Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It can be confusing at times as the terms are often used interchangeably. At their core, both professionals focus on improving psychological well-being by providing emotional support and guidance—but there are some subtle differences in how they practice. In this post about marriage counseling, we dive into this in more detail.

We do offer Telehealth. Since it has been so effective and convenient for our clients. We only offer telehealth services going forward. In addition, we have been able to cut our rates and pass those office space savings on to our cients.

You can expect to feel comfortable the first session. Our number one goal is to establish that connection in which you feel completely comfortable working with us. This provides the optimum environment for us to begin helping you be your best self.

Northstar Counseling Services are in high demand. We usually can schedule new patients inside of a week. We try to leave a few time slots open for emergencies and new patients. Give us a call at (214) 494-0737‬ or schedule a time directly via this portal and let us know your circumstances, we will work on scheduling you in.

Northstar Counseling offers a 24 hour cancellation policy. As long as you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours prior to your appointment there is no fee guaranteed. Inside of 24 hours, cancellations are on a case by case basis of whether or not there is a fee associated with it.

NorthStar Counseling prides itself on the ability for clients and potential clients to be seen within one week of initial contact. If it is an emergency, please reach out to 911. 

Insurance may or may not be the best option for you. It’s best to call us and talk about the situation openly so we can derive the best solution possible for you. A few talking points worth considering are.

1. Insurance providers will require we submit diagnoses to them regarding our sessions. This information stays on your file for life. Personally we do not like the invasion of privacy insurance companies request.
2. Insurance will drive the treatment plan which may not always be the best option for your needs. After all, we are all different and it’s not uncommon for us to need specialized treatment. Quality and the effectiveness of case is our number one concern.
3. Insurance may raise your premiums, which will cost you more in the long run. If you are concerned about cost, we can find a solution that works for you.

We are here to help, the last thing we want to do is take away from that. Give us a call at (214) 494-0737 to find the best solution for you.

If you find yourself struggling with day to day activities or not feeling like yourself, or anytime an issue, old or new becomes too much to handle, it may be time to check in with a professional counselor.

If you have been considering individual counseling, but are unsure of what it is and how it could help you, this blog post is for you! We will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about individual counseling so that you can determine if it would be a helpful tool in your life. Whether you are struggling with mental health issues or are just looking for guidance on how to reach personal goals, understanding individual counseling can provide crucial insight into your options. Let us go over key information such as what happens in sessions, how long they typically last, and more so that together we can begin to explore the possibilities offered by therapy.

We offer a wide range of mental health services. For a complete list of all the counseling and therapy options we offer, please select this link. 

We are totally obsessed with your privacy! Our state of the art technology and infrastructure ensures your data is always protected and secure. This is also one of the many reasons we do not bill insurance. They require we disclose your life and session history along with a diagnosis. Not only is that a dangerous road for treatment, it can be a very unsecure situation for you with employment and otherwise. We find it best that our sessions remain 100% confidential between client and therapist. Beyond that, it is 100% up to you whether or not you want to disclose anything to anyone else.

We have teamed up with a private yet very secure video service similar to that of Messenger or Skype where you can talk to your counselor face to face. This software, unlike the services above provides an end to end encryption only accessible by you and your provider in real time. This means that nowhere outside of those two connections can your conference be accessed. Our software can not be recorded. If you wish to have your sessions recorded, you will have to do so from your end externally. You can of course request a copy of your sessions notes at any time however.

Our professionals at Northstar Counseling are licensed and credentialed therapists. All therapists are certified by their state’s board to provide services. Telehealth has been very effective for our clients. The technology seems to be getting better every day with more interactive and accurate software. In certain cases, telehealth may not be as capable of substituting for traditional face-to-face therapy sessions. This is usually dependent on an individuals situation such as court orders or prescription fulfillment. Our professionals can help work with your primary care givers if you so choose in order to help fulfill those needs.

This is really dependent on the individual and their needs. Each condition and diagnosis is different and requires different levels of care. Counseling and Therapy is also heavily dependent on your willingness, support, environment and effort. If you would like a better idea, contact us to tell us what is happening in your life. We will be able to give you a more robust answer after we know the details.

Learn more about us and Megan Corrieri the founder of Northstar Counseling & Therapy. See all the services we provide, what qualifications set us apart from other therapist providers, and how we can help make sure that selecting the right therapy plan tailored to meet all of your needs is easier than ever.

The first session will be considered an intake assessment where we will go though background information and this session is 60 minutes. Sessions to follow are typically 50-55 minutes unless other arrangements are made with the provider. 

There are many varieties of counseling out there and understanding how they differ can be helpful in helping you decide which one is best suited to meet your needs. In this blog post about Pyschodynamic vs Pyschoanalytical approaches, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about various types of counseling, outlining key distinctions between them so that you can make an informed decision when selecting a counselor.

The answer may depend on your relationship to this person.  However, a good start would be to let them know you are there to support them and gently encourage them to seek out professional help. 

You can remain anonymous to us if you wish. You may choose a nick name or alias you wish us to call you by. When you decide to start the counseling process, we will ask you for emergency contact information. We will keep that safe in the system under your anonymous alias. Only if your counselor believes you may be at a great harm to yourself or someone else will they use that emergency contact to check on your well being.

Working with a therapist can be a great way to address issues that you may be dealing with, but it is important to measure your progress as well. Consulting with your therapist will give you insight on how they think therapy is progressing and they can help you identify changes in how you’re feeling. Keeping a mental or written record of how you’ve been feeling throughout the duration of therapy can give both yourself and your therapist an indication of whether it has been helping—if there is a decrease in distressing emotions or thoughts, it’s likely the therapist’s efforts are working. You should also see improvement in any underlying problems or behaviors that originally prompted the desire for therapy; if these have not changed over several sessions, chances are therapy has not been as successful as it should have been.

Understanding what CBT is and how it works can help inform your decisions in seeking mental health treatment. If you have questions regarding the basics of CBT and its application, then this blog post on cognitive behavioral therapy is for you! Here we provide an overview of key things to know about this popular form of psychotherapy, offering insight into how it helps people create enduring changes in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

For many individuals, one of their major concerns when considering therapy is the total time commitment. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits all answer because sessions can vary depending on your needs. Sessions generally range from 50 minutes to 1.5 hours. All new clients must perform an intake, this can be performed anywhere within 1-2 hours. You may want to first schedule a free consultation so that you can make an informed decision about whether counseling is an appropriate path for you at this moment in your life journey.

Therapy can be an incredibly effective way of managing stress and depression. It provides an opportunity to speak with a therapist who is professionally trained to help you work through your symptoms and develop healthy coping strategies. Depending on the individual’s situation and preferences, therapy could include methods such as talking through difficult feelings or certain types of activities, such as mindfulness. Such approaches can help you better understand and process the underlying causes of your anxiety or depressive tendencies so that you can better address them long-term. Ultimately, therapy is customizable depending on your specific needs and goals; working with a therapist is one of the most efficient ways to recognize patterns in your behavior and make lasting improvements to reduce stress or depression.

To best equip yourself, there are some essential steps to take before your session. Firstly, it’s important to have some knowledge on the therapist you are seeing and what type of therapy they practice. Building a rapport with your therapist will help make further sessions more comfortable and productive. Secondly, it’s beneficial to form an idea of what you’d like to get from the therapy, whether that is comfort, guidance or management of certain issues. Having these goals in mind can help direct your therapist throughout each session and maximize its efficacy. Lastly, be mindful of taking notes during and after each session – by going over these before each appointment, you can remember all the ideas discussed previously, as well as uncover any new helpful information. Following these steps when preparing for therapy will provide foundational groundwork and set you up for success.