FAQs
frequently asked questions
We hope to answer all your questions here, but if not, please do not hesitate to reach out!
What do I have to do to get started?
Go to the Get In Touch page found on the drop down menu under "About", and Call, text or message us.
What is Christian counseling?
Through integrating our Christ centered faith and clinical training, we offer biblically sound and psychologically skilled approaches to life’s struggles.
What benefits can I expect from therapy?
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Attaining a better understanding of yourself and your relationship to others
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Developing skills for improving your relationships
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Finding new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
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Managing anger, depression, and other emotional pressures
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Improving communications skills - learn how to listen to others, and have others listen to you
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Getting "unstuck" from unhealthy patterns - breaking old behaviors and develop new ones
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Discovering new ways to solve problems
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Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Why should I seek counseling?
Do you feel sad much of the time for no apparent reason?
Do you often feel exhausted, even after a good night’s sleep?
Do you sometimes become so anxious that you have difficulty breathing?
Are alcohol or drugs interfering with your ability to enjoy life?
Do you have difficulty concentrating, staying on task, or finishing what you start?
Have you experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse?
Do you often end up in hurtful, unfulfilling relationships?
Have you or your children experienced divorce or the loss of a loved one?
Are unresolved issues from our past keeping you from enjoying today?
Do members of your family spend more time arguing than anything else?
What if my spouse doesn't want to come to marital counseling?
It is not unusual for a spouse to be unhappy in a marriage and the other spouse to not feel comfortable enough to go to counseling. However, one spouse can make a difference because we know if one part of the family improves, change is inevitable.
What do you specialize in?
We work with each individuals presenting issue and depending on the unique situation, customize a treatment plan. River Christian Counseling specializes in helping couples and families thrive. If one partner suffers from past trauma it can make couples therapy work challenging. We integrate clinical training in EFT & EMDR and biblically sound approaches to life’s struggles.
How does online therapy work?
After you schedule your initial appointment, you’ll receive an email inviting you to set up your portal. On the portal you will find and review documents and fill out history and demographic forms.
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Tips to ensure a great first online therapy session:
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Create a Private Environment: Identify a suitable room or area of your home that is quiet, private, and free of distractions.
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Eliminate Noise & Distractions: Make sure to close any doors, shut windows, turn off the television, and keep loud pets in another room if possible. Unless you’re using your phone for the session, consider turning it on silent and setting it aside. Turn off notifications on your cellphone or computer
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Improve Sound Quality: Consider using headphones if there’s background or ambient noise where you are. This will improve the sound quality and make it easier for you and your therapist to hear each other.
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Check Your Video: If you plan to use video during your session, make sure there’s ample lighting so your therapist can see you clearly.
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Identify Goals: Think about what you want to get out of therapy. Do you need help working through a specific stressful situation, or are you hoping for a more long-term relationship where you can explore issues as they arise? Identify what you'd like to gain or accomplish through the therapy process so together you and your therapist can track your progress toward success.
How do I know if online therapy sessions are right for me?
Online counseling and therapy is a great way to stay connected to a source of support from your own home. You may feel anxious, depressed, worried, or unsettled, and have difficulty managing these feelings in your daily life. If you find that you're having trouble coping or feeling better on your own, talking with a therapist can help. Online therapy is a great option for you if you're unable to leave your home, or have trouble fitting counseling into your workday, if you're looking for added convenience, comfort, and privacy when it comes to your therapy sessions.
What online platform do you use?
Zoom is the video conferencing platform for telehealth sessions. The platform uses a HIPAA-compliant software, which ensures your information is secure. You will need to download the Zoom app to your personal device prior to the first session. You will receive a Zoom link to be used for each session. This same Zoom link will be used for future sessions, so please keep it in an accessible spot.
What can I do to improve the quality of my internet connection?
Here are some steps you can take that can improve your connection quality:
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Move closer to your router if you experience a choppy audio and video connection. If your connection doesn’t improve, you can try using wired ethernet instead of wifi. Wired ethernet will provide more consistent internet quality.
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Test your connection speed by searching “internet speed test,“ or using a free tool like www.speedtest.net. If it’s under 10mbps and you’re using wifi, try connecting your ethernet or restarting your router.
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Close programs running in the background. This should improve your overall connection quality. Make sure you’re not downloading any large files, as this can also impede your connection.
Why shouldn't I
work through it on my own?
Because it's okay to ask for help. Because no one should have to suffer alone. If working through issues alone helped most people, no one would be in therapy. The research shows the importance and effectiveness of talk therapy. Trust in the process and invest in creating a more vibrant life!
How long does it take?
Therapy is personalized to each person, depending on their concerns and issues they may be facing. Sometimes, major progress can be made in a few minutes. However, it is not uncommon for therapy to last weeks or months in order to develop meaningful change. This can be discussed during the initial consultation and at any point throughout the course of the work with your therapist. Many people continue therapy beyond their initial chief complaint and use the therapeutic space for exploration and growth. Typically, sessions are 50 minutes.