Get Started with Therapy in Parker, Colorado
The fact that you’re here is a great step. We’re glad you’ve taken it, and we’ll help you get started.
The first step to start counseling services in Parker is to connect with us via one of the options below to schedule an initial consultation and complete necessary paperwork and a clinical assessment. Next, you’ll attend your intake, be heard, and receive a recommendation for the counselor(s) who can best meet your needs. Finally, after your initial consultation, your assigned counselor will contact you to schedule your first counseling session at a time that works for both you and your counselor.
Choose one option below to connect with us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Call our intake scheduler at 720-842-5553. Our goal is to respond to initial requests within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What counseling services in Parker do you offer?
- How long does a session last and how often will I have sessions?
- How do I know which therapist I should work with?
- What should I expect during the initial consultation?
- Do parents need to come to the appointments?
- Do you do psychological testing?
- What is Family Therapy?
- What is Play Therapy?
- What is your Pre-Marital Program?
- What is the difference between psychotherapy and counseling?
- What is the cost of therapy?
- Do you take insurance?
- Can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA)?
- Is counseling confidential?
- Do your therapists prescribe medication?
- Do you have evening appointments?
- What if I can’t keep my scheduled appointment?
- What modalities do you use?
- What is the difference between a Psychiatrist (M.D.), Psychologist (Ph.D.), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Professional Counselor (LPC), and Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC)?
What counseling services in Parker do you offer?
Southeast Christian Counseling Center offers variety of types of counseling services. We do individual therapy, couples therapy or marriage counseling, pre-marital counseling, family therapy, adolescent therapy, child play therapy and child behavior modification therapy. We do addiction therapy, anger management, therapy for eating disorders, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, trauma therapy, relationship counseling, and pre-marital counseling. Other issues served include blended family challenges, grief and loss counseling, personal growth and development, career challenges or other life transitions, life transitions, chronic pain and crises of health, and existential crises (including crisis of faith and worldview). Group therapy is also offered with types of groups indluding but not limited to adolescent DBT, parenting, relapse prevention, and men’s or women’s domestic violence.
SCCC is now providing behavioral counseling services to those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum, ADHD, intellectual and genetic differences, and other behavioral concerns. These services focus on helping individuals decrease negative, unwanted behaviors, as well as increase positive, appropriate behaviors. These services can also help individuals build a repertoire of skills needed to live more independently, and focuses on generalizing skills learned in the therapeutic setting to the individual’s everyday environment.
As our services change with the continued growth of our team, feel free to give us a call to learn more.
How long does a session last and how often will I have sessions?
This really depends on you and your needs. Your therapist can help guide you in determining the length and frequency of sessions. Generally, a session is 50 minutes but we can accommodate 30 minutes, 75 minutes, and even just under 2 hours. You may come multiple times a week, once a week, bi-weekly, or once a month.
How do I know which therapist I should work with?
At Southeast Christian Counseling Center, we provide initial consultations for all new clients during which we will hear your story, collect pertinent information, take care of paperwork, and connect you with a professional on our team best suited to your needs. You are always welcome to also review the team bios on the Meet the Team page.
What should I expect during the initial consultation?
During the initial consultation, an intake coordinator will meet with you to hear your story, assess current needs, and determine which of our therapists will be the best fit for you. They will ask a series of questions to learn about your background and reasons for seeking counseling help. Parents of minors will have an opportunity to answer questions about their child or adolescent.
Children 8-17 will complete a short assessment on site, while adults 18 or above will be asked to complete an assessment online in advance of the in-office interview.
Do parents need to come to the appointments?
For anyone under 15, we require any parents having decision-making authority to give written consent for therapy before the first session. This paperwork is signed during the initial consultation, so it is necessary for at least one parent to attend this initial consultation session. Parents who have decision-making authority and are unable to attend the initial consultation may provide written consent in advance when arranged in advance with our staff.
While not generally in attendance during the main portion of a session, parents of children and teens under 15 are invited into a collaborative relationship with children’s therapists to support the process and progress of therapy. Therapists can provide helpful insights and empower you with resources and tools but they are often more effective with parental collaboration and input. In accordance with Colorado State law, for minors of 15 years and older who consent for their own therapy, therapists can typically divulge to parents what is shared confidentially in sessions only with the written consent of the client. Communication is always encouraged and welcome between parents and therapists.
Do you do psychological testing?
Presently, we do not.
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy focuses on relationships, and it usually involves many members of the family. This means several family members attend sessions together. Couples therapy is considered family therapy.
What is Play Therapy?
Southeast Christian Counseling Center offers play therapy for children in Parker. This age-oriented therapy is a special therapeutic process that focuses on children’s need to express themselves through the use of play and toys. Play therapists have had advanced training in this method utilized for children.
What is your Pre-Marital Program?
We have Prepare Enrich certified facilitators. We cover the cost of the Prepare Enrich pre-marital assessment and offer discounted hourly rates in a package of six sessions with one of our therapists that will enable you to focus on the strengths and growth areas that the assessment highlights.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and counseling?
The terms counseling and psychotherapy are often used interchangeably (including on this website), but there can be a subtle and distinctive difference intended when some professionals use these terms.
Counseling typically focuses on specific issues and is designed to help a person address a particular problem, such as addiction or stress management. Counseling is a relatively brief treatment focused mostly on behaviors by fostering awareness and discernment for dealing with the issue in question. The focus may be on problem solving or on learning specific techniques for coping with or avoiding problem areas. It may be wellness-based and provide increased insight and learning in order to overcome problems and challenges.
Psychotherapy is typically more long-term than counseling and focuses on a broader range of issues. Psychotherapy is often treatment-based to address mental health issues such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders etc. It can be used in tandem with medication but this isn’t always the case. Psychotherapy focuses on gaining insight into chronic physical and emotional problems. Its focus is often on the client’s thought processes and way of being in the world, rather than on a limited list of specific problems. Depending on the specific type of psychotherapy that is being used, the goal is to help people feel better equipped to manage stresses, understand patterns in their behavior that may interfere with reaching personal goals, have more satisfying relationships, and better regulate their thinking and emotional responses to stressful situations. If someone has a form of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy also addresses ways in which the illnesses affects their daily life, focuses on how to best understand the illness and manage its symptoms and follow medical recommendations.
Even though there can be differences, the professional who is facilitating the counseling or psychotherapy is frequently the same person. The approach employed is determined by the presenting needs of the client. Obviously, counseling and psychotherapy can overlap. A therapist can provide counseling in certain situations and a counselor can use psychotherapy in their approach. Both psychotherapy and counseling can use the same therapeutic theories and frameworks. However, generally, psychotherapy is conducted by professionals trained to practice psychotherapy such as registered psychologists, social workers, or psychotherapists. While a psychotherapist is qualified to provide counseling services, a counselor may or may not have the training and skills to provide psychotherapy.
Note: Nomenclature used by licensing bodies (like state governments) may not always differentiate between these terms. A “registered psychotherapist,” for example, may or may not have professional therapy training, while licensed professional counselors, in order to obtain licensure, must have a masters degree in clinical mental health or a related field.
All therapists at Southeast Christian Counseling Center are professionally trained and possess master’s degrees in fields permitting them to provide professional therapy, except for interns who are currently in graduate school.
What is the cost of therapy?
There is a reduced-rate fee of $75 for our 60-90 minute initial consultation during which we assess which therapist on our team is the best fit for each client. One of the strongest predictors of your therapy’s effectiveness is your rapport with your therapist. One benefit of having a team of diverse therapists is that our clientele have many options for support, which we are happy to help guide you through. During the first session, our intake coordinator will ask a series of questions about your background and the reason for seeking help now. They will get to know you, your needs, and preferences! We do our best to honor your uniqueness.
After the initial intake session, our regular session rates vary based on the education and credentials of our therapists. Our intern rates are $65/hour while our LPC rates are $140/hour. There is an option in between as well. The rate you will pay is determined during or after the initial consultation. Payment is due at time of service.
Do you take insurance?
We do not directly bill insurance but if you wish to use your insurance, we can provide receipts for you submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Please check with your insurance carrier to make sure you have out-of-network benefits.
Also, we are not a Medicaid approved facility and thus are unable to see clients who are on Medicaid regardless of whether they are self paying or using Medicaid benefits.
Can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA)?
Yes. We can charge HSA/FSA debit cards. However, the bank managing your HSA/FSA account ultimately determines which charges are automatically approved.
Is counseling confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. Therapists are required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. Therapists are required to notify the police and the person in danger.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety and in rare cases this requires contact to family members or other service providers to ensure client safety.
Do your therapists prescribe medication?
No, only a medical doctor or qualified nurse practitioner can prescribe medication. We can offer referrals to psychiatric professionals for medication assessment and management. We are happy to collaborate with these professionals on your behalf when you are receiving therapy services at Southeast Christian Counseling Center. You can also contact your insurance company for medication providers who may be in network.
Do you have evening appointments?
Yes, we have evening appointments. Each therapist keeps his or her own schedule. If you need an evening appointment, please discuss this with the intake coordinator during the initial consultation to be sure you are matched with a therapist whose availability compliments your need.
What if I can’t keep my scheduled appointment?
Your time is valuable to us. We set this time aside just for you so it is important to keep scheduled appointments whenever you are able. If you are unable to come at your scheduled time, please call your therapist at least 24 hours in advance to cancel. If you cancel at the last minute or fail to come to an appointment, you will be charged for the appointment.
What modalities do you use?
Our team employs a variety of evidence-based psychotherapy modalities as clients have need including:
- Person-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) (For more information on EMDR trauma therapy, please visit the resources page at https://www.emdria.org/page/emdr_therapy.)
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
- Dialectial Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Existential Therapy
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
- Reality Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Experiential Play Therapy
- Integrative Therapy
What is the difference between a Psychiatrist (M.D.), Psychologist (Ph.D.), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Professional Counselor (LPC), and Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC)?
All of these professionals are licensed and trained to provide psychotherapy services. Each has some specialty areas that are unique to their training.
Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor. His or her role often includes medication assessment, prescription, and medication monitoring. We do not have any psychiatrists on our team.
Psychologist: (PhD) A psychologist has earned a PhD/doctorate and has advanced training in psychology. A psychologist’s role is often to provide psychological testing and diagnostic assessment as well as therapy and possibly clinical research.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: LCSW is a Master’s Degree level therapist (MSW), with at least two years post graduate degree experience. Their role is often to be the primary provider of individual, family, and group psychotherapies and/or provide case management services in various community settings.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: LMFT is a Master’s Degree level therapist with at least two years post graduate degree experience. Their role is often to be the primary provider of individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies. They have advanced training in family and marital therapy.
Licensed Professional Counselor: LPC is a Master’s Degree level therapist with at least two years post degree experience. Their role is often to be the primary provider of individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies.
Certified Addictions Counselor: (CAC) There are four levels of certified and licensed addiction counselors: CAC I, CAC II, CAC III, and LAC (Licensed Addictions Counselor). Most CAC III and LAC clinicians have a Master’s Degree and all have had advanced training in substance abuse treatment.
Intern: At Southeast Christian Counseling Center, an intern is in the last stages of completing a Master’s Degree in clinical mental health. All interns are supervised by licensed professionals.