Counseling Fees
It is the client responsibility for the prompt payment of fees. Many therapists will discontinue the treatment if fees are chronically unpaid. Fees for counseling vary depending upon the type of service requested (for example, individual therapy, group counseling, and assessment). If you are unable to afford the fees of a private practitioner, and qualify for a scholarship discount, a sliding scale based upon your income may be used at the therapist's discretion. The counselor will discuss this with you in detail if you qualify.
The regular base fee for counseling services is $100/session with a licensed mental health professional. You may incur additional costs if you and your therapist agree that utilizing additional psychological assessment or testing would be beneficial.
Each session generally consists of 50 minutes. In order to keep costs low our counseling center does not accept insurance or managed care plans. All fees are to be paid at the time services are rendered by cash or personal check. Scholarship eligibility is evaluated on a case by case basis. Limited resources are available for assistance. Your therapist will review and discuss your financial responsibilities at the time of service and may adjust the fee if appropriate.
A fee will be charged for appointments canceled or missed unless notice of such cancellation is received by the office at least 24-hours prior to the time scheduled (since such time is reserved for the client's exclusive use) except, of course, if your absence is due to an accident or illness. Phone contacts will be billed at the client's hourly rate but face-to-face interviews at the office are preferred.
Client Confidentiality
In accordance with the codes of ethics for psychologists and psychotherapists and the state laws regulating client confidentiality, therapists consider the personal information discussed to be confidential. This means that the helping professional may not reveal any information about you to another person without your explicit permission. Records of your treatment will be kept in a locked file.
There are some very special circumstances which are exceptions to this rule. The therapist may discuss your case with a supervisor or with other professionals clearly concerned with the case. Your case will not be discussed with the elders, deacons, ministers or staff of the church without your expressed written permission and personal desire to discuss such matters with a church elder, deacon, or minister with the counselor present.
This service is offered at the church to serve members and others with your privacy being of utmost importance to the counselors. If you believe your therapists' behavior is either unethical or does not adhere to professional standards, you again have several alternatives. You may wish to bring the matter to the attention of the therapist, or appropriate state or national professional association or the state licensing or certification board.
If your therapist feels you are at risk of harming yourself or others, they by law, are required to contact the proper authorities. This will ensure that you are safe and can get the help that you need. Should your therapist receive a court order for your records, we are obligated by law to comply with such an order made by the federal, state and local authorities.
LifeCare is a professional counseling program located at WCC. There are four professional and licensed mental health providers who are currently taking new clients. If you are interested in speaking with someone from the Lifecare team please call them at 614-885-9417. Their intake coordinator will call you back and link you with a therapist.
If is easier, we encourage you to contact us that way as well. However, please understand that email is an insecure form of communication and may be stored or read by others due to the way it is transmitted.
If your need is emergent or life threatening, please do not leave a message on the voicemail, as it is checked twice per day. You will want to proceed to the nearest emergency room for assistance. For all other needs, please leave your name and phone number and they will contact you within the next 24 hours.
All other questions such as issues pertaining to insurance, availability of a counselor, and/or costs of counseling, etc. may be addressed by the intake coordinator at the time of her call.
