FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Indianapolis Counseling - FAQ's about One Step Forward Counseling
What is counseling?
The words counseling, therapy and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. I choose to use the word counseling in my private practice because every time I said I was a therapist, people thought I was a massage therapist. Ha!
When you meet with a counselor, they will either be Masters level (like me) with a clinical licensure (mine is LCSW or licensed clinical social worker). You may see other licenses such as LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist) or LMHC (licensed mental health counselor). When a Masters level clinician has reached full licensure, this means they completed graduate school and two years of weekly supervision. You may also meet with a psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.). They have completed their doctorate and can do psychological testing (think things like IQ, MMPI, etc) in addition to counseling. A psychiatrist is someone who went to med school and can prescribe you medication. Typically, they will not be doing counseling with you. Just like you counselor will not be prescribing you medicine.
A good counselor will do a thorough intake with you during the first session. This is to give them a good idea of what is going on and potential diagnoses. You will then engage in an evidence-based therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in your sessions following. Counseling is not just about “chit-chatting” or “venting” it is about learning how our thoughts and behaviors impact our moods and how we can create change in our lives. I am a skills based therapist, which means I typically draw from a few different therapy models to teach you specifics on how to overcome your struggles.
TL;DR or a video person? I love this explanation about therapy from The School of Life:
The words counseling, therapy and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably. I choose to use the word counseling in my private practice because every time I said I was a therapist, people thought I was a massage therapist. Ha!
When you meet with a counselor, they will either be Masters level (like me) with a clinical licensure (mine is LCSW or licensed clinical social worker). You may see other licenses such as LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist) or LMHC (licensed mental health counselor). When a Masters level clinician has reached full licensure, this means they completed graduate school and two years of weekly supervision. You may also meet with a psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.). They have completed their doctorate and can do psychological testing (think things like IQ, MMPI, etc) in addition to counseling. A psychiatrist is someone who went to med school and can prescribe you medication. Typically, they will not be doing counseling with you. Just like you counselor will not be prescribing you medicine.
A good counselor will do a thorough intake with you during the first session. This is to give them a good idea of what is going on and potential diagnoses. You will then engage in an evidence-based therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, in your sessions following. Counseling is not just about “chit-chatting” or “venting” it is about learning how our thoughts and behaviors impact our moods and how we can create change in our lives. I am a skills based therapist, which means I typically draw from a few different therapy models to teach you specifics on how to overcome your struggles.
TL;DR or a video person? I love this explanation about therapy from The School of Life:
What do you treat?
I specialize in treating Veterans and First Responders who experience anxiety, PTSD or are having trouble in their relationships. I am Imago Relationship Therapy level 1 trained. I am also a Brainspotting therapist. If you click the links, you will be taken to a page that further describes who I help.
What can I expect during appointments?
Your first session will be up to 90-minutes and will be an intake evaluation. Basically, I will be asking you a lot of questions about what brought you in, to get a better understanding of what you are going through. We discuss what your goals are and I will let you know what my recommendations are. After that, you will usually come in weekly to bi-weekly (dependent on the needs of each individual) for ongoing 50-60 minute counseling sessions. Couples sessions are 90-minutes. My what to expect page goes into more detail.
What is the cost?
I take some insurance plans and EAPs. The cost from your insurance is variable, dependent upon if you have a deductible, co-pay, etc. I try to give you an estimate before your appointment so you're not blind sighted about cost. Click here to find out which insurances I take and costs.
What is online counseling? Do you do in-person appointments?
With online counseling, we meet virtually, instead of face to face. I use a HIPAA compliant software. This is great for people with really busy schedules, when the kids are sick or if you live further from Indy. Click here for more info about online counseling. I am licensed in Indiana and Texas, so I can offer online appointments to clients in either state.
I also offer in-person appointments at my office off of 96th & Michigan. Here's a little info about my office.
Some clients opt to do online only, in-person only or a combination of the two. I am flexible in whatever you choose.
How do I schedule?
If this is your first time, please reach out so we can chat about your needs. We will determine if we are a good fit for each other and I will answer any of your questions. Otherwise, email, call/text or through my client portal are your options. Click here to learn more about scheduling.
How do I contact you?
Text/Call 317-775-8797
Email arielle@onestepforwardcounseling.com
What are your hours and where are you located?
I offer appointments on Monday-Wednesday. My Indy office is located off of 96th & Michigan. I am at this office on Monday-Wednesday. I also offer online appointments. Click here to get more info and maps.
What the f is this Brainspotting stuff I keep hearing about?
You may have heard of EMDR for treating trauma, since it exploded in the last 5 years. Maybe you've even tried it. Brainspotting was developed by an EMDR trainer who realized, where you look affects how you feel.
It's the treatment approach that I call my "voodoo magic" (it's not really magic, it's actually highly scientific neuroscience stuff) that can be extremely helpful for anyone carrying around trauma, anxiety or wanting to improve their performance. This video is great for explaining why, as a client, you might choose Brainspotting. I also have a lot more info on my Brainspotting page. I am a Certified Brainspotting Therapist.
I've been to couples counseling before, what makes Imago different?
If you're tired of learning about I statements, how to compromise or you got turned into the bad guy then it's time to try Imago. Imago is about learning how we both bring junk to the table, learning to be accepting/take it less personal and communicate in a more conscious way. The Imago dialogue process is quite different than anything you've probably tried in couples counseling (watch the linked video). I have more info on my couples page.
One Step Forward Counseling, INC | Indianapolis, Indiana | 317-775-8797
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