New Horizons General FAQ
If you have questions about our mental health services and how they can benefit you. We have answers. Take a look at some of the most common questions we get, and see if you can find the answer you need. If you don’t see your question or answer below, please give us a call or send us an email for more information.
Do I Need Therapy?
There are several reasons why you might consider getting therapy or counseling with one of our counselors. If you’re experiencing physical or emotional problems that are hindering your life in any way, it’s a good idea to come to us for a mental health screening. Symptoms like anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief, substance abuse, hyperactivity, and others indicate that you have a condition to treat and would benefit from counseling with someone at our North Dallas counseling center.
How Do I Make an Appointment?
To request an appointment, you can submit an appointment request form or call us at 972-607-9650 and we will assist you in scheduling a convenient appointment time.
Phone: 972-607-9650 Fax: 469-519-0423
Morning, day, and late evening appointments available
What Is the First Therapy Session Like?
Your first therapy session at our New Horizons Center is designed to help you feel comfortable and explore the concerns you are having difficulty with. One of our licensed professionals is there to help you develop goals and create a treatment plan for those concerns, and to begin to guide you toward a successful resolution. During the first session, our professionals answer any questions you may have about the process, collaboratively come up with the goals you would like to meet, and make the necessary recommendations for a more efficient and effective therapy process.
How Often Should I Attend Sessions?
It’s usually a good idea to start with one session per week. After some time together, your therapist can talk with you about how to best meet your needs. Many times when you feel more stable and confident with coping and managing your maladjustments, you or the therapist can explore spacing out the sessions to once every two weeks, or even once a month, until you no longer need to come back.
How Is Working with a Therapist Different than Talking to Family?
While it might seem to some people like an unnecessary expense and obligation to visit with one of our McKinney mental health professionals, the reality is that our doctors and providers have the education, professional experience, and skills to process, diagnose, and treat individuals with conditions as varied as ADHD and sexual dependency. If you’re experiencing any symptoms that are interfering with your life, talking with a close friend or family member without professional training is usually not enough to resolve the concerns, particularly in cases where medication is needed. Additionally, sometimes an objective perspective is what is needed to work through individual, couple, or family concerns. Bringing in more friends and family members who are subjectively and emotionally involved often just complicates matters more.
When Will I Be Done with Therapy?
It’s difficult to predict how long it will take to resolve your concerns, as the situation varies from individual to individual. Ultimately, it is up to you how long you decide to remain in the therapy process. There is no contract or obligation for having to attend a minimum number of sessions. We recommend that you start with one and decide from there. We have found some clients come in unsure of what they want to focus on, once they determine their goals they stay in the therapy process to address their goals and then terminate. After the first few sessions of meeting with your therapist, you will get a sense of how long it will take before you no longer need assistance.
How Long Are the Sessions?
It is customary for therapy sessions to be 45-50 minutes in length; sometimes they may go to the full hour. Once you begin attending sessions, you and your therapist can discuss how to best meet your needs. Occasionally you or your therapist may feel a longer session is warranted. Should the need for an extended session arise, our office staff as necessary can schedule these.
Can/Should I Bring My Children With Me? (Adults/Couples)
This is a matter that can be discussed on a case-by-case basis, or before upcoming appointments, by you and your therapist. If your sessions are meant to be family-based, your therapist may recommend having the entire family present. If your sessions are meant to focus on individual concerns, or aspects of your relationships that may not pertain to your children, your therapist may recommend that your children attend for only part of the session, or that you do not bring them with you to a particular appointment.
If My Child Is Attending Sessions, Will I Attend Those Sessions with Them?
This is a matter of personal comfort for both you and your child. If your child is not of legal age, it is important that they be accompanied by a parent or guardian for their first appointment, in order to correctly process intake paperwork. Many parents will attend at least a portion of the first appointment with their child to establish a rapport with their therapist. From this point, it is up to your child, yourself, and their therapist to determine what level of parental involvement will be beneficial as their sessions continue.
How Much Does Therapy Cost? Do You Accept Insurance?
Our staff at New Horizons Center for Healing places the utmost importance on your care, and your ability to receive the treatment you require. We do accept most major insurance plans. As a result, the exact cost of the sessions will depend on your plan coverage, co-pay requirements, or potential deductibles. Our office team will also take the time necessary to fully understand your situation, and will do their very best to find a therapist that will be able to work within your budget.
What if I Need to Refill a Prescription?
All prescription refill requests are handled by the New Horizons office staff. Our office staff must receive a refill request from your pharmacy via fax in order to process refills. We ask that you allow our office at least 48 hours in which to process these requests. If you have additional questions regarding your medication in between appointments, such as potential side effects of your prescribed medication, many of these may be directed to your pharmacist. Our office does recognize that concerns and questions that are best handled by your psychiatrist may arise in between scheduled appointments. In such an event, you may contact our office staff, and we will be happy to schedule an appointment for you in the interim, in which you may discuss and alleviate these concerns.
What Do I Need to Bring to My First Session?
As our office staff helps to set up your appointment, we will offer to send you an email containing relevant information about New Horizons and your first appointment at our Center, including the paperwork you will need to complete before meeting your provider for the first time. If you have the time and ability to complete this before your arrival, you may bring it with you to your first visit. A part of this packet of information will be our “Therapy Consent” form. Though your provider will cover the information in this form during your first session, you may find it helpful to read through the packet, as it can clarify what you can expect from your time with us. In addition to this paperwork, you will need to bring some form of identification, your chosen means of payment, and your insurance card, should you wish to file through insurance.
What if I Have an Emergency and the Center Is Closed?
While your provider and the rest of the New Horizons team will do our very best to support you as needed, our office is not equipped to provide emergency services, and we also understand that situations and emergency or crisis circumstances may arise during times when we are not available to assist you. In such cases, we ask you to remember that your safety and the safety of those around you are of utmost importance.
In a crisis situation, call 911 first. You may also reach out to local emergency personnel to ensure your immediate safety. Alternately, you may contact one of the following resources, which are able to provide 24-hour emergency assistance:
- Medical Center of McKinney, Green Oaks -Wysong Campus – (972) 548-5300
- Timberlawn Mental Health System – (214) 381-7181
Do I Need to Get a Psychological Testing or Screening?
Psychological Testing and Screenings can be an extremely beneficial tool for diagnosis and treatment, and are offered at New Horizons Center for Healing as a part of our comprehensive approach to mental health. Many people come to New Horizons seeking help with life issues such as problems at work or school or in personal relationships, or issues related to communication or difficulty maintaining focus. Many times, these issues arise as a result of underlying problems that are not always clear. Psychological assessments, much like other routine medical tests, can be an invaluable tool for both you and your provider. These assessments can help your provider to arrive at a diagnosis by revealing underlying concerns such as anxiety, depression, or attention disorders such as ADHD. With the clarity and insight gained from your psychological assessment, your provider may be better equipped to guide your treatment, targeting specific areas of focus. If you are interested in learning more about our psychological testing and screenings, our knowledgeable office staff will be happy to help answer any additional questions you may have.
Do I Have to Be a Current Client or Obtain a Referral for a Psychological Assessment?
No. Many people choose to schedule a psychological assessment or screening for themselves without a prior referral from a provider at New Horizons. Another physician, counselor, or advisor may have directed you toward such assessments, or you may wish to schedule an assessment simply for your own knowledge. Whatever the reason, you do not need to have a referral or be a current client at New Horizons in order to do so. Assessments may be scheduled at any time by contacting our office staff. A 30-minute consultation with one of our team of professionals is also included in the price of the psychological screening, so that you may better understand your results, and to answer any questions you may have about possible treatment options.
What do I find out with the results of my Psychological Screening?
The psychological screening assessment that is provided to you at our McKinney Mental Health Center, will provide you with an overall picture of your mental and emotional health. The screening will cover the following areas: Depression Assessment, Anxiety Assessment, Bi-Polar Assessment, PTSD Assessment (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), ADHD Assessment (Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder), and SAD Assessment (Seasonal Affective Disorder). The psychological screening for children is administered in two parts, one part the parent completes the questionnaire regarding the child, and the second part, the child answers questions pertaining to them. The children’s psychological screening also assesses ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).
How Do I Introduce Counseling to My Child?
The idea of therapy for your child may seem complicated and worrisome, but it may in fact create more anxiety for you than for your child, even if you encounter some resistance from them. Remember that the reason for introducing your child to counseling is to give them a safe space to work through their problems. At a time when they are calm and able to listen, you may sit down with your child and talk about the things you have noticed that worry you for him or her, offering compassion for the difficulties they are facing. Then you may begin to explain your child’s counselor as a person whose job it is to help them understand their feelings by playing and talking about them. Make sure your child knows that you believe that the counselor is safe to talk to, and genuinely cares about helping them.
How Do I Know Counseling Will Work for Me?
Counseling is a uniquely individualistic experience and will be different for each person who seeks treatment. Your sessions with your therapist will be devoted to your personal well-being and growth, though this can be achieved through a variety of means and contexts depending on your individual needs. While your therapist has extensive training and experience in helping you to achieve your goals, much of whether counseling will work for you will be dependent upon the therapeutic relationship you develop with your counselor, and your own willingness to work on the goals set forth by you and your counselor during your sessions. One of your best tools for success in counseling will be maintaining open communication with your therapist, and discussing needs, concerns, and questions as they arise.
Why Should I Choose New Horizons?
New Horizons Center for Healing is unique in that we strive to offer a complete, comprehensive approach to addressing the concerns that bring you to our Center. Our diverse team of professionals is able to work together to assess and treat a wide variety of issues all under one roof. This way, you can be confident that each professional will only concentrate on his or her particular area of specialty and focus. Additionally, in the event other emotional or behavioral needs arise for you or other family members our professionals are at your fingertips with being able to step in and help. We are confident that you will find in New Horizons warmth and compassion, a peaceful environment ideal for beginning your healing process, and a genuine desire in each staff member you encounter to help you in any way possible on your path to success.
