Counselors can provide support, problem solving skills, and coping strategies for a wide range of challenges.

Benefits of therapy depend on your commitment and readiness to change. Some benefits can include: boosting self confidence, improving self compassion, improving communication skills, learning new coping skills, attaining better understanding of yourself, regulating intense emotions, changing old patterns and developing new ones.

Counseling often involves the disclosure of sensitive and personal information. Professional ethical codes and state laws consider the personal information discussed between a counselor and adult client (18 years and older) to be strictly confidential. This means that the information that you share in counseling, including the fact that you have used our services, will not be disclosed to anyone without your written permission.
 

Exceptions to Confidentiality:
 

Abuse/Neglect of a Child or Elder: Counselors who know or reasonably suspect that a child under the age of 18 or elder is being abused or neglected are legally obligated to report this information to appropriate state agencies.

Harm to Self: If there is evidence that a client poses clear and imminent danger of ending their life and they are unwilling or unable to follow treatment recommendations, a counselor may seek their involuntary admission to a hospital and notify a family member who may be able to help them.

Harm to Others: If a counselor has reason to believe that a client is threatening physical violence against another, they may be required to take action to insure that the other person is protected. Such action may include contacting the police, notifying the intended victim, and seeking involuntary hospitalization of the client.
Court Subpoena: A court-ordered subpoena can require our staff to release information contained in records or to testify in a court hearing.

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Please note that the aforementioned situations are extremely rare. If they should occur, we will discuss with you any action that is being considered.

Everyone’s circumstances and therapeutic goals are unique to them. The length of time therapy can take depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place. Intake appointments and counseling sessions are typically one clinical hour—50 minutes (counselor/client interaction) with 10 minutes for clinical documentation (counselor notes) after the appointment. Sessions may be longer depending on treatment modality.

Yes, we're an in-network provider with Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina, Cigna, United Healthcare, Oxford and Oscar Health.

• There are circumstances in which you might want to keep the fact that you are in treatment, as well as any information about that treatment, completely private between you and your therapist.

• In order to qualify for insurance benefits you may have to disclose information to the insurance company that would otherwise remain between you and your therapist.

• Insurance company employees may ask for personal information to determine whether or not they think treatment is warranted. These employees decide if you are eligible for treatment, rather than leaving that decision up you and your counselor.​

• Insurance policies often limit the number of sessions you are allowed to attend each year. They may or may not authorize more sessions based on what they determine is a “medical necessity”. Your therapist will have little say in this decision and making your case may involve a lot of paperwork and footwork on your part.

• Employers often change insurance companies to save money. You may form a bond with your therapist only to find out that he or she is not a provider on your new plan.

Yes. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors in the state of North Carolina can and do provide mental health diagnoses and have specific training in diagnosis and treatment planning. As part of the counseling process, you may receive a DSM-5 diagnosis. Should a diagnosis be made, this diagnosis will be discussed with you. 

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Most insurance companies will require a diagnosis of a mental health condition before they agree to reimburse for services. In order for insurance to reimburse your treatment you will receive a mental health diagnosis that becomes part of your medical record.

Absolutely! Firstly, therapy can be preventative; learning and implementing skills for managing stressors before they happen is a valuable way to use the counseling process. Secondly, no one else can decide for you whether a problem is major, minor, or in between. If you feel there is room for improvement in your life, therapy provides a safe space to explore that. Benefits of therapy include a greater understanding of self, an increased awareness of personal stories and their impact, improvement in relationships, and increased self-care practice—just to name a few.

You have control over what is disclosed and discussed in session. We will never make you discuss anything until you’re ready. If you’re not ready to talk about something, we will wait until you decide the time is right for you.

No. If medication could be helpful as part of treatment, counselors may provide a referral to an outside medication prescriber on a case by case basis.

You have the flexibility to cancel or reschedule a session up to 24 hours before your appointment time. A $75 fee will be charged if there is a No-Call/No-Show or Late Cancellation (cancellations with less than 24 hour notice).

If you have been to therapy before, or have medical documentation relevant to our work together, you will receive a Release of Information form through your SimplePractice client portal to fill out. This document will allow Active Wellness Counseling staff to release, obtain, or exchange information with your past provider.