Psychotherapy or counseling is a process of growth and problem solving. It is an effort that requires sincerity, hard work and commitment from the client(s) and the therapist.
My commitment to you is to use my knowledge and skills to assist you in meeting your specific needs. All information will be held confidential and treated within the HIPAA guidelines and other applicable laws. Your personally identifying health information may be disclosed for treatment purposes, to obtain payment for treatment provided and as necessary for the operations of the practice of Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC. These uses and disclosures are more fully explained in the Privacy Notice that can be found on the Forms page or you may request a hard copy. You may request that Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC restrict how your health information is used or disclosed. Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC does not have to agree to the request, but if the agency does agree, it is bound by the restriction as agreed. In general, my practice is to ask for a release prior to disclosing any information.
Appointments cancelled at least 24 hours in advance shall be assessed no fee. Those canceled the same day (less than 24 hours) may be assessed a $40 fee and those missed may be assessed a $60 fee (exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances). It is requested that clients expect to pay for services when rendered. Non-payment, delayed
payment and repeated billing for delinquent accounts will only result in increased fees for everyone.
It is anticipated that our work together will be productive, but no guarantees or assurances can be made as to the results that may be realized as there are numerous influencing factors. If you think therapy or counseling is not meeting your needs, I encourage you to bring this to my attention without delay in order that adjustments or explanations may be made. I believe that our mental/ emotional health affects our spiritual health and vice versa. My preference is to use both behavioral science principles and Christian principles to maximize benefits. On the counseling agreement, you will be given an opportunity to indicate your desires.
DISCHARGE PROCESS POLICY (click the link to view)
My commitment to you is to use my knowledge and skills to assist you in meeting your specific needs. All information will be held confidential and treated within the HIPAA guidelines and other applicable laws. Your personally identifying health information may be disclosed for treatment purposes, to obtain payment for treatment provided and as necessary for the operations of the practice of Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC. These uses and disclosures are more fully explained in the Privacy Notice that can be found on the Forms page or you may request a hard copy. You may request that Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC restrict how your health information is used or disclosed. Mark S. DeBord, LCSW, LLC does not have to agree to the request, but if the agency does agree, it is bound by the restriction as agreed. In general, my practice is to ask for a release prior to disclosing any information.
Appointments cancelled at least 24 hours in advance shall be assessed no fee. Those canceled the same day (less than 24 hours) may be assessed a $40 fee and those missed may be assessed a $60 fee (exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances). It is requested that clients expect to pay for services when rendered. Non-payment, delayed
payment and repeated billing for delinquent accounts will only result in increased fees for everyone.
It is anticipated that our work together will be productive, but no guarantees or assurances can be made as to the results that may be realized as there are numerous influencing factors. If you think therapy or counseling is not meeting your needs, I encourage you to bring this to my attention without delay in order that adjustments or explanations may be made. I believe that our mental/ emotional health affects our spiritual health and vice versa. My preference is to use both behavioral science principles and Christian principles to maximize benefits. On the counseling agreement, you will be given an opportunity to indicate your desires.
DISCHARGE PROCESS POLICY (click the link to view)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a category of therapies more than a specific therapy model itself. In general, CBT therapies are based on the premise that thoughts, beliefs and values have a profound effect on how we feel and act; therefore, the main goal is to focus on those thoughts, beliefs and values that are not serving us well and re-evaluate them. As we are able to replace those with more helpful and even more accurate thoughts, we are able to manage our feelings and actions in order to better reach and/ or pursue our goals.
I have had specific training in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and am a supervisor for the Albert Ellis Institute. All of us have a tendency to think both rationally (healthy and helpful) and irrationally (unhealthy and unhelpful). I happen to view this as consistent with our spiritual urging and seeking God vs. our spiritual urge to move away from God. My approach is designed to identify themes of irrational beliefs and challenge those and assist you in developing more effective, rational beliefs that allow and motivate toward acceptance (including full acceptance of self and others) while continuing to strive to change situations and events more to your liking. In no way does this mean that we will think all things are good or like all of our circumstances, but we certainly have the ability to find purpose, satisfaction and meaning in life regardless of our current reality. Problem-solving (solution-focused approach) will then be used to assist clients in developing new skills and strategies for pursuing their goals in life.
All of the above will be in a non-judgmental, collaborative approach where both client and therapist work together to realize the goals of the client. A relatively new evidence-based program, Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS), will give texture to the entire method of therapy where the client is involved from the start in measuring outcome and giving ongoing feedback about the "fit" with the therapist.
I have had specific training in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and am a supervisor for the Albert Ellis Institute. All of us have a tendency to think both rationally (healthy and helpful) and irrationally (unhealthy and unhelpful). I happen to view this as consistent with our spiritual urging and seeking God vs. our spiritual urge to move away from God. My approach is designed to identify themes of irrational beliefs and challenge those and assist you in developing more effective, rational beliefs that allow and motivate toward acceptance (including full acceptance of self and others) while continuing to strive to change situations and events more to your liking. In no way does this mean that we will think all things are good or like all of our circumstances, but we certainly have the ability to find purpose, satisfaction and meaning in life regardless of our current reality. Problem-solving (solution-focused approach) will then be used to assist clients in developing new skills and strategies for pursuing their goals in life.
All of the above will be in a non-judgmental, collaborative approach where both client and therapist work together to realize the goals of the client. A relatively new evidence-based program, Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS), will give texture to the entire method of therapy where the client is involved from the start in measuring outcome and giving ongoing feedback about the "fit" with the therapist.
Couple Counseling
Couple Counseling is a process by which the parties resolve conflict and renegotiate their relationship. Most of us have an idea of what it is we want or envision for our relationships, but we don't necessarily communicate that well to our partner. Then as we are dissatisfied with the interaction, the attention we are receiving or cooperation of our partner, etc. we tend to develop dysfunctional strategies and behaviors that instead of getting us more of what we want only increases the distance and dissatisfaction. The overall goal generally is for the partners to increase "connectedness" which I am finding is the key to couple satisfaction. The greater the sense of connection, the more satisfied couples seem to be. This often means that both are doing much of what the other desires in the relationship and that each are capable of a a great deal of acceptance.
I prefer to see both partners at the same time for the first session and then I will split the second session in order to make a determination, along with the input of the clients, as to whether or not couple counseling can continue. In other words, a determination will be made as to whether or not individual issues need to be addressed first. I am highly directive in couple counseling so as to protect the parties as much as I can, but also to better teach/ communicate skills and moderate the re-negotiations.
Please note that couple counseling may very well not result in increased connection and a resolution to the relationship issues. If your goal is to save or maintain the relationship and your partner determines that the work is not worth the effort or reveals information that you determine is a "deal-breaker", you may not realize your goal. I tend to assume that people presenting for couple counseling want to maintain and even improve their relationship, so I will work to that end unless informed otherwise by the clients.
I prefer to see both partners at the same time for the first session and then I will split the second session in order to make a determination, along with the input of the clients, as to whether or not couple counseling can continue. In other words, a determination will be made as to whether or not individual issues need to be addressed first. I am highly directive in couple counseling so as to protect the parties as much as I can, but also to better teach/ communicate skills and moderate the re-negotiations.
Please note that couple counseling may very well not result in increased connection and a resolution to the relationship issues. If your goal is to save or maintain the relationship and your partner determines that the work is not worth the effort or reveals information that you determine is a "deal-breaker", you may not realize your goal. I tend to assume that people presenting for couple counseling want to maintain and even improve their relationship, so I will work to that end unless informed otherwise by the clients.
