1935 Dominion Way, Ste 101 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918, United States
FAQ
Is Counseling for me?
Deciding whether or not therapy is the right direction for you can be overwhelming. The best course to take would be to determine what it is you feel you are struggling with. Therapy can be helpful for a variety of concerns from daily life stressors, to family or relationship distress, to severe mental illness. Only you can determine if therapy is the right choice for you, but for most the choice is based on willingness or desire to change. Ask yourself a few questions to help you make the decision, we offer a few examples here:
1. Do I feel as though something in my life needs to change?
2. Is there something in my life that is impacting other areas or relationships negatively?
3. Do I believe I can change on my own?
4. Are family members or friends expressing concerns about my emotional or mental well-being?
How do I start Counseling?
Starting therapy is often very easy! We recommend you find a therapist that has a focus or experience in the area you are looking to work through. You can often find this information on therapist profile websites, your insurance company (if you have insurance), through a search engine, or by contacting therapists directly! Once you have found a few counselors you think fit your needs, contact them! Many counselors have a variety of ways they can be contacted, so if a phone call is hard for you, look for an email address or a contact form on a website! Next, set up and attend your first appointment or consultation! Keep in mind, one size does not fit all, you do not have to stick with the first counselor you see if you weren't getting a good connection.
Does Mindful Connections Mental Health, LLC take Insurance?
Many of Mindful Connections Mental Health providers accept Insurance. Please note that insurance acceptance varies, and we will only be able to fit you with a provider who accepts your insurance unless you are willing to pay out of pocket (Exception is Medicaid recipients per Medicaid rules, who cannot pay out of pocket for services). Mindful Connections has options for out of pocket pay, sliding scale fees, grant referrals through Heartspace Kids, and limited space of Open Path Collective Members as well.
What is a Sliding Scale Fee?
A sliding scale fee is a reduced fee based on a household income scale. Individuals who are in need of a reduced fee may inquire about the process. Generally speaking, clients will be asked to provide proof of household income or financial hardship and to fill out an application.
How long is a session?
Standard sessions are generally 50 minutes in length. However, dependent upon need, sessions can be shorter or longer in length. This will be discussed between client and provider.
Does MCMH prescribe Medications?
Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Candidates for licensure cannot prescribe medications. However, Mindful Connections Mental Health is contracting with Dr. La Tasha Bruner-Hill and Abundance Healthcare. Dr. Bruner-Hill provides medication management and may be able to help. Should you need services outside of Abundance Healthcare capabilities, it is recommended you seek treatment by a psychiatrist.
What Does it mean to Consent for Treatment?
Consenting for treatment is an important aspect of mental health treatment. Prior to starting counseling, clients are given written information regarding their rights and responsibilities, their provider's rights and responsibilities, and the policies of the agency. Clients must be mentally capable and of age to review and sign the documentation verifying they accept the outlined information before we are able to provide treatment. Age of consent for treatment in Colorado is 12 years or older.
Approaches to counseling
There are so many approaches to counseling and our providers are diverse in this area to ensure our clients are able to be fit with a modality that will work for them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A form of behavioral treatment, aimed at problem solving. Helps a client understand the relationship between thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. Can be more direct and concrete.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Derived from CBT. Teaches clients to live in the moment through mindfulness, regulation of emotion, distress tolerance, and interpersonal relationship functioning.
Solution Focused Therapy (SFT): Tends to be short-term and is aimed at helping clients focus on the positive and through identifying and implementing solutions to problems.
Person-Centered Therapy: Is a less direct and humanistic approach to counseling, encouraging clients to find their own solutions through empowerment and guidance.
Narrative Therapy: A form of therapy that views a client as separate from their problems and behaviors and empowers clients to explore and reshape life stories.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A therapy form that is action driven and aims to build self-awareness, create self-control, learn mindfulness skills, and increase sensitivity to self and others.
Play Therapy: Often helpful in teaching and encouraging children to understand and express emotion. This is done through the implementation of play techniques.
What do all the credentials mean?
We know the different letters behind a professional's name can be confusing.
Licensed Psychologist (LP): In Colorado a Licensed Psychologist is someone who has completed the academic requirements for a doctorate as well as the necessary requirements for licensure.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): In Colorado, an LPC is someone who has completed, at minimum a Master's degree in counseling or similar as well as the necessary requirements for licensure. This person may hold a doctorate but obtained license at the LPC level.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT): In Colorado, an LMFT is someone who has completed, at minimum a Master's degree specific to marriage and family therapy and has completed the necessary requirements for licensure.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): In Colorado, an LCSW is someone who holds a minimum of a masters degree in social work and completed the necessary requirements to counsel and the necessary requirements for licensure.
Intern: A student, who has not completed their degree requirements but are working under the supervision of a licensed provider and towards the completion of their degree requirements (MCMH does not employ interns).
Unlicensed Psychotherapist: Formerly known as a registered psychotherapist, Colorado allows those who started their licensure requirement journey to practice under supervision. They were once referred to as Registered psychotherapists and were grandfathered in when the rules changed. Unlicensed Psychotherapists at minimum hold a master's degree in counseling or related fields, are under supervision by a licensed provider and are working toward their licensure requirements.
Candidates (LPC-C, LMFT-C): Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are required to register as Candidates while completing the necessary requirements for their licensure. These individuals have completed their degrees, are working under supervision and are working toward licensure.
Licensed Social Worker: Licensed Social Workers are, in fact licensed to work as social workers. However, they do not hold the clinical designation and therefore are not permitted to provide counseling services. Individuals must complete the necessary requirements for the clinical designation and the licensure requirements to reach LCSW.
Why would I want to see an unlicensed professional?
We often get questions or concerns about the experience and abilities of unlicensed or candidate providers. We would love to clear some things up for you because seeing an unlicensed provider or Candidate may actually be a benefit to you!
First, we would like to shed some light on the rigorous requirements mental health providers go through to obtain their degrees. Academic requirements for mental health providers include at least one year (two in some cases) of practicum experience which starts a provider's experience. They work with clients under the supervision of licensed providers, honing their skills in counseling techniques, documentation, ethics, and more. In addition, an internship of one to two years is also required. This usually starts, following completion of practicum requirements and coursework. So, by the time a mental health provider graduates, they have a minimum of 2 years' experience working with clients in clinical settings.
Following graduation, Mental health providers who want to practice, are required to complete 1500 to 2000 (depends on the degree) hours of clinical work under a licensed psychologist, in addition to their academic requirements. The majority of these hours must be face-to-face with clients. Providers must complete these hours in NO LESS than 1 year (doctoral)/2 years (masters). They are also required to complete a licensing exam. By the time a provider becomes licensed they have, in combination with their academic experience a minimum of 4 years' experience (doctoral/requires more practicum time and internship time pre-degree) and 4 years' experience (Masters).
Depending on post-graduation placement, life demands, etc. providers may take more time to obtain their licensure hours, therefore extending the time it takes to become licensed. Therefore, experience is specific to the provider and may include several years' worth of experience.
All providers under supervision are reviewing cases with their licensed providers and obtaining direct assistance with cases as necessary. Therefore, their clients are getting not only the expertise and the experience of the provider but also the supervisor. This can be a benefit to the client and ensures clients are getting the most effective care.