FAQs

FAQs

What is counseling and why should I hire a Counselor?

Counseling at Positive Actions International focuses on the full spectrum of your life including emotional, spiritual, professional, financial, and relationship with self and others. The assistance of a professional Counselor can make a tremendous positive difference when you are reevaluating choices you have made in your life, struggling with the demands of life, wanting to improve your relationships with spouse, family, friends, and co-workers, or simply making a career transition. Seeing a Counselor could be one of the best investments you make in your life! People who seek out the assistance of a Professional Counselor are motivated to take positive actions to make a change in their personal and/or professional life. If you envision a life of success, love and happiness, but you feel that life is just passing you by, Positive Actions Counseling services can give you the boost you need to create that life and bring it from a dream into reality.

Why and how does Counseling work?

Counseling at Positive Actions International is an interactive process that can help you discover the roadblocks that are preventing you from reaching the life you envision. It helps you identify and set goals, manage your time and avoid procrastination, improve specific skills or learn new ones. The counseling process is grounded in overall personal growth and enrichment in all aspects of life. It motivates you to take positive actions to attain a more meaningful, well-balanced life.

Counseling focuses on discovering obstacles and challenges that prevent you from reaching your goals. Once these barriers are brought to light, the establishment of clear goals and a step-by step action plan is created to help you achieve and maintain the life you envision.

What about confidentiality?

Positive Actions International keeps all client’s information confidential. Positive Actions International does not disclose confidential information without client’s explicit consent unless the client or others are in immediate danger to health or life. Any such disclosure must be consistent with laws that pertain to the welfare of the client, family, and the general public.

What should I expect?

You will be guided through a set of questions that will enable you to develop a clear vision of the great possibilities that lay ahead and to take the positive actions necessary to reach your goals. Once you have identify your options, we will explore worse-case-scenario and roadblocks in order to be prepare to overcome them. Positive Actions International focuses on a solution-oriented approach and we use your past only as a stepping stone for what you can do today. My education in Clinical Counseling and business director experience have provided me with valuable action-oriented skills. I share with my clients these same skills so that they will have the know-how and take the positive actions to make a successful change. Generally clients already have what they need to be successful, They just need to discover it.

I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?

Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or family?

The difference is between someone who can do something, and someone who has the training and experience to do that same thing professionally. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way– teach you new skills, gain different perspectives, listen to you without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, counseling is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Lastly, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, and you’ve been confiding in a friend or family member, there is the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so you aren’t reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Why shouldn’t I just take medication?

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals.

How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?

Because each person has different issues and goals for counseling, it will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

A typical course of treatment at Positive Actions International takes clients through four phases:

1)Intake and evaluation; building a relationship that provides hope.
2) Discovery and planning; focusing on the emotional, relational and spiritual areas of the client’s life, their thoughts about the problem and what concrete steps can be taken to improve their situation.
3) Training and building; developing the skills needed to better manage their situation.
4) Reflection and reinforcement; understanding how they have positively changed, emphasizing the new skills they have gained to help them live a more meaningful, well balanced life.

How long will it take?

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place. In general, average treatment time with Positive Actions International is 12-16 weeks.

I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.

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