Frequently Asked Questions

Psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider.

During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.

There are many types of psychotherapy, each with its own approach. The type of psychotherapy that's right for you depends on your individual situation. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.

Source: The Mayo Clinic

Understanding the different types of mental health professionals can be confusing. Listed below are the in-house mental health professionals we have within the Cabell Huntington Hospital Counseling Center.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

LPCs have a great deal of counseling-and-therapy specific training during their Master’s Degree and beyond. LPC’s can work in private practice, for hospitals, in schools, in group private practice, or for other organizations. LPC’s are able to diagnose and treat disorders related to mental health, substance use, personality problems, family life issues, and a variety of other life concerns that get in the way of a person’s optimal functioning and enjoyment of life. Many LPC’s go beyond the required training and supervision toward greater expertise to best serve their clients’ needs.

Provisionally Licensed Counselor

The title “Provisionally Licensed Counselor” applies to those counselors who have finished their Master’s Degrees and who are currently in their supervision period toward their independent licenses as an LPC. During their provisional period they receive one-on-one supervision with an Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor (ALPS) one hour for every 20 hours worked in the field. Provisionally Licensed Counselors can take further training courses beyond their Master’s Degree while working toward their independent licenses.

Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychologists hold a master’s or doctoral degree and perform a variety of psychological testing and assessments based on their training and expertise. Psychologists also provide therapy utilizing a variety of techniques.

Supervised Psychologist

Performs the same as a licensed psychologist but under the direction and supervision of an approved licensed psychologist.

Psychological testing and assessments provided at the CHH Counseling Center:

• IQ measure (to identify intellectual functioning including strengths and weaknesses)
• Specific learning disorders
• Developmental delays
• Behavioral disorders
• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Personality assessments
• Bariatric and other pre-procedure testing

Psychologists are mental health clinicians who provide psychological testing and assessments, as well as therapy.

Psychiatrists are specialized medical doctors who prescribe medications to treat mental health disorders. In some cases, psychiatrists also provide therapy. The Counseling Center does not have a psychiatrist on staff, however our providers make referrals for psychiatric care as needed, and coordinate care with the prescribing physicians with our client’s written consent. On a monthly basis, we consult with Dr. David Humphreys, area psychiatrist, regarding our client’s medication concerns as well as to keep up with new developments in psychopharmacology.

• Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
• Bring your insurance card with you if your therapy will be covered by insurance.
• Bring a list of all psychotropic (mental health) prescriptions you are currently taking.
• Plan for your first appointment to last between 45 minutes and one hour.
• The front desk staff will give you some paperwork to read and fill out in the waiting room. This will include information about the Center, your rights and responsibilities as a client, some questions about your history and your current symptoms, and a HIPAA form when applicable. If you’re bringing a dependent minor who will be the client, there might be paperwork for you both to fill out (the adult bringing the child must be the child’s legal guardian).
• Please note that children under the age of 14 cannot be left alone in the waiting room. If you have children with you under the age of 14 who are not coming for therapy, you’ll need to bring a responsible adult with you to watch them during your appointment.
• Your provider will come and greet you in the waiting room after you’ve completed your paperwork.
• Once in the therapy office, your provider will invite you to share what brought you in for therapy, what symptoms you’re currently having, some family information, medical information, and any experience you’ve had in the past with therapy or mental health medication. They might also discuss treatment options to best fit your needs and goals.
• This first appointment is not a regular therapy appointment, it is primarily an assessment of your situation, goals, and needs, as well as a time for you and your provider to meet and begin the therapeutic relationship. Therapy will begin on your next appointment.
• At the end of the appointment, your provider will recommend frequency of therapy sessions (weekly, every other week, etc.) based on what was discussed during this assessment.
• The front desk staff, as well as your therapist, will be happy to answer any questions. We’re here for you! Let us know how we can make your first appointment as comfortable and productive as possible.

• Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
• Bring your insurance card with you.
• Bring a list of all medications you are taking, including over the counter medications and supplements.
• Plan for your testing to take between 2 and 4 hours.
• The exact length and content of the appointment will be based on the specific type of test (s) administered.
• Most assessments can be completed in one day, but occasionally a second appointment is necessary. If a second appointment is needed to complete the assessment, it will be provided at no additional cost.
• The front desk staff will give you some paperwork to read and fill out in the waiting room. This will include information about the Center, your rights and responsibilities as a client, some questions about your history and your current symptoms, and a HIPAA form when applicable. If you’re bringing a dependent minor who will be the client, there might be paperwork for you both to fill out (the adult bringing the child must be the child’s legal guardian).
• Your provider will come and greet you in the waiting room when you’ve completed your paperwork.
• Once in the psychologist’s office, he or she will invite you to share what brought you in for evaluation, what symptoms you’re currently experiencing, and will ask questions to compile a detailed history.
• Depending on the type of assessment that will be administered, you may be asked to fill out questionnaires, verbally answer questions asked by the psychologist, complete certain tasks, or perform tasks on a computer screen or other electronic device. In addition, it may be helpful for questions to be answered by a teacher, etc. depending on the type of evaluation.
• Please note that children under the age of 14 cannot be left alone in the waiting room. If you have children with you under the age of 14 who are not coming for therapy, you’ll need to bring a responsible adult with you to watch them during your appointment.
• Once the evaluation is completed, a follow-up appointment can be scheduled to discuss the test results and recommendations. This is also provided at no additional cost.
• Referrals for follow up treatment can be made as needed.
• The front desk staff, as well as your psychologist, will be happy to answer any questions. We’re here for you! Let us know how we can make your first appointment as comfortable and productive as possible.
• If you wear corrective lenses, be sure to wear them for your appointment so that your test results will be accurate.

Note regarding psychological testing of minors: if the client is a minor (under the age of 18), the psychologist will interview the client and the parent/guardian. For some of the psychological tests, it is strongly recommended that the testing be administered without the caregiver present in the room.

Below are the frequently asked questions regarding the treatment and testing of minors:

Q. Will I be able to talk to my child’s provider?
A. The parent/guardian is encouraged to speak with the provider.

Q. How much of the treatment process will I be involved in?
A. For younger children, parents are typically more actively involved than for older children and adolescents. Some issues discussed by the child/adolescent may be kept confidential for the sake of the therapeutic process except for circumstances in which confidentiality is excluded by West Virginia law and the provider’s code of ethics.

Q. If my child or adolescent comes for a psychological evaluation, will the results be discussed with the parent or guardian as well as with the minor?
A. The results of the assessment and recommendations will typically be discussed with both the client and the parent/guardian.

Q. What if my child’s other parent and I don’t agree on my child’s assessment or treatment?
A. In many cases, the custody agreement will determine whether one or both parents are needed to make testing and treatment decisions.

Q. My child is 16 and can drive to their appointments. Do I need to be there?
A. A legal guardian of the minor must be present for the first visit. After that, as long as the minor is 14 or above, able to conduct themselves responsibly at the Center, and does not need to be accompanied for another reason (fear, anxiety, disability, etc.), a responsible adult is not required to accompany the child to subsequent appointments unless their provider requests it.