FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

How does counseling work?
People seek counseling for many reasons. This may be due to a crisis, a loss, life transition, relational problems, interpersonal conflict, depression or anxiety, for example. In any case, the key to the counseling process is that the counselor teams up to help a client/family better deal with the concerns. This process is essentially a respectful therapeutic dialogue between client and counselor, which is aimed at supporting and understanding the person and working together toward resolution of the issues at hand.
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How long does it take?
Counseling sessions usually last 50 minutes. In the first session, the client and counselor decide together upon a meeting schedule and how often to meet to best address the presenting issues. This may vary from a single session to ongoing sessions over a period of months, depending on many factors.
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Do I have to be a Christian to receive services at Crossroads Counseling Center?
No. Services are available to anyone seeking help with life problems who we believe we can help. A client may or may not want to discuss his/her faith walk as part of counseling. Though all staff counselors are committed to a personal relationship with Christ, they are happy to serve all people regardless of their personal preferences. If you have any concerns about the therapist’s beliefs or values, feel free to raise them.
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What kind of training does the staff have?
All Crossroads counselors have Masters degrees in a counseling discipline: (MSW, MA, M.Div.) and are licensed by the State of New Hampshire as either Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. All counselors are experienced in providing individual, marital and family counseling services (refer to “Meet Our Staff” section).
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Do you offer services to children and adolescents?
Yes. Much of our work involves children or adolescents. Many times, the best way to help is to involve parents and sometimes the whole family as a support to the needs of the child or adolescent. Often combining individual counseling and family counseling is helpful. We also utilize art therapy and play therapy to help kids express their feelings or their perspective on a particular issue.
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Will my insurance company pay for counseling?
Many PPO plans will, and most HMO plans will not. To verify coverage, it is best to phone your insurance provider (find the mental health number on back of card). They will tell you if a particular counselor is an approved provider with them. Your counselor can also discuss this with you and help you determine eligibility. Please remember that you are responsible for payment ultimately.
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What if I don’t want to use my insurance?
It is never necessary that you have to use your insurance. You may feel free to pay out of pocket. Many people choose this for a variety of reasons. Among them are as follows: The insurance company keeps a record of some information of all visits that they make payment for. This includes things like a diagnosis and the dates of service. Some people do not want to leave this information on the national database. Others find they get better faster because their motivation changes when they are paying out of pocket.
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You may talk with the therapist about your specific financial situation. He or she will be glad to talk this through with you and if necessary negotiate a fee with you.
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What if my insurance does not cover and I cannot afford the full fee?
The goal of therapy is to help you. It is not to get you into debt and add to your problems. However, people often must spend some money to find some solutions so they can find other means to solve their problem. Many people will find ways to put money that would be an amount equivalent to a year’s worth of therapy. For instance, the purchase of a medium-priced computer, the cost of a year’s worth of cigarettes and the cost of a new flat-screen TV would all likely cover a course of therapy (say ten to 25 sessions).
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However, if there is no way for you to pay the full amount, we are open to discuss negotiating a fee that will reasonably fit your financial situation. Please look at your finances and figure out how much you believe you can afford on a weekly basis. Present this amount to your therapist and she or he will negotiate toward an amount that fits both you and your therapist. In fact, your therapist will gladly move you to every other week as soon as it is logical for what your needs.
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What if I have to cancel my counseling session?
There is no charge for any session cancelled 24 or more hours prior to the scheduled appointment. However, sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours will usually be charged a $55 fee.
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