Frequently Asked Questions
Can a counselor prescribe medication?
No. Counselors are not licensed or trained in prescribing medication. All counseling clients will see a healthcare provider at Rockcastle Family Wellness or be referred to a psychiatrist if needed to prescribe medications.
How can counseling help me?
If you notice that you are having the same problems and nothing is changing, counseling can help you to create the changes you want to see in your life. Counseling can inspire you to take control of your life and situations you face and to deal with them more effectively by equipping you with problem solving skills and coping strategies. Counseling can also provide a support outside of your friends and family.
Counseling requires you to be committed and to give effort toward working on challenges you face. You will only get out of counseling what you put into it. When you are serious about desiring change in your life and willing to work toward goals, counseling is most effective.
What can I expect in a counseling session?
When you arrive for a counseling session you will check in with the receptionist at the front desk. Next you will see your healthcare provider and discuss any medical questions or concerns you have. Following your medical exam you will see the counselor.
An initial counseling session will take 60-90 minutes and will consist mostly of paperwork. Future sessions will typically last 45 minutes for adults and 30 minutes for children and will be determined on an individual basis. What is talked about in a counseling session is unique to each individual and will be determined by the client’s goals and challenges. You can expect to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life. Sessions will occur weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or on an as needed basis after the initial session.
Following the counseling session it is important to continue the work done during the counseling session in your everyday life until the next counseling session. The counselor may suggest “homework assignments” for you to participate in. In order for counseling to be most successful clients should actively participate in all assignments to obtain the full benefits of the counseling session.
Is counseling confidential?
The law protects the relationship between a client and a counselor, and the information discussed between a client and a counselor cannot be disclosed without written permission. However, there are exceptions to confidentiality. Those exceptions include the following:
If I suspect child abuse or adult/elder abuse, I am required by law to immediately report this information to the appropriate authorities.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, I am required by law to notify the appropriate authorities and inform the intended victim.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. However, if the client does not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission, which are provided to me by law, in order to ensure their safety.
Outside of these rare exceptions, all information discussed between a client and a counselor is strictly confidential. Any release of information outside the exceptions listed above must be approved by the client in writing.
NOTICE TO PATIENTS:
This practice is a member of the National Health Service Corps. This practice serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered based on family size and income. For more information, ask at the front desk.
Rockcastle Behavioral Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact: Carrie Mullins, Rockcastle Regional Hospital Legal & Risk Manager, (606) 256-7674.