Frequently Asked Questions
These are some answers to common questions we receive on a regular basis. If you ever have any additional questions, contact us and Jeanette will be in touch with you.
1. What issues do you provide counseling for?
We provide counseling for adults, teens, pastors, families, and couples. Our counselors each specialize in different areas, helping those struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, grief, anger, addiction, codependency, relationship issues, communication, parenting, premarital and marital issues.
2. How Can Counseling Help?
Your counselor will work with you to establish your personal goals for counseling and then tailor the process personally to you. Your counselor will listen closely to understand your experience, then find ways to assist you in moving towards your goals. How counseling works differs from person to person, because it is a personalized experience. It might involve gaining a new perspective, exploring things about yourself, implementing spiritual disciplines, changing unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving, processing difficult experiences, and learning healthy ways of coping.
3. What Kind Of Counseling do You Provide?
We offer Christian pastoral counseling, which integrates the insights of Christian spirituality with counseling skill and theory. Our pastoral counselors are either: ordained clergy who have graduate training in pastoral care and are certified by a national organization in pastoral counseling - or - state licensed counselors who have graduate training in counseling but also additional training in theology and psychospiritual integration. Pastoral counseling is a unique form of counseling because practitioners are uniquely equipped to assist the healing of the whole person—spirit, soul, and body. Our counselors may suggest prayer, study of scripture, spiritual disciplines, books, and other resources to facilitate growth inside and outside counseling sessions.
4. Can you prescribe medicine?
None of our counselors are medical physicians and cannot prescribe medicine. Any medical or psychiatric symptoms should be addressed by a qualified psychiatric specialist. Clients will be referred to outside sources when treatment required is beyond the scope of care available here.
5. What if I am not a christian?
We seek to help people regardless of their faith background or beliefs. We do not push our beliefs on anyone. However, faith forms our worldview, practice, and perspective. For more information, view our Statement of Faith or see our counseling approach.
6. I've never been to counseling before—what's it like?
If you've never been to counseling, or if you've been numerous times before, our goal is to make you feel at ease and comfortable enough to talk about what's on your mind. In the first session, we'll finalize paperwork, then have you share your story. If you're dealing with difficult emotions, you will be encouraged to talk them out and so we can discover where they are coming from. We typically assign homework, as well as a book recommendation or two to help you in your introspection beyond our sessions together. Our goal is to equip you in your walk with God and others so you can find healing.
7. Where are you located?
Our main office is in Peoria near Olive and the Loop 101 at: 9299 West Olive Avenue, Suite 212 Peoria, AZ 85345 (Directions >) The counseling center is located on the second floor. To access it, enter through the State Farm office on the lower floor. We also have additional locations in Tempe and North Phoenix.
8. do you accept insurance?
We are not an in-network provider with any health insurance company, though our clinical counselors (Kristine and Lisa) can give you a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for possible partial or full reimbursement. Check with your insurance to see if you have out-of-network benefits. We cannot guarantee reimbursement on behalf of any insurance company. All of our counselors can also accept HSA (Health Savings Account) cards.
9. Why don't You take Insurance?
Most insurance companies will not cover pastoral counseling. If you want to find a counselor who takes your insurance, call your insurance company directly and they will let you know what providers they have on their panel. You must be diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis in order for your therapy to be covered by an insurance company, which can affect future coverage. Not all people who seek counseling necessarily have a mental health diagnosis.
Often, individuals are experiencing normal reactions to stressful or challenging life situations and just need support with that process. At Arizona Christian Counseling, your records will not be shared with anyone without your permission. In fact, no one else will know you are in counseling unless you tell them. Paying privately means you don't need permission from a third-party, and that you have complete control over which counselor you see and for how long.
Often, individuals are experiencing normal reactions to stressful or challenging life situations and just need support with that process. At Arizona Christian Counseling, your records will not be shared with anyone without your permission. In fact, no one else will know you are in counseling unless you tell them. Paying privately means you don't need permission from a third-party, and that you have complete control over which counselor you see and for how long.
10. WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?
Our rate is $150 per 50 minute counseling session. We also offer an extended 90 minute session at $250. We have discounted rates when they are purchased in packages. We also have some counselors who are able to see clients on a sliding scale.
