The Counseling Center in the Berkshires: frequently asked questions
What is The Counseling Center in the Berkshires?
Founded in 1974 in the tradition of pastoral counseling, The Counseling Center in the Berkshires is a private, non-profit organization which provides psychotherapeutic services to the greater Berkshire community. The staff of CCB is committed to blending the traditions of psychology and spirituality in the process of psychotherapy. Therapists are licensed mental health professionals educated in the disciplines of clinical psychology, clinical social work, and pastoral counseling.
How often will I meet with my therapist and for how long?
You have been asked to come early for your first appointment to fill out forms. Your subsequent appointments will usually last 45-50 minutes. You will work out a meeting schedule with your therapist. We usually begin by meeting weekly, sometimes changing to longer intervals when positive change has begun.
What do I do if I am in crisis?
Call your therapist. If your therapist is unavailable leave a message on voicemail. Therapists often check their messages when they are not in the office. If you have not received a return call from your therapist, feel free to call the CCB office during administrative hours, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We will be glad to help you locate your therapist and/or speak to another clinician who is available. If those efforts fail, or if you doubt your ability to keep yourself stable, call the local crisis team or go to your nearest Emergency Room.
Central and South County Crisis Team: 499-0412 North County Crisis Team: 664-4541
What if I have to cancel an appointment?
If you have a need to cancel or change an appointment, please call your therapist as soon as possible. Because your session time is reserved for you, it is difficult for us to fill that canceled hour without advance notice. If you give less than 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment, you will be charged for the time reserved. The rare exceptions to this policy include illness or inclement weather.
What can I expect to accomplish in therapy?
We view psychotherapy as a collaborative process of learning and change. Although psychotherapy does not come with guarantees regarding outcome, it has been repeatedly demonstrated to be helpful in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. When there are medical problems, the positive emotional effects of psychotherapy have been shown to improve physical dysfunction. Benefits also include an increased ability to navigate social or family relationships and an increased ability to receive satisfaction from those relationships. You may also find that you better understand your personal goals and values. You and your therapist may periodically evaluate how therapy is helping you to meet your goals.
What if I need medication?
The Counseling Center in the Berkshires does not have medication services. Your therapist may recommend consultation to determine the usefulness of medications. We will work with your primary care physician, or we can refer you to psychiatric professionals who can prescribe medication.
What if I don't feel comfortable with my therapist?
Many people are uncomfortable at first talking to a therapist: it can feel embarrassing or exposing to talk about problems. As you get to know the process and your therapist, you can expect to become more comfortable. If you are not, or it you feel misunderstood by your therapist, please express your concerns in a session. Sometimes the discomfort comes from a miscommunication and can be easily rectified, or may simply be coming from wrestling with difficult issues. If, however, the personal feelings between you and your therapist are problematic, you can request a transfer.
How long will I be coming to therapy?
Therapy can be a crisis intervention that last only 1-3 sessions, or may take place over years. On average, we find most of our clients come to therapy for 4-8 months. You will get the most out of your experience here if you see it through to a stopping point, as this gives you and your therapist a chance to review what you have accomplished.
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Will my insurance cover the cost of psychotherapy?
Almost all health insurance plans cover services for psychotherapy. Most insurance companies need to be informed when you begin psychotherapy in order to grant an "authorization" indicating how many sessions your insurance company will initially pay for. Your therapist can tell you how many sessions were authorized by your insurance company. If you and your therapist decide to meet beyond that number of sessions, your therapist can typically request another authorization from your insurance company. There are some occasions (e.g., if you have been seeing another mental health professional) when you will need to call your insurance company to determine the number of sessions available to you with a CCB therapist. Please be aware that the contract with your insurance is between you and the company, not between CCB and the insurance carrier: you are responsible for all charges for psychotherapy.
What do I have to pay out of my own pocket?
If you do not have health insurance, you will be paying for psychotherapy yourself. We want our services to be available to everyone, and will negotiate a fee with you if you are unable to pay our full fee of $150 per session. If you do have health insurance, you may be responsible for a copayment. The amount of your copayment is easily known, and typically varies between $5 and $30. You are expected to give your copayment to your therapist at each session. If your insurance policy has a deductible (an amount you must first pay before your insurance company starts to pay), you will need to make arrangements with us about this. If you want to participate in psychotherapy beyond what your insurance will cover, you can pay for those sessions at a fee negotiated with your therapist.
What about my confidentiality?
We regard the information you share with your therapist with the greatest respect. The privacy and confidentiality of your conversations with your therapist and her/his records are a privilege of yours which is protected by state law and the ethical codes of mental health professionals.
An exception to complete confidentiality occurs with insurance companies when they are trying to determine the "medical necessity" of further treatment. They typically ask us about the category of problems you are having, medical conditions, stress levels in your life, your basic functioning, the existence of substance abuse, and whether your safety is at risk. Our policy is to provide the minimum information necessary for you to obtain reimbursement
Other exceptions to confidentiality involve safety. Your therapist will speak to others when we believe that (1) you intend to harm yourself or another person, or (2) a child or elder has been or will be abused or neglected. Another exception to confidentiality can occur when the legal system is involved: either your lawyer or a judge can compel us to share records or to testify in court. Feel free to discuss these situations with your therapist.
The therapists at CCB are committed to the quality of our work, and consultation with one another is one way we monitor and improve ourselves. Such discussions often contain no names. If a family member of yours is also in treatment with us, you may want us to discuss events with the other therapist involved. You may also request a restriction on such discussions. If you know any staff member of CCB, please tell your therapist so he/she knows to restrict any consultation with that person.
If you or we want to speak with someone in your life (like your personal physician, for example), you will be asked to sign a special form (called "Release of Information") giving your written permission for that contact to occur.
In general the law governing mental health treatment is more restrictive than the federal law passed several years ago. The specifics of that law, often called by its initials, the HIPPA law, are posted in our waiting room. If you have concerns about confidentiality, please raise them with your therapist.
What if I run into my therapist in the community?
You can expect your therapist to acknowledge you with a short greeting, but refrain from further interaction. You need not feel hurt by this: we are simply maintaining your privacy. You may discuss this possibility or occurrence with your therapist.
We hope this information is helpful. Please feel address any additional questions to your therapist.
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