Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I have an emergency?
Suicidal intent, acute risk of violent behavior, severe loss of emotional control, and gross impairment in thinking ability are examples of emergencies. If you are experiencing distress please call Hopeline at 1.800.784.2433 or The Suicide Prevention Line at 1.800.273.8255 for 24-hour counseling.
You can also call 911 in case of an emergency.
Please follow up with your provider to inform them of the emergency situation and follow up treatment care.
You can also call 911 in case of an emergency.
Please follow up with your provider to inform them of the emergency situation and follow up treatment care.
Why talk to a stranger about my personal issues?
The benefit of meeting with someone who is not familiar to you, like a family member or friend, is that counselors lack the biases and preconceptions that can often times color your family or friends' advice. Counselors offer a nonjudgmental and objective perspective and are familiar with several different skills to help with a variety of situations. It may be awkward initially and take some time to develop trust, but feel free to talk with your counselor about this. This is a common feeling initially.
What happens in the initial session?
In the initial session, your provider will ask detailed questions about your current concerns, relevant history, and goals. Please be sure to complete your paperwork prior to the appointment to ensure enough time to discuss your concerns. This paperwork can be completed online at https://omllc.clientsecure.me. The initial session will last approximately 60 minutes.
Are the services provided confidential?
All aspects of your sessions are confidential by State and Federal laws, as well as APA Ethics Codes. No information can be released without your written permission. This means, without your permission, no one can be informed about your visits. There are different guidelines regarding minors (children 17 years and younger).
There are limits to confidentiality however:
There are limits to confidentiality however:
- If you pose serious, imminent harm to yourself or someone else
- If you report current ongoing child or elder abuse
- If a judge orders a release of your information
- If you are a minor (under the age of 18), written consent is needed from your parent in order to treat
you, except in emergency situations
How quickly can I be seen?
Providers try to schedule new clients within a week of initial contact, except during some busy times of the year. However, there may be times when there is a waiting period due to scheduling conflicts or your preferred provider is not taking new clients. In this case, they will inform you of the circumstances and may provide you with alternative provider information.
How long and how frequent are Counseling Sessions?
Counseling sessions are normally scheduled on a bi-weekly basis, with exceptions the appointments may be weekly or monthly, depending on the nature of the concerns. Your provider will discuss treatment recommendations at the end of the initial session. These sessions are 30-60 minutes, depending on your treatment plan.
How do I get the most out of my experience?
1. Define your goals. It may be helpful to write down what you would like to have accomplished for each session or for your overall counseling experience.
2. Be an active participant. Be honest and open about what is concerning you. These sessions are about you, so be active in deciding how to use your time effectively.
3. Be patient with yourself. Growth and change take time; allow them to happen.
4. Follow your provider's recommendations. Throughout the process, you will receive suggestions of things to consider, skills to practice, or homework assignments. These are designed to continue your growth process. Growth does not happen in the time you meet with your counselor, it happens in the time in between sessions, in your daily life.
2. Be an active participant. Be honest and open about what is concerning you. These sessions are about you, so be active in deciding how to use your time effectively.
3. Be patient with yourself. Growth and change take time; allow them to happen.
4. Follow your provider's recommendations. Throughout the process, you will receive suggestions of things to consider, skills to practice, or homework assignments. These are designed to continue your growth process. Growth does not happen in the time you meet with your counselor, it happens in the time in between sessions, in your daily life.
What if I am worried about a friend?
Here are some common signs that someone may be having emotional troubles or even feeling suicidal:
Here are ways to be helpful when someone shows some of these signs:
- References to death or suicide in conversation, jokes, or writings
- Preoccupation with death and dying
- Withdrawal from friends and social activities
- Loss of interest in schoolwork, athletics, work, and other activities
- Abrupt changes in behavior, mood or appearance
- Pursuit of dangerous activities
- References to previous suicide attempts
- Drug or alcohol problems
- Signs of depression: crying, hopelessness, sleeping or eating problems, low energy, low self-esteem, excessive guilt
Here are ways to be helpful when someone shows some of these signs:
- Take the signs seriously.
- Ask to talk to the person.
- Say you are concerned. Point out the signs you've noticed.
- Be willing to listen. Don't judge or give lots of advice or try to cheer up the person.
- If it's unclear that the person is suicidal, ask, "Have things gotten so bad that you're actually thinking of hurting yourself?" Asking about suicide is a sign of caring.
- Don't be sworn to secrecy. Say that you need to talk with someone to make sure they are safe.
- If the person is acutely suicidal, they may do something right away. Don't leave them alone. Have someone else promptly call 911 or the Hopeline or Suicide Prevention Line.
- If the situation isn't an immediate emergency, assist them in finding a therapist. You may even consider going with them to the first session so they are not alone or scared.
What is the difference between Counseling Services and Performance Enhancement?
Counseling Services focuses on challenges that are leading us to feeling less than optimal such as academic concerns, family or relationship conflicts, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image or self-esteem, substance use, etc.
Performance Enhancement or sport psychology is looking to help us perform optimally. In essence, it is focused on mental skills that can help someone reach their optimal performance in sport, career, or academics.
Performance Enhancement or sport psychology is looking to help us perform optimally. In essence, it is focused on mental skills that can help someone reach their optimal performance in sport, career, or academics.
What is Performance Enhancement and who can benefit from it?
In short, sport psychology is the study of how sports impact people and how an individual's mental skills impact his or her physical performance. These include skills like goal setting, concentration, focus, arousal, etc.
Athletes of all abilities & ages can benefit from exploring performance enhancement techniques. As well as:
Anyone looking to improve performance through the integration of mind and body.
Athletes of all abilities & ages can benefit from exploring performance enhancement techniques. As well as:
- Coaches
- Musicians
- Dancers
- Actors
- Military Personnel
- Business Executives & Employees
Anyone looking to improve performance through the integration of mind and body.