Mental Health Trauma Care

Sunday Closed

Monday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Thursday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Weekends by Appointment

What is counseling?

Counseling is a collaborative session where you and the therapist work together to address issues causing emotional turmoil in your life. A professional counselor helps you identify goals and solutions to problems. Counselors help you develop better-coping strategies, self-esteem, problem-solving skills, and positive behavior patterns. The therapist's overall goal, however, is to improve the quality and quantity of your lifetime.

What makes counseling successful?

Counseling is a personal journey that requires patience, openness, honesty, and commitment. You must be willing to accept yourself as you are now and commit to making changes. Therapy is about growth; it’s about becoming better. This is why therapy works best when you are willing to take risks and make changes. The key to therapy is being honest with yourself. When we lie to ourselves about our shortcomings, problems, and pain, we cannot grow. We cannot heal. And without healing, there will never be true happiness.

What is an intake?

A counseling intake is a meeting between you and your therapist. It is a time to get to know each other and discuss what brought you here today. Your therapist will ask you questions about your background, current situation, and how you feel about yourself. They will also want to know what kind of change you want to see. Your first session should last no longer than 60 minutes.

Is my confidentiality guaranteed?

Yes, everything you say is completely confidential, and our therapists take great care to keep it that way. However, there are times when we must disclose information. For example, we must inform the authorities if someone threatens violence against another person. If someone makes threats of harm toward themselves, we must contact emergency services. We cannot legally reveal anything else without your permission.

How much does it cost for counseling?

Our therapists charge between $80-$200 for a weekly session depending on licensure, experience, type of therapy they offer, etc. To learn more about the types of providers at New Heights Counseling Services, follow this LINK.  For more information about rates and insurance, visit: Rates & Insurance

How many counseling sessions do I need?

The answer to this question is a very personal one. It depends on you, your needs, and your goals. You will most likely meet with your therapist once or twice weekly for several sessions. We take great care in reevaluating your progress using sophisticated and personalized outcome measures. You will have the opportunity to review these measures and discuss your progress with your therapist on a regular basis. We want you to know how you are progressing and what may still need some time. You and your therapist will together determine if continued sessions are necessary or if it’s time to discontinue. Always remember that if you need to discontinue services for a time, you can return if life situations dictate a “tune-up.” If you are interested in counseling, please use the following link to learn more about making an appointment. Link: Link: Contact Us!

We're located in the beautiful city of Fort Walton Beach. We help the people of this great city and our clients from nearby cities. With new businesses, young families, and regular military installments moving into Okaloosa County, we are thrilled to service Crestview,  Destin, and Niceville. Our reach extends even beyond these great communities to Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Freeport, and Miramar Beach. We have incredible love and appreciation for the military families in this area.  We love hearing jets fly overhead, from Eglin Airforce Base, Duke Field, Hulbert Field, The Navy Base in Pensacola, and Tyndall Airforce Base in Panama City. This is truly the sound of FREEDOM! The United States Coast Guard Station in Destin provides safety and protection on our beautiful waters. Our New Heights Counseling team understands that "Community involvement provides a sense of belonging and social connectedness. It can also offer extra meaning and purpose to everyday life"(1). We wouldn't want to live anywhere else but here!

EMDRIA

What Should Clients Ask An EMDR Therapist?

Colleen contributed to the article in collaboration with EMDRIA's members

PsychCentral

How Many Friends Do You
Need

Colleen contributed to an article written by Sonya Matejko

WISE PRACTICE PODCAST

"How to Hire a Clinical Director?" with Whitney Owens

Colleen & Shaun contributed to the Wise Practice Podcast