How do I know if I need counseling?

Recognizing when it’s time to reach out for therapy is a personal journey… but here are some signs that may help you know if it’s right for you.

1. Continuous unwanted feelings- sadness, anxiety, stress that won’t seem to go away

2. Difficulty coping with everyday life- every day tasks or daily life feels overwhelming and you are using unhealthy coping strategies

3. Relational problems- having ongoing conflicts with your family, friends, or significant other

4. Major life changes- finding it difficult to adjust to something like moving to college, break ups, divorce, or loss

5. Feeling stuck- wanting to find a way out of an unhealthy cycle you’ve found yourself in

6. Self Esteem issues- you struggle with feelings unworthiness or inadequacy

7. Physical symptoms- unexplained fatigue, eating issues, sleeping problems, head aches, stomach aches, muscle pain could be linked to a mental health concern

8. Personal growth- you want to better understand why you do the things you do and how to improve your mental health or achieve goals
   

Is everything I say in counseling confidential?

Yes, therapy is generally considered a confidential space. What you discuss with your therapist is typically protected by privacy laws and ethical guidelines. However, there are some important exceptions:

1. Risk of Harm: If you disclose intent to harm yourself or others, the therapist may need to take action to ensure safety.

2. Abuse or Neglect: If there’s information about child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, therapists are mandated to report this.

3. Court Orders: If a court requires disclosure of information, the therapist may have to comply.

4. Consultation: Therapists may discuss cases with supervisors or colleagues for professional development, but they typically keep identifying details private.

I’ve decided I want to start counseling. What do I do now?

1. Complete the contact form on our website, call or text Kirsten at 501-232-6432, or send an email to info@kirstenheppcounseling.net

2. Include your name (or name of the client), date of birth, contact info, insurance info, and any questions you may have

3. Kirsten will contact you at her soonest availability to discuss what sort of counseling you are looking for and to get you scheduled after discussing insurance or payment options

How much will counseling cost?

The short answer is that it depends…. If you are not using insurance, my self pay rate is $130 per session. If you are wanting to use insurance, I take Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Advantage, Qualchoice, and Ambetter. You can call the customer service line on the back of your insurance card to find out what insurance will cover for counseling and what you would be responsible for paying. I accept debit or credit cards and HSA/FSA cards only.

What will happen during my first appointment?

You will arrive a couple of minutes before our scheduled session and have a seat in the waiting area. When I am ready to begin our appointment, I will come get you and introduce myself. I will review some of the important policies with you, tell you about me, and find out more about why are you seeking at this time. The first appointment is usually a bit more formal than future sessions. I tend to ask more background history questions during the first session.