About Counseling
What is a Counselor?
Counseling is offered by many disciplines: Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Social Workers, Certified Addiction Counselors, Licensed Psychologists and Licensed Psychiatrists. At Person to Person, we employ Licensed Counselors, Licensed Social Workers and Certified Addiction Counselors.
Licensure for both counselors and social workers in Georgia requires a master’s degree and passage of a comprehensive examination. In order to maintain their licenses, counselors and social workers are are required to attend at least 20 hours of continuing education courses each year. Certification as an addiction counselor requires extensive training in the field of addiction and passage of a rigorous examination. Certified addiction counselors are required to attend at least 30 hours of continuing education courses each year.
We have consulting psychologists on call for any cases that require extensive psychological testing, and we have consulting psychiatrists on call for any cases where medication may be appropriate.
Licensed psychologists are required to have a doctorate in counseling; they offer psychological testing as well as counseling. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who have a specialty in psychiatry. They may provide counseling, but most often provide medication management for psychiatric problems.
What’s the Difference Between Counseling and Psychotherapy?
These words are used interchangeably among professionals, and there is no distinctive difference.
Can a Counselor Solve my Problems?
Probably not. But he or she can help you find new ways to begin to solve them yourself. Change requires a personal commitment, and through the counseling relationship, many people can find the creativity and strength to move in more positive directions.
What is the Counseling Relationship?
The counseling relationship is a unique one. It is a meaningful relationship that can and should facilitate growth through openness and honesty in a trusting environment. Although your sessions with a counselor may be very intimate emotionally and psychologically, it is important for you to realize that the relationship you have with your counselor is a professional relationship rather than a personal one. Your contact with your counselor will be limited to the paid sessions you have. Please do not invite your counselor to social gatherings, offer gifts, or ask your counselor to relate to you in any way other than in the professional context of your counseling sessions. You will be best served if your relationship remains strictly professional and if your sessions concentrate exclusively on your concerns. You will learn a great deal about your counselor as you work together during your counseling experience. However, it is important for you to remember that you are experiencing your counselor only in his/her professional role.
What Can You Expect in the Counseling Session?
There are many different types of counseling that are available. Counselors use a variety of methods and approaches to therapy, depending upon their particular orientation and the types of problems with which they are dealing. The type of approach used depends on the particular counselor’s orientation and the type of problem presented. Most counselors draw on a variety of approaches, and use different ones for different types of clients and problems. You should discuss with your counselor the type of approach he or she intends to use, and if you have a preference, you should make your wishes known.
You are the one who decides what you want to get out of counseling. A competent therapist will work with you to help you determine what goals you hope to achieve and will walk beside you as you work toward those goals, offering assistance along the way.
How Long Will it Take to Reach my Goals?
Some clients need only a few counseling sessions to achieve their goals, while others may require longer. If counseling is successful, you should feel that you are able to face life’s challenges in the future without the support or intervention of your therapist.
As a result of mental health counseling, the client may realize that he/she has additional issues which may not have surfaced prior to the onset of the counseling relationship. Counseling does not ensure that all personal issues will be resolved, and at times, may elicit some uncomfortable emotions, especially regarding interpersonal relationships.
There may be other treatments and resources which can contribute to your health and well-being in addition to counseling. The use of medication, support groups, and various community resources should be explored.
Pre-Marital 
