If you are interested in starting therapy with us at Mountain Counseling & Training, Inc. (MCT for short!), welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!
If you’re wondering what the first steps look like, check out our blog post that discusses everything about what you can expect from the initial intake process.
Here we’ll explore the next phase: continuing therapy at MCT. This is where you and your therapist meet on a regular basis and get to work on your treatment goals!
A quick review of the intake process: At this point in your therapeutic journey, you will have already met with your MCT therapist (either virtually or in-person), perhaps a few times to get acquainted with one another and complete your intake assessment. Your therapist will have asked you lots of questions about your background, strengths, and goals. Most importantly, you and a consenting caregiver (required if you are under age 12) will have already discussed and signed the informed consent forms which legally declares that you agree to treatment. If you still have questions about any paperwork, feel free to ask your therapist about it at any time!
Programs: Before you proceed with regular therapy sessions, you will be assigned a therapy program which is generally based on the following factors: insurance status and scores using the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) Scoring Tool, completed by your therapist throughout the intake process. At MCT we offer four different programs:
Student Assistance Program (Early Intervention), “SAP”:
- Ages 5-21
- Medi-Cal insurance primarily, but space for other situations
- CANS Score: 0-5
- Client meets with therapist 2-3 times per month
- Therapist meets with caregiver once per month
- Life & coping skills workshops
School-Aged Treatment Services, “SATS”:
- Ages 5-21
- Medi-Cal insurance ONLY
- CANS Score: 5-10
- Client meets with therapist once a week (individual and/or family therapy)
- Behavioral coaching
- Therapist meets with caregiver as needed
Success First/Early Wraparound:
- Ages 5-21
- Medi-Cal insurance primarily, but space for other situations
- CANS Score: 10+
- Client meets with therapist 3-5 times per week
- Behavioral coaching
- Caregiver support and resources in *Wraparound model (*a family-driven, strengths and needs based team approach to treatment)
- Monthly team meetings
MCT’s Therapy Cottage:
- Therapy for all ages, couples, & families
- Cash Pay ONLY – Insurance NOT accepted
- $75 per session with Associate Therapist
- $30 per session with Student Therapist
- Anger Management Classes (for personal growth)
Set up your appointment schedule: Now it’s time to take the next step into your treatment! You and your therapist will set up a routine for your appointment schedule. When and how often you meet for your appointments depends on the program you’re in and what’s recommended for you based on your availability and treatment goals. Some clients meet multiple times every week, others meet once a week, and some only 2-3 times per month. This schedule should be consistent to start and may change as needed over time!
Decide where you’ll meet: Discuss with your therapist where you’ll meet for your appointments. Possible options include:
- MCT Office: Sessions can occur in person at our office located at 340 CA Highway 138 Crestline, CA 92325. The waiting room is attached to the building’s entrance and is therefore open to anyone using the MCT office. However, all therapy rooms where sessions take place are designed for privacy during each session (door will be closed with sound machine on). Some rooms have separate entrances if discretion is preferred. Ask your therapist about this option.
- Virtual/Zoom: Clients can conduct therapy sessions virtually using our HIPAA compliant (encrypted to protect personal health information) Zoom platform. You will be asked to sign an informed consent form that specifically agrees to virtual sessions. A zoom link connecting you to your virtual session will be provided by your therapist. You will be expected to secure a confidential space during every session and provide your physical address at the time the session takes place.
- School: Some clients can arrange to meet for therapy at school during school hours using a confidential space provided by the school’s administration. This requires written authorization from you as the client and a consenting caregiver using a Release of Information (ROI) form. This form allows MCT to communicate and make logistical arrangements with your school so that your meetings can take place there. Out of respect for your right to confidentiality, you will not be required to share any private information about your treatment with anyone at school. However, please keep in mind that, as school administrators, their jobs may require awareness of the following information:
- That you are participating in therapy services with MCT
- The name of your therapist
- Your therapy schedule
- If you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else
Once you’ve been assigned a program and you agree on a schedule and location that works best for you and your therapist, you are ready to start meeting!
Final Takeaways:
- It’s your therapist’s responsibility to create and maintain an emotionally and mentally safe and ethical environment for your therapy process. This means that your therapist should:
- Remain appropriate and professional at all times
- Take necessary steps to protect your safety if you are at risk of harming yourself
- Respect your physical and emotional boundaries
- Protect your right to privacy
- Focus on you and your treatment goals
- Abide by the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics
- In all ways, promote your well-being
If at any time you do not feel safe with your therapist, tell another adult you trust right away. You can stop therapy at any time.
- Therapy works best with a foundation of well-earned trust. It is normal and healthy for this trust to take time to build before feeling completely comfortable opening up to someone new. Your therapy is for your benefit, so go at the pace that’s right for you.
- When we have clear goals, we give ourselves a direction to go in. Consider what you’d like to get out of your therapy experience and communicate this with your therapist early on. Feel free to be creative and think outside the box. If you’re not sure of any goals, that’s okay, you can come up with one together. The more you make therapy your own, the more you’ll get out of it.
We hope you enjoy taking the next step in your therapeutic process!