Cornerstone Counseling Center

New Client Information

When is psychotherapy appropriate for me?

There are time when the best of efforts to cope with life circumstances are not successful. Unresolved problems and conflicts can cause emotional stress with psychological symptoms such as feelings of anxiety, depression, moodiness, decreased energy, and seemliness, loss of appetite or increased appetite. Physical problems such as stomach problems, headaches, backaches, loss of libido can also be brought on by stress. This kind of stress can impact relationships as well as daily functioning in the work place and at home.

What ever the difficulty, any unresolved issue is an appropriate reason to seek psychotherapy. Often the wisest, healthiest, and most courageous thing to do is to seek the help of a competent professional. Since you have taken the first step in seeking psychotherapy it might be helpful to know a few things about the therapeutic process and your responsibilities in that process.

The Psychotherapy Process

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is not easily described. There are a variety of approaches that I may employ depending on you and the problems you are addressing in therapy. During the initial assessment period (usually 3-4 sessions) I will listen carefully to your problems or the circumstances that brought you into therapy, take a physical history, gather family of origin and social history information, and screen for psychological disorders. At the end of the initial assessment period, I will discuss the assessments and recommendations with you. If you choose to continue therapy, we will establish the goals of your therapy together and continue to work toward those goals together.

Confidentiality

All information shared in therapy is confidential. No information will be released (except when required by law) without the express written consent of the client.

Parents of children between the ages of 12-18 are entitled to information concerning their child's diagnosis and treatment needs. I prefer to work with parents and child present, however at times individual therapy is warranted. In those instances the therapist will establish the confidentiality guidelines with child and parents.

I will discuss other circumstances as the needs arise.

Appointments

While the outcome of your therapy cannot be predicted, it is very important that you make therapy a high priority. The more you are able to take ownership of your therapy and invest yourself into it, the more helpful you will likely find therapy to be. It is important to be as open as possible with your therapist. You are invited to express any and all thoughts, feelings, or concerns that you may have.

For many their problems did not develop overnight. Likewise they may not be resolved quickly, as there are no easy solutions for many of life's dilemmas. There is no way of knowing how many appointments it will take for you. Experience has shown that irregular and broken appointments will interfere with progress towards your goals, those who place a priority on their therapy resolve their issues more quickly. You will be given a regular time (usually weekly 45-minunte sessions). It is expected that you will be responsible for keeping those appointments. It is understood that occasionally scheduling conflicts arise. In such instances, you will need to give at least a 24-hour notice, or you will be charged for the session, not just your co-pay.

Fees and Billing

Fees for professional services are based on the therapist's professional qualifications—not on payment schedules established by insurance companies. My fee per session is $100.00. As a community service, I will consider a sliding fee scale for those who are not covered by insurance or another third party plan. Most insurance plans will cover some portion of the cost of therapy. Medicare and Medicaid may be accepted. Your therapist will negotiate the costs with you during the first session. Payment is expected at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made.

Fees for mediation services, writing reports, evaluations. and expert testimony are $65.00 per hour. Payment is expected in advance of the services. Telephone consultations lasting more than 10 minutes will be billed as one full session.

Miscellaneous Considerations

The flow of the therapy hour greatly impacts the effectiveness of the therapy. Interruptions or distractions are detrimental to the success of your treatment. Therefore I will make every effort to prevent interruptions and I expect the same from you. If you have a cell phone please turn it off during our session. If you have children you are responsible for making arrangements for child care.

Your Therapist

Dr. Tony Victor is licensed by the State of Illinois to practice as a Clinical Professional Counselor. Dr. Victor is a certified Fellow with the American Association of Pastorial Counselors. His training and experience reflect a variety of faith traditions and psychological foundations including a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastorial Counseling and a post doctoral three-year clinical internship in psychodynamic psychotherapy with an emphasis on object relations and family systems theory. Dr. Victor has been a practicing psychotherapist for over 15 years. He stays current in the field of psychotherapy with annual continuing education units.

Om 1992 he founded and is the director of Cornerstone Counseling Center. He is an ordained minister. He has completed the clinical requirements for certification as an IMAGO Therapist.

Contacting Dr. Victor

I can be reached at 618-516-3337. If I do not answer, leave a confidential message and I will return your call as soon as possible. I check my voice mail frequently during the day. In the event of an emergency and you are unable to reach me, and cannot wait for me to return your call, contact your physician or go to the local emergency room. I will advise you of the times when I will be gone for extended periods of time.