Mental health and wellness involve a complex web of factors in an individual’s life. We use a variety of services and therapies to improve the lives of the people we serve. You have the desire for change. A therapist can guide you on your journey toward personal growth and a more satisfying life in our community.
Counseling & Therapy is:
What you say in a session with your therapist is completely confidential except for disclosure required or permitted by law. We are bound to that by professional ethics and by Wyoming State Statute. See complete details of our HIPAA privacy practices here.
Every client background, experience, and need is different. We meet you where you are.
If you put in the effort with your therapist, you can make progress together. We work with you towards change, but we cannot do it alone.
Therapy is not a quick fix, it takes time.
Life’s challenges, ups and downs mean many, many people need therapy at some point in their life. Like going to medical therapy, counseling is a way to take care of yourself and to be your best self.
Common Questions About Counseling:
How can therapy help?
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 and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing mental illness, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the stresses of daily life. They can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or help you find a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. In other words, you get back what you put into it.
Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
Do I really need therapy?
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. 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.
What should I ask myself as I consider Mental Health & Recovery Services?
I tried therapy before and it didn’t work, why should I try it again?
Sometimes the chemistry between the therapist and client or the therapeutic modality just isn’t a good fit. Just as you sometimes have to switch medication, you may need to switch therapists or treatment philosophies to achieve success. Therapy works best when you are open to it and are willing to participate in your own healing. Timing may be a factor as well. If you are not ready to commit to change, you may not be ready for therapy to be effective.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to counseling. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions or relationship problems. Therapy can help provide some much-needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may find it useful to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking therapy are ready to meet the challenges life presents and ready to make a change.
What is therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, it will always be different, depending on the individual. You can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issues and report progress (or any new insights gained) from previous sessions. 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. 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 behaviors or acting on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication for my problems?
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. We do have staff that can assist with medications.
What if I am late for my session?
We understand that life happens! We will hold your session for you, however it will impact the amount of time you have for your counseling session. For example, if you have scheduled a 30-minute session and are 10 minutes late, your remaining time with your counselor is 20 minutes.
What if I have to cancel my appointment?
You must cancel your appointment more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, or have 3 or more times that you no show for a scheduled appointment, you may lose the privilege of the same time slot and it could result in a reset in requested fee adjustments.
Do you take insurance?
To determine if you have 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:
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist. 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, a child’s teacher, your Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission, outside of sharing the necessary information for treatment coordination, payment and under certain court orders.
Please note: State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected 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 the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
Our Methods & Standards
Our therapists are trained in a variety of nationally-renowned therapies approved by the National Alliance on Mental Health. Depending on a client’s situation and path to mental wellness, a therapist may suggest one of the following:
Providing the skills to increase awareness of negative interpretations, and of behavioral patterns which reinforce distorted thinking. Developing alternative ways of thinking and behaving in order to reduce psychological distress.
Providing mindfulness skills to control intense emotions, reduce self-destructive behaviors, and improve relationships. Helping to develop a balance between changing and accepting beliefs and behaviors.
Enabling people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress through a series of detailed protocols and procedures that helps the brain’s information processing system naturally move toward mental health.
A type of counseling to help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts. It is often short term, may include all familiar members or just those able or willing to participate. Sessions can teach skills to deepen family connections and get through stressful times.
Psychiatric consultation and assessment for medication. Medication management is only available for clients also engaged in therapy.
Other Client and Community Services
Our Case Workers and Primary Therapists meet clients’ social, practical and medical needs through coordination and networking with other organizations.
We provide emergency mental health response to the community 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, whether on site during regular business hours or by telephone outside of the work week. Crisis services are available at St. John’s Medical Center as well.
Our clinicians provide emergency mental health services to patients at St. John’s Medical Center 24/7. We provide liaison services with the Wyoming State Hospital (and other hospitals as appropriate), facilitating admission, tracking treatment, and helping transition a discharged patient to community treatment.
We provide a variety of services to our clients, the public, and professionals in our community on a regular basis, from group therapy to summer day treatment for children to leading trainings for professionals at other organizations.