Counseling for Growth, L.L.C. 2924 Brakley Dr. Suite B2 Baton Rouge, LA 70816 US
Frequently Asked questions
FAQs
How long and how many times a week is a typical session?
Initial sessions are usually approximately 60 minutes long and additional sessions are between 45 to 60 minutes. Most clients are seen once a week in the beginning, then, as time goes on, less frequently. The number of sessions depends on what your current needs are. Additionally, the number or frequency of visits may depend on the availability of the particular counselor.
How long will I be in counseling?
The length of time a client is in counseling depends the nature of the problem and the goals of the counseling. Some clients have a very specific problem that can be worked through in a set course of counseling. For others, counseling is an on-going learning process and they choose to receive counseling for a longer period of time.
What if I want couples counseling, but my partner won't come?
Unfortunately, sometimes one partner is not as willing as the other to come in for counseling. However, we often find that it is possible to improve the relationship with just one person involved in counseling.
How much are your Fees and do you take insurance? Your fee depends on the kinds of services you request and the counselor that you see. If you have insurance with which your counselor is credentialed with, then your fees will be based on your deductible and/or copay/coinsurance dictated by your insurance company. You can learn more about the insurance we accept, fees, methods of payment, and general payment policy here.
Insurances accepted:
Blue Cross
Multiplan/PHCS
PPO Plus
Benefits Management
TRICARE
CIGNA
Magellan
United Healthcare/United Behavioral Health
Optum Health
Humana/Lifesynch
Value Options
Aetna
Various EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs)
MHNet
Horizon
Interface EAP
None of our counselors are capable of accepting Medicare at this time.
We are continually applying to become credentialed with more insurance and EAP panels. Please feel free to call us to see if we are now credentialed with your insurance plan. Additionally, many plans have Out-of-Network benefits, which means you could still use your insurance benefits with a slightly higher copay or coinsurance amount. Out of pocket fees differ depending on the counselor/therapist that you see.
We accept cash, check, and credit/debit cards as forms of payment.
Do I need to take medications?
As counselors and therapists, we are not legally allowed to prescribe medications. However, based on a joint assessment of problems you are facing, it may be advisable to consult with a psychiatrist or other medical doctor or a medical psychologist to determine whether medication is warranted. Typically, clients see someone under their health insurance coverage or we can refer you to a psychiatrist, medical psychologist, or other doctor.
Why do counselors/therapists request permission to contact my primary care physician? Counselors and Therapists usually work with medical physicians to determine whether your concern is a medical or mental health issue. also, we work with physicians and may help provide information regarding any reported side effects or medication compliance. Regardless, clients have to specifically give the therapist permission to release such information.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM COUNSELING?
Anyone can benefit from counseling!
Counseling and therapy services are for anyone who may be struggling in any emotional and/or relational way. This may include family therapy, couples counseling, and individual work on many different areas of growth or focus.
SELF-ESTEEM
Self-esteem is a feeling of personal worth. It is important to be able to value yourself regardless of your current state of personal achievement, beauty, or intelligence. Your self-esteem creates the foundation for a full life, great relationships, and a feeling of well-being. Our counselors can help you find yourself and identify positive and achievable goals to increase and assist with self-love and self-esteem.
RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES (COMMUNICATION, ARGUMENTS, CONFLICT, AND LOSS OF TRUST)
Regardless of the source, We can help individuals and couples and families learn to:
Identify the thought-feeling-behavior connection.
Develop healthy communication patterns.
Understand internal and interactional factors impacting communication patterns.
Learn to work together as a couple and as parents (if applicable).
Learn to focus on solutions instead of focusing of the problem.
Learn to parent together and more effectively.
Learn to get along and work together with children and as a family.
We can help with many relational struggles ranging in severity from communication struggles to surviving infidelity.
ANXIETY AND STRESS
Anxiety and stress can lead to:
Feeling overwhelmed.
Trouble focusing due to thinking about everything (or something too much).
Finding that you can't enjoy things due to obsessing about things.
Having repeated thoughts that lead you to want to do certain behaviors or having repeated upsetting thoughts.
Difficulties in social situations due to thoughts about not being liked or people making fun of you.
Feeling like you are "panicking" or about to have a heart attack when there is no medical reason for such feelings.
We can help you reduce the impact of worrying on your life. We will help you understand the difference between healthy anxiety and unhealthy anxiety.
DEPRESSION
Symptoms associated with depression are:
Feeling Sad or not enjoying things that you use to enjoy.
Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or just wanting to sleep all day long.
Finding that you are not eating as much as usual or eating too much.
Feeling guilty about things that really are not your fault but you can't seem to stop blaming yourself.
Thoughts of killing yourself (suicide).
Trouble concentrating or making up your mind about things.
There are different forms of depression and we will take the time to help differentiate which diagnosis (if any) best describes your experiences.
We can help reduce the symptoms of depression and get you to a point where you can feel happier.
TRAUMA (PHYSICAL AND/OR INTERPERSONAL)
Physical and interpersonal trauma reactions can arise out of many situations: physical threats to life, infidelity, substance abuse/dependency and addictions in a family system, military service in hostile environments, sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect, and feeling betrayed by someone you know or by a system. Trauma reactions include:
Difficulty not thinking about it when you don't want to.
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Not wanting to talk about what happened.
Not wanting to be around people that may remind you of the experience.
Reacting in an extreme manner to situations that would not normally warrant such a reaction.
Feeling upset when something reminds you of the experience.
Feeling emotionally numb.
Difficulty connecting with other people.
Getting in arguments or fights due to being angry or easily irritated.
We can help you understand trauma reactions and how to work through them.
IMPULSE CONTROL STRUGGLES
Impulse control struggles can manifest in many ways. For example, substance use/abuse/dependency, internet use, viewing pornography, sexual actions, gambling, exercising, smoking, and video game playing. Our counselors can help you:
Learn the difference between impulses, impulsive behaviors, and compulsive behaviors.
Learn how to understand the process from impulse to behavior.
Learn how to stop yourself from acting on impulses.