Common Questions About Christian Counseling

Will I be required to read the Bible or pray if I don't want to?

No, you will not be required to read the Bible or pray. Research has shown many treatment benefits when spiritual considerations are taken into account. How much of your spiritual life, if any, that you wish to make a part of treatment is totally up to you. 

Therapists at Spirit Christian Counseling Centers are Christian and prepared to support you if you desire Christian faith to be a part of treatment. In addition, the treatment interventions utilized at the center are selected because of their proven effectiveness as accepted practice and their alignment with Scriptural teachings. 

How can therapy help me? 

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues, such as:

    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Relationship troubles
    • Unresolved childhood issues
    • Grief
    • Stress management
    • Body image issues
    • Creative blocks

Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life.

Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

    • Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values
    • Developing skills for improving your relationships
    • Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
    • Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
    • Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
    • Improving communications and listening skills
    • Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
    • Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
    • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence


Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.    

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it.
 
In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy.
 
Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

Many seek psychotherapy to meet the challenges in their lives and make changes. They may have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy, including:

    • Major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.)
    • Not handling stressful circumstances well
    • Assistance managing a range of issues, such as: 
      • Low self-esteem
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Addictions
      • Relationship problems
      • Spiritual conflicts
      • Creative blocks

Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.    

What is therapy like? 

Each person has different issues and goals for therapy, so therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and your progress report (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. 
 
Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term for a specific issue or longer-term to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly). 
 
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process, such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.  

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?   

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress.
 
You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
 
Working with your medical doctor, you can determine what's best for you; and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. 

Can insurance help pay for counseling, and how does that work?

With the exception of Blue-Cross/Blue Shield of Texas, Spirit Christian Counseling Centers is currently a private-pay facility and does not accept health insurance payments.

You will be provided with a receipt for services that can be submitted to your health insurance provider for reimbursement if out-of-network services are covered by your plan. To determine if you have out-of-network mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them.

Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them include:

    • What are my mental health benefits?
    • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
    • How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
    • How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
    • Is approval required from my primary care physician? 

How much does Christian counseling cost?

Christian counseling rates vary by practice. At Spirit Christian Counseling Center in McKinney, TX, with Dr. Luigi Leos, an initial assessment/consultation is $150. After that, it costs $130 per 45-minute session for individuals and business professionals and $150 per 45-minute session for couples and families. 

Do the conversations in therapy remain confidential? 

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office.
 
Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent."
 
Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your physician, naturopath, attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
 
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

    • If you are at imminent risk of inflicting serious harm to yourself or to another person(s).
    • If the therapist has reason to suspect past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
    • If you disclose sexual misconduct of a physician or therapist.
    • If you file a complaint with a licensing board or in cases of a malpractice suit; records will be released to the Board and/or legal counsel.
    • If you disclose involvement in or association with terrorist activities.
    • If information is requested by a judge via court order.

If you have any questions about any of the information on this page please contact our offices or be sure to address your questions to your satisfaction with your therapist in your first meeting.

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Office Hours

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-6:30pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am - 6:30pm (Online only)

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:30 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-6:30 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed