Q: What happens during my first session?
A: Melissa and her team aim to make all therapy sessions as comfortable and helpful as possible. During the first session, we will begin gathering historical and current information regarding the request for help. This assists the therapists in providing the most effective services. We also want to make sure that each person seeking help has a clear understanding of his or her therapist’s qualifications, practice methods, and general style. Therapy involves a professional relationship between client and therapist, and this begins with the first meeting.
Q: Does Barton Counseling Services accept insurance?
A: The therapists at Barton Counseling Services are considered out of network providers and are not on insurance panels. We would be happy to provide clients with paperwork to submit for out of network reimbursement.
Q: Does Barton Counseling Services offer sliding scale fees?
A: We offer lower-cost services that are provided by LPC Associates and Counseling Practicum Students, and are all supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S.
Q: What is an LPC Associate?
A: An LPC Associate is an individual who has completed a Master’s degree in Psychology or related field, passed the National Counselor’s Exam, and has become licensed in the state in which he or she practices. For the first 3000 hours of therapeutic practice, an Associate must be supervised by a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. Associates have completed a practicum during school and have began gathering field experience. They can provide therapy on their own, but meet weekly to discuss cases with their supervisor.
Q: What is a counseling practicum student?
A: A counseling practicum student is an individual who is currently in a Master’s program for counseling and is completing the last few semesters of the program. They have fresh knowledge about current approaches, and offer new perspectives to the field. Students are supervised by a fully licensed counselor, but can see clients one-on-one.
Q: How long do sessions last?
A: 45-50 minutes typically.
Q: How long does therapy last? How soon can I expect results?
A: This varies from person to person. In some cases, with client willingness and motivation, clients can feel better in 6-8 sessions. Sometimes, the process takes longer depending on the severity of the presenting and underlying issues. Therapy is a personal investment and can create significant and lasting change.