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Professional counselors work with individuals, families, groups and organizations. Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem; and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. Through counseling you examine the behaviors, thoughts and feelings that are causing difficulties in your life. You learn effective ways to deal with your problems by building upon personal strengths. A professional counselor will encourage your personal growth and development in ways that foster your interest and welfare.
In the early stages, you can expect your counselor to ask many questions. Your counselor will work with you to define the presenting problem you're seeking help with, discuss your goals for counseling and determine next steps.
Because counseling is dynamic and interactive, you should feel free to ask questions to help you connect with your counselor as you progress through the counseling experience together.
Licensed professional counselors provide quality mental health care to millions of Americans. Professional counselors have a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field which included an internship and coursework in human behavior and development, effective counseling strategies, ethical practice, and other core knowledge areas.
Over 80,000 professional counselors are licensed in 48 states as well as the District of Columbia. State licensure typically requires a master's or doctoral degree, two to three years of supervised clinical experience, and the passage of an examination. In states without licensure or certification laws, professional counselors are certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Participation in continuing education is often required for the renewal of a license or certification.
Professional counselors adhere to a code of ethics that protects the confidentiality of the counseling relationship; prohibits discrimination and requires understanding of and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds; and mandates that professional counselors put the needs and welfare of clients before all others in their practice.
About Psychiatry:
- Psychiatrists are medical doctors that prescribe psychotropic medication. Psychotropic medications are designed to assist with managing mental health conditions.
- In our practice, you must first be seen by a clinician for an Intake Evaluation, prior to setting your appointment with the psychiatrist. Your initial appointment with the clinician is where we gather much of the information that they psychiatrist will need to determine the best medication regimen for you.
- After the initial evaluation, you will meet with the psychiatrist for one hour. Subsequent visits with our psychiatrist are usually scheduled monthly and last for 30 minutes. During that appointment, the doctor will inquire about how you are progressing with your medications and ensure that any negative side effects are addressed.
The Stone Foundation provides counseling for individuals ages 7 and up. We also work with couples and families throughout various life transitions. The most important part of beginning clinical services is the screening. The information that you provide on the Let's Get Started form coupled with the conversation you have with our administrative staff is key to ensuring that we match you with the provider best able to meet your needs. Our clinicians have a variety of educational backgrounds and experiences. Many specialize in working with particular age groups or types of concerns.
Even with our best efforts at matching there are times when you may not feel that your clinician is the best fit. The Stone Foundation takes very seriously your concerns and we encourage you to talk with your clinician or our administrative staff to ensure that your needs are being met.
People seek counseling for a variety of reasons including feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, worried, sad, or angry. People also seek out counseling to help change behaviors that are troubling them including choices, thoughts or behaviors that affect their relationships at home or at work. Some people seek counseling because they have a life goal that has been eluding them and they are ready to explore their barriers. Other people seek out counseling because they know they are going through a difficult time or facing a difficult decision and they desire a place to sort through their feelings and move forward in their life with intention and clear thinking.
When a counseling relationship is working well, clients experience new insights into their situations, clearer thinking, increased energy, better understanding of their feelings and needs, release of troubling emotions that have held them back or been confusing, and a greater sense of wholeness and peace within themselves. Therapy is a process, and a working partnership develops between client and therapist. Therapy is not always comfortable or straightforward as difficult emotions and ways of being often have to be sorted through in order for new energy and change to appear. Clients should feel comfortable with their therapist and be able to ask about whatever is on their mind regarding the process. In spite of the uncomfortable emotions experienced, clients I have worked with feel that the temporary pain of the working through process is well worth leaving behind the continual pain of living the way they had previously.
Please visit our New Clients page. Fill out the appropriate forms and submit. This form comes directly to our administrative team and someone will contact you within 48 hours to gather more information or to provide you with information about scheduling your initial appointment.
The scheduling of appointments varies based on the availability of a clinician suitable for meeting your needs. Due to the high request for appointments during the evening and weekend hours, clients with availability during day time hours are more likely to be scheduled quickly.
Counseling Sessions
For counseling to be fruitful, you and your counselor must establish trust. It may take a few sessions for your counselor to get to know you before moving into actual therapy.
In the early stages, you can expect your counselor to ask many questions. Your counselor will work with you to define the presenting problem you're seeking help with, discuss your goals for counseling and determine next steps.
Because counseling is dynamic and interactive, you should feel free to ask questions to help you connect with your counselor as you progress through the counseling experience together.
You have the option of printing out your intake forms and completing them prior to your arrival at TSF. Or you are free to arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to complete the required intake information in our office. For your initial appointment, please bring a copy of your insurance card so that we can scan it into the billing system for future reference. Also, if you have any documentation from other providers, it can be helpful to bring that information as well.
- Insurance card
- Completed intake forms
- Documentation from other providers.
You can expect to talk about the concern(s) that brought you into counseling and also about your background and personal history. You can share on a level that feels comfortable for you. You can also expect to have some brief paperwork to fill out.
Sessions are typically scheduled for 50 minutes and most people see their counselor once a week for consistent progress to be made.
There is no single answer to this question. Ideally, counseling is terminated when the problem that you pursued counseling for becomes more manageable or is resolved. During the first few counseling sessions your counselor should also discuss the length of treatment that may be needed to achieve your goals.
Many people fear that they will become dependent on counseling and that they will never want to stop. Other people fear that their counselor will try to keep them coming longer than they want to. It is important that you be open with your counselor about any such fears or expectations. It is important that you know that you are in charge of your counseling. When you feel that you have accomplished as much as you want from counseling please let your therapist know and the two of you will plan for termination of treatment. For some people that may take as little as a few sessions. Others may continue for months or years, often with increased periods of time between appointments. We recommend that you follow through with counseling until you have accomplished the goals that you and your counselor discussed at the beginning. If you find at any time that you would like to terminate your counseling we do recommend that you schedule at least one last appointment to discuss your progress and how to maintain it in the future.
Some insurance companies and managed care plans may limit the number of sessions for which they pay. You should check with your health plan to find out more about any limitations in your coverage.
Most people find that they achieve greater results with greater frequency of appointments, especially in the beginning. This means that your counselor will probably suggest that you meet weekly. As you experience progress toward your goals you, and your counselor may decide to meet less frequently, but often enough to maintain progress. When goals have been reached, many clients like to come occasionally, as the need arises or until new patterns are firmly established in their life. And, like a family doctor, we are here for you if you should need us again in the future for help with another problem. Feel free to discuss your preferences for frequency with your counselor at any time.
The Stone Foundation is located at 320 East Townsontown Blvd-2 West, Towson, MD 21286. Our office sits on Taylor Avenue between Loch Raven Blvd. and Perring Parkway in North East Baltimore. We are easily assessable from the 695 between exits 29 and 30.
We know that most clients find it convenient to meet after school or work hours. For that reason TSF is open Monday through Thursday until 9pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Please note that those hours tend to schedule quickly, but we will do our best to accommodate your scheduling needs.
You must notify your counselor 48 hours before your scheduled appointment time to cancel or reschedule. Please note, if you do not call our office to cancel your appointment with 24 hours notice, you will be charged at $45 NO SHOW Fee.
We understand that life can be busy, and therefore we provide a 15 minute grace period for all therapy appointments (5 minutes for psychiatry). If you are late beyond the allotted grace period, you may not be able to be seen and you will be charged a NO SHOW fee ($45).
Yes. All client-therapist conversations are private and confidential. It is also confidential information that a person is meeting with a counselor. As licensed social workers, we follow the professional ethical standards of the National Association of Social Workers. Only in rare exceptions when the safety of a client or other is at risk can disclosure of confidential client-therapist information take place.
Fees and Payment
The cost of counseling can vary greatly depending on your geographic location and whether counseling is being provided by a community mental health center or similar agency or by a counselor in private practice. In general, the average paid fee for individual counseling sessions is about $150 initial and $100 for follow ups. $250 initial for psychiatry and $125 for follow ups. Fees for group counseling are generally lower, about $35 per group session. For clients with health insurance that does not cover mental health care and others who cannot afford the counselor's standard fee, some counselors will lower their fee on a sliding scale basis or will work out a payment plan. Your counselor should explain to you, prior to beginning the counseling relationship, all financial arrangements related to professional services.
Yes, we accept most major medical health insurance plans as well as Medicaid and Medicare for certain providers. Our office will verify your benefits and bill your insurance as a courtesy to our clients. You are however, responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service. We encourage you to become familiar with the mental health benefit associated with your card. It is your responsibility to understand plan limitations.
TSF accepts personal checks, money orders and credit card payment with VISA and Mastercard. We also are able to process HSA and Flex Spending cards and can provide you with the appropriate documentation for using these employer sponsored benefits.
PMany insurance and coverage plans cover mental health services by a licensed professional counselor including some Medicaid programs, TRICARE (formerly CHAMPUS), and other government-sponsored health coverage programs. If you do not have health insurance, or if your coverage does not include mental health care or the services of a professional counselor, many professional counselors will work with clients on a sliding-fee scale or will offer a payment plan. Talk to your counselor about your options.
Yes. Please feel free to contact our office at 410.296.2004 for more information about fees.
There are various forms of Medicaid, and it is possible for you to have a $2 co–pay. When your initial appointment is set up, you will be informed of your co–pay amount.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 410.296.2004.
EAP stands for Employee Assistance Program. These are employee sponsored benefits that will allow and individual to attend therapy at no cost whatsoever. Please inquire with your employer or health insurance company to determine if these benefits are available for you.