Frequently Asked Questions: Counseling
What is the process to start?
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You’ll schedule a time for a 10-15 minute phone call to answer a few brief questions to make sure we can fit your needs, your schedule, and meet your budget. If we can’t meet your needs, we will offer resources or referrals for offices who might be better suited to help you.
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SW staff will send you a link to sign up for our Client Portal online. You will be asked to complete all your paperwork before your first appointment. These are forms to allow us to treat you, reviews our policies, and sets you up in our system. The portal and forms can all be accessed via any smart device
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We will review your documents, talk about your goals, answer your questions, and you’ll get to know your counselor and their work. This appointment sets the foundation for the rest of our work together.
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This is where the work really happens!
We’ll meet weekly or biweekly in our work towards reaching and achieving the goals you made in your welcome session. We’ll explore the pieces of life that you feel are most important to work on in a way that aligns with who are as a person and how it most matters to you.
How does telehealth work?
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Telehealth counseling is also often called online therapy, telemental health, or telemedicine. Teletherapy allows you to connect with your counselor from anywhere in Texas where you have a reliable internet connection and a smart device
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At Strengthening Wellness, PLLC, we use a HIPPA compliant, private, and secure online platform provided through Therapy Notes. This means your online session is completely confidential, just as if you were in-person to see your therapist, but you are in the comfort in the space you choose.
All of our counselors are required to work from a private location with no interruptions to provide you a secure session.
On your side, please make sure you are also in a private location where your sessions cannot be overheard.
No judgement from SW staff if you have to make your appointment in your car for privacy, but no driving please! We’ll have to reschedule if you aren’t parked and safe!
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A private or confidential space to be alone without interruptions to enjoy your session.
You must be in the state of Texas to join your session due to licensing rules & regulations.
A smart device with access to the internet with a webcam and audio:
Computer (laptop or desktop) with webcam and speakers OR
Mobile device or smartphone OR
Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers
Reliable internet connection (at least 10mbps)
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That’s okay! If online counseling is not the right fit for you, just let us know and we can make referrals to other providers in your area or we can switch to in-person if you are local to us.
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We are licensed providers in Texas, which means, by law, you must be in the state of Texas to receive therapy.
Some needs are not eligible for telehealth therapy for safety reasons. If you are actively having suicidal thoughts we can refer to in-person location who can provide you the in-person services you may need.
Why so many steps to start?
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Building rapport and finding the right fit:
The most important thing in making successful counseling that researchers have found is what we call “rapport”; how well do we get along as a professional working relationship?
Counselors cannot be friends with clients but we should also be friendly, approachable, and trustworthy to YOU, the client. Not everyone fits well with each other and that’s just the nature of being human. We want to make sure that we are able to help you.
Sometimes certain concerns needs a certain kind of counselor. A consultation makes sure you have the fit and connection...but also make sure you have the right kind of treatment.
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We’ve tried our best to make them aa simple and quick to fill out as possible. These forms are very similar to what you complete at a doctor’s office.
There are certain forms we need completely to legally provide you treatment.
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As soon as your paperwork is completed, a card for payment is linked to your account, we can start scheduling. Usually the payment method and forms hold up the process.
We can then schedule your welcome session for the first available slot. At that appointment we can decide on your regular appointment schedule (example: Every Tuesday at 2pm) so you can put that in your calendar right away. For some schedule requests this works better to get the process going.
Is therapy right for me?
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Making the decision talk about your concerns and problems IS a big deal. We get it.
Part of counseling is learning how to make talking about problems easier. We’ll help walk you through it. And it goes better when you get to know your counselor and feel comfortable with them. This is why we have a consultation call first to make sure we’re both on the same page of what counseling means for you from your worldview.
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We’re sorry to hear you didn’t get what needed from counseling before.
There are a variety of reasons why counseling hasn’t worked for you in the past. During your consultation call we can 1) Ask you what you need and make sure we can offer what you’ve looking for 2) Be very clear about what counseling at Strengthening Wellness can and can’t offer you. 3) Discuss logistics about counseling before you begin.
If we’re a good fit to work together, these are transparent conversations you are welcome and encouraged to keep having with your counselor at Strengthening Wellness. Generally, a good measure is to try at least 2-3 sessions, practice recommendations during the week in between sessions, and keep having these discussions with your counselor because needs can change over time.
Even if we don’t end up working together, keep trying! Once you find the counselor that clicks for you…it’s a really cool thing!
Dr. Ana actually specializes in working with those who have tried counseling before and it didn’t work for a variety of reasons! -
Counseling is about mental health. Metal health is just like physical health and is on a spectrum of needs. As long as there are issues, concerns, or positive growth that you are working towards then counseling can help.
Counseling is not a place to “just talk”…you’ll be making progress towards a goal, whatever that is for you.
DIFFERENT is GOOD
How we approach caring
At our practice, we believe that all pieces of wellness, including cultural healing and beliefs, the power of community, and the benefits of a safe space, are valuable and worthy.
Real experts caring for real people.
We are trained in specialized knowledge from empirically based research and applicable theoretical approaches for a multiculturally humble and aware perspective. (We’re really book-smart!)
And we have enough care for the whole person to translate all that data, research, and science into the best care for the most important person in the room…YOU.
Therapy is not one-size fits all.
We work with you and what you need from therapy. Not into worksheets or homework? No problem! You want homework? Of course! Space to talk and process works best? You got it. You want us to take the lead? We got you.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Experts for Real People
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Anxiety is one of the top reasons people reach out for help. Your thoughts can feel like they are stuck on a loop. We can help you take back control of your anxiety to get back on track.
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Depression can effect anyone: all ages, all genders, and all walks of life. Depression doesn’t mean you’re weak; your mind AND body need some extra attention. We get it. And we can work with you to build tools to take back your life.
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You don’t need to come into session to educate your therapist on the basics. We get it. We can help with exploring orientation, challenges of coming out, navigating oppression, and more. We can also help with overall stuff in an affirming space; sometimes you just need help navigating life, you just happen to be part of the community.
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Grief is not one size fits all. Whether its a new loss, or something you’ve been struggling with for a while, we can help. There’s no script and no timeline for healing…and you don’t have to carry it alone. We’re here for you.
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Whether you have been diagnosed or you just know that you’re neurodivergent, we can help! We honor your diversity with affirming and individualized support for ADHD, autism, AuDHD, sensory processing differences, and more.
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Taking care of others is hard work. Whether you’re a professional or you’re caring for someone in your family, you need support too. We can offer you the space to heal yourself…so you can continue to heal and help others.
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Sometimes there’s no category, you just know you need someone to talk to. And that is okay! Strengthening Wellness will work with you to find a way to work through the feelings.
Work Life Balance | Managing Distress Stress & Stress Management | Loneliness Traumatic Experiences | Breakups Professional Challenges | Relationships Distress of the Modern World
Let’s Get Started
Experts for Real People
Ready to work with a therapist who will listen to you?
Call us at 361-462-4328
or fill out this form to get started!
We will reach out within 1-2 business days, not counting weekends or holidays, to confirm your request and to arrange a consultation phone call.