Common questions when considering counseling and our responses to your concerns. 

Will my insurance company contact my employer when I see a therapist?

No. Your information is completely between you and your insurance company. The insurance company will send a statement to your personal address after you see a therapist, just like they would with a doctor’s visit, but there is no communication between your insurance company and your employer.

What if someone I know works in the office?

We are legally and ethically required to keep all interactions in our office confidential. If you see someone you know who works here, they will act like it never happened outside of the office, and they will not tell anyone.

What if I see my counselor outside of the office?

Therapists are legally required to keep your information confidential. If they see you in public, they will not speak to you unless you speak to them first. They will not bring up any personal information in public.

Will my problem go on my permanent work or school record?

No. Your work or school will not even know that you are coming here, unless you want them to.

What if I don’t like my counselor?

The point of counseling is for you to bond with your counselor, trust him/her, and feel comfortable. We know that not everyone likes who they are assigned. If you do not like your counselor, you can try a new one. You can tell the counselor directly, and we promise – we won’t be offended. If you feel more comfortable, you can talk with someone else about it and ask to meet a new counselor. We want you to be happy with your service here.

How many sessions does it normally take to “cure” a problem?

People come here for lots of different reasons, and for different lengths of time. That all depends on you. If you want to come for 3 visits or for 3 years, we will do our best to give you what you need to be successful. We don’t “cure” your problems, we just help you deal with them. You are free to stop coming at any time.

What if I can’t afford services?

We are a non-profit agency. WYFCS provides services to all community members regardless of their economic situation. That means that we are here to help you. If you don’t have insurance, can’t afford your co-pay, or can’t afford to come, we will make it work. It is more important to us that you get help than anything else. We offer low-cost sliding scaled fees, accept most private insurance, work with Maryland health Partners / CHIPS and provide free services when necessary.

If I tell my counselor something, will she/he tell my parents or spouse?

If you are an adult, we cannot tell anyone anything about you without your permission, even your husband or wife. If you are a minor, then technically your parents should have access to your information. However, we tell each parent and child that comes here that we will not give parents full access to their children’s information. We realize that if you are going to talk to us, we can’t tell your parents everything. And you deserve some privacy, so we will make sure that happens.

However, if you are thinking of killing yourself or killing someone else, we legally have to report that to make sure that you and other people stay safe. Also, if children, seniors, or people with disabilities are unsafe, being abused, or neglected, then we legally have to report that as well.

Isn’t a woman therapist more likely to take my wife’s side during couples counseling?

No. In couples counseling, your relationship is our client. We do not focus on the people themselves, but on how to help the relationship. Taking sides doesn’t help problems, it adds to them.

What if my problem isn’t that bad? I don’t want to waste your time.

No one is wasting our time. If your problem is something you need help with, that’s why we’re here. Everyone needs help getting through things sometimes, and we want to help you through that.

Will I have to take medication?

No. If it turns out that medication is something that your counselor recommends, it is completely up to you whether you want to take that option or not. We do not prescribe medication here, and we do not believe that medication solves your problems. Sometimes medication helps you feel better, so you can deal with your problems better. If you choose not to take it, that is completely up to you. We will respect any decision you make.

How do you feel about gay and lesbian relationships?

We are open to all different types of relationships. We want people to be happy and healthy, and that means something different to each person.

If a counselor is assigned to me through my Employee Assistance Program, does my employer know what we talk about?

No. Your Employee Assistance Program gives you the benefit of a certain number of free sessions, but they do not have access to the information in the counseling session. That is completely confidential.

What kind of problems do you usually deal with?

We deal with all kinds of issues, including depression, anxiety, divorce, problems at school, physical abuse, sexual abuse, addiction, attention-deficit, self-esteem, family problems, anger management, sexuality, loss of a loved one, and teen issues. We see kids as young as two years old all the way through adults, and their families too.

 

WYFCS is part of C-SAFE a collaboration of agencies serving Worcester County. We are committed to reach out to victims of crime and provide counseling and help in under-served areas of our community.