do.  We expect you to find what you are looking for in your life.  When goals start to get accomplished and change happens, that is when all of this work starts to look like it may be worth it.  When it looks like goals have been reached or soon will be, counseling slows down and the focus becomes staying on the path developed and maintaining the growth and change accomplished.

End / Maintenance Phase of Counseling

This is where our goals are accomplished or nearly completed, lasting a few months and seen once a month to maintain changes and complete goals……not an end, necessarily, but possibly and end to what brought a client into counseling.  Yet, even then, the relationship continues or at least is easily accessible to the client for any future needs.

As counseling nears and end, it is important to know, we are still here for whatever might come along for clients.  Often times clients come in for a “tune-up”, or with something new they are struggling with.  The long-term benefits to counseling come in the form of a professional relationship a client can maintain and call on when needed.  Clients know they will not have to start over and do so much “painting” or story-telling when they see a counselor who remembers their story.

What Does Counseling Cost?

The all-important step about where to go for counseling is the next step. The likelihood of finding quality care can best be met if willing to go out of network. Unfortunately, the business nature of mental health has made it difficult for providers to make a good living as mental health professionals. As a result, most quality care professionals have gone out-of-network to avoid major reductions and write-offs of their fees. Yes, this does mean you will likely pay more to see someone out-of-network. The reality is this… mental health has become like many other professions in that, you tend to get what you pay for. This does not mean you cannot find a quality provider in-network. It does mean, they are hard to find, and when you do, they are usually booked for months and can’t be seen easily. Choosing out-of-network providers is usually the best path for finding quality care and accessible schedules. Fortunately, the additional cost to go out-of-network is not usually significant… typically 10-20%. I believe you would consider it well worth it… which is what our clients tell us.