Frequent Questions concerning Christian Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions

As you consider counseling at CCA, you may find some of your questions answered here.

Q. What do we mean by "Christian"?

A. All of our counselors have made a personal faith commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. They are also professionally trained as New York State licensed psychologists and social workers. All counseling is congruent with the Word of God. Your counselor will pray for you, and with you if you wish. If you are interested, we will encourage you to take the next steps in your spiritual journey, but we are never forceful and are respectful of those who do not wish to address spiritual issues.

Q. Is CCA affiliated with any particular denomination?

A. No. Although all of the staff are committed Christians, they participate in a variety of different churches and denominations. In addition, CCA receives referrals from pastors of many denominations.

Q. Does anyone at CCA prescribe medicines?

A. No. You must see a psychiatrist or your primary care physician for prescriptions.

Q. Do we advise that medication may be needed or helpful for a client?

A. Medication is helpful for some people, but the best results for those who do take medication come from a combination of medication management and therapy.

Q. What about using my insurance?

A. Before we mention specifics about insurance, it is important to recognize that in many cases we are talking about the survival of a marriage or family, or your own emotional health.

While cost is always a practical concern, the single most important factor in whether you will be successful in getting the needed help is the match between the client problem and the right counselor. CCA has ten different counselors on staff, so we expect that we will have a good match with your particular need. However, not all clinicians are on every insurance panel. We make no apologies about asking you to be prepared to pay directly for your counseling if the best counselor for your situation does not participate with your particular insurance.

Time is another critical issue. Often when people contact us for assistance there have already been many delays between the onset of the problem (symptoms) and the request for help. In some cases, a clinician on your particular insurance panel may not have an appointment available for several weeks. We strongly urge you not to wait. If there is a CCA counselor immediately available who has the expertise to help with your particular need, take advantage of the opportunity and don't let more precious time go by.
Please remember that the "costs" of not getting help may be far greater than mere financial concerns. Counseling is an investment in you, your marriage and your family's good health. Get started as soon as possible, even if it means paying directly for the services.

Finally, we are living in a time when various insurance companies, while increasing the costs to you, are unwilling to pay for the cost of delivering the services we provide. We urge you not to let insurance be the main factor in whether, or where, you get your counseling. Whenever possible, we will work with you and your insurance carrier, but be wise and let the best counselor match be your chief concern.

Q. If I am unable to use my health insurance plan and I pay CCA directly, can I then submit my receipts to my insurance for reimbursement?

A. That depends on your plan. You should contact your health insurance company to inquire about Out-of-Network Mental Health Benefits on your specific plan.

Q. Does CCA have both male and female counselors?

A. Yes.

Q. Can I request a specific counselor?

A. CCA's goal is to make the best match between you and a counselor. We will consider and make every effort to accommodate your request for a specific counselor.

Q. If a parent brings a child for therapy, will there be an opportunity for the parent(s) to speak privately with the counselor?

A. Yes. CCA includes the parents or guardians in the treatment plan for minors.

Q. Does CCA have a children's play room or provide childcare?

A. No. CCA does not have the facilities for childcare. We ask that parents not leave children unattended in the waiting room.

Q. Does CCA offer marital counseling?

A. Yes. Our goal is the preservation of marriages. We train couples in effective problem-solving communication and promote healing and reconciliation in marriages.

Q. What if my spouse is unwilling to participate in marital counseling?

A. CCA is open to whichever spouse is willing to work on their marriage. We will begin with you. We find that when one person makes a bona fide effort to work on the marriage, the other partner often comes also.

Q. Does CCA offer pre-marital counseling?

A. Yes. Many couples spend more time, money and effort preparing for their wedding day than for their marriage. CCA offers pre-marital counseling designed to strengthen and build a happy and lifelong marriage.

Q. What is an "Initial Consultation" appointment?

A. An initial consultation (also called an interview) is a session dedicated to getting to know you. By the end of this meeting, the counselor will understand your goals for treatment, some of the background relevant to your difficulties, and will tell you whether CCA will be able to help. If not, a suitable referral will be given. If so, you will be scheduled for an Orientation & Assessment appointment.

Q. What kinds of questions are asked in the computer assessment?

A. The questions are designed to help us know more about you. You may be asked to report on early childhood experiences or on how you might respond to a hypothetical situation. All questions are multiple choice and do not require any prior experience with the use of a computer.

Q. How long is a counseling session?

A. Counseling sessions are 45 minutes in length.

Q. Can I have an extended session?

A. Yes. If a counselor determines that an extended session is needed, they may arrange their schedule and your payment accordingly. Most insurance plans do not pay for extended sessions, so a client is responsible to pay for the additional hour.

Q. How long will I wait once my application is received by CCA?

A. Waiting times vary from a week to several weeks, but we make every effort to meet with you as soon as we have an opening. Usually private pay clients are scheduled for their initial consultation within a week. If you are waiting for an insurance provider, waiting times vary from one to several weeks. Remember that there are other CCA counselors who may not be on your particular insurance panel but who may be available more immediately.

Q. If I begin with a counselor who only accepts private pay, can I later switch to an insurance provider?

A. Not usually. Once you begin therapy with one counselor, it is better to stay with that counselor than begin again with someone new.

Q. What costs are involved?

A. The initial consultation is an appointment without any commitment to continue with CCA, therefore we offer that first session at a reduced rate of eighty-five dollars ($85), payable at the time of service. Additional appointments will be offered either on a private pay basis or according to the mental health benefits of your health insurance plan. Contact your insurance plan to learn about your plan's mental health benefits, co-payments or deductibles.

The second visit, Orientation & Psychological Assessment, is one hundred fifty dollars ($150). Marital assessments are two hundred dollars ($200) per couple.

Counseling sessions are one hundred dollars ($100) per visit for a social worker and one hundred fifteen dollars ($115) to meet with a psychologist. Occasionally, reduced-fee appointments may be available with certain clinicians or with an intern.

Q. Does CCA counsel people with eating disorders?

A. During the initial consultation, we determine whether we can meet your needs here at CCA. If we cannot, we will give you an appropriate referral.

Q. Does CCA treat people who are struggling with an addiction?

A. Yes. CCA has several counselors with expertise in treating various addictive behaviors. During the initial consultation, we determine whether we can meet your needs here at CCA. If we cannot, we will give you an appropriate referral.

Q. Does CCA accept credit cards?

A. Yes, and a receipt for the charge will be sent to you by email.

Q. Are my sessions confidential? Will anyone know what is discussed?

A. We are committed to keeping everything you share confidential. The law, professional ethics, and common sense prohibit anything you say or do from being shared with anyone else without your written permission. There are, however, some exceptions which you should know about:

If you have been referred by the court or an agency of the court, we may be required to furnish information to them.
If you are involved in certain kinds of litigation and inform the court of the services you have received from us, you may be waiving your right to have your records remain confidential.
If you threaten to harm yourself or someone else, we are obligated to inform potential helpers or victims.
If there is reason to suspect child abuse or neglect, we are obligated to report this to the appropriate state agency.
If you are a minor, your parents or guardians will be informed of your progress in treatment.
If you are a member of a managed care group, we may be required to exchange information with your primary care physician or care manager.