Services Provided

A man stands triumphantly with arms open, overlooking a scenic mountain range.

Individual

Counseling

Family

Counseling

Vibrant close-up of a child's hands covered in colorful paint, expressing creativity and fun.

Child & Adolescent

Counseling & Play Therapy

Couples

Counseling

Businesswoman making a phone call while working at the desk, focused and professional.

Telehealth

Counseling

We pride ourselves on providing quality mental health and addiction treatment services in a safe and confidential environment that promotes healing, wellness, and hope.

Types of Counseling

Emphasizing Practical Solutions to Create Meaningful Life Changes

Common Questions

What is the difference between counseling and therapy? Which does FRU offer?

These terms are often used interchangeably. Therapy or psychotherapy and counseling are both treatments for mental health or addiction issues that involve talking with a trained mental health professional. Counseling is usually short-term and tends to focus on one specific issue. Therapy tends to treat more complex issues and can be more long-term. FRU offers both counseling and therapy.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, therapist and social worker? Which are at FRU?

· A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, provide therapy as appropriate, prescribe medication and other medical treatments.
· A psychologist can diagnose and treat mental health conditions, perform psychological testing and provide therapy.
· A licensed professional clinical counselor has a master’s degree and is trained to diagnose and treat a person’s mental health condition through specialized therapeutic techniques in order to help clients develop coping skills to manage life challenges.
· A licensed independent social worker with a master’s degree is trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions, provide therapy, and link clients to other supportive services.

FRU has licensed professional counselors who can provide counseling or therapy services based on the client’s needs.

What do you do in counseling?

Counseling provides a safe space for individuals to identify their problems, explore their feelings, and develop strategies to overcome challenges and improve their overall well-being. The counselor listens to your concerns, asks questions and provides guidance to help you discover the changes you want to make.

When should someone go to counseling?

Some of the concerns people have who consider counseling may be experiencing:

· Feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, or emptiness
· Difficulty coping with daily tasks or responsibilities
· Frequent conflicts or repeating unhealthy relationship patterns
· Major life adjustments (job loss, relationship breakup, grief)
· Persistent habits or patterns you can’t seem to break alone
· Feeling stuck or overwhelmed

How do I know when my child needs counseling?

Reasons for seeking counseling for children can vary widely. You can always reach out to a mental health professional for support and guidance.

Some signs that a child may need counseling include:

· Changes in behavior, mood, or appetite
· Excessive anxiety, worry or fear
· Difficulty with social interactions or friendships
· Academic struggles or change in school-performance
· Withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed
· Self-harming behaviors
· Physical symptoms not improving with the help of a doctor such as headaches or stomachaches

What will happen at my first counseling session?

It’s important to come prepared to talk about specific issues, concerns, or difficulties you are facing and what you want counseling to accomplish for you.

The first appointment is considered an intake appointment to gather information about what services you need, This appointment can last up to 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

· The counselor asking a series of questions to ensure they understand your history and current concerns.
· Signing appropriate forms such as informed consent which provides information about your counselor, services, and confidentiality.
· Creating treatment goals focused on what you want to focus on and accomplish during the course of treatment.
· Providing you an opportunity to ask questions about the counseling process and address any concerns.

Subsequent counseling sessions last from 45 to 60 minutes.

How frequently do I need to go to counseling and when will I know that I’m done?

Counseling frequency varies depending on each person’s needs and goals. Counselors will usually start with more frequent visits and then decrease over time as goals are accomplished.
Duration varies widely. Short-term counseling (focused on specific issues) generally lasts around 6-12 sessions. Long-term therapy (often about deeper or recurring personal patterns) can continue for months or even several years depending on the issues.

How do I know counseling/therapy is working?

Some indicators that counseling/therapy is helping include:

· Experiencing increased emotional stability
· Noticeable reduction of problematic symptoms like anxiety, sadness, anger, or conflict
· Improved relationships, greater self-awareness, and stronger coping skills
· Positive shifts in your thinking and behavior, even subtle ones

What are some of the counseling approaches my counselor will use?

“I use a client-centered approach to treatment which means I believe the client is the expert in their own life and in charge of their treatment and making the changes in their lives they view as beneficial. I am the supportive guide that helps clients to get to that place.” S. May-Craft

Some specific approaches Shannon uses include:

· Attachment Therapy. Focuses on how childhood experiences and attachment with caregivers or lack thereof affects an individual’s ability to form meaningful relationships in adulthood
· Behavioral Therapy. Focuses on changing problematic or self-destructive behaviors in order to minimize or eliminate the issue
· Cognitive Therapy. Focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns
· Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Focuses on the mind-body connection which helps people heal from the emotional distress caused by trauma.
· Integrative or Holistic Therapy. Focuses on combining different approaches according to each client’s unique needs
· Mindfulness-Based Therapy. Focuses on conscious awareness of the present moment
· Motivational Interviewing Therapy. Focuses on helping individual’s to find their own personal motivation to change their behavior
· Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Focuses on short-term, goal-oriented approaches to problem solving
· Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Focuses on helping children process experiences caused by traumatic or distressing life event(s)

Is counseling confidential, and are there any exceptions to confidentiality?

Counseling is confidential and counselors won’t share your information (even with family members) without your explicit consent. But important exceptions exist, mainly due to legal and safety requirements:

· Suspected child abuse or neglect
· If there’s an immediate risk of you harming yourself or others
· Court orders in rare situations requiring disclosure