At Tides Counseling, we are bound by law to protect your confidentiality at all costs. This is crucial to building trust in the therapeutic relationship. The only limitations to complete confidentiality would be the following: Threats, plans or attempts to harm oneself, Threats, plans or attempts to harm someone else, abuse and or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult. 

A therapist is not a medical doctor and therefore can not prescribe medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of those suffering from mental illness. Psychotropic medications are often most affective when paired with psychotherapy. 

The therapeutic process seeks to meet goals established by all persons involved, usually revolving around a specific problem or concern.  Participating in therapy may include benefits such as the resolution of presenting problems as well as improved intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships.  The therapeutic process may reduce emotional distress, enhance stress management, and increase one’s ability to cope with problems related to work, family, personal, relational, etc.  Participating in therapy can lead to greater understanding of personal and relational goals and values.  This can increase relational harmony and lead to greater satisfaction with life.  Progress will be assessed on a regular basis and feedback from clients will be elicited to ensure the most effective therapeutic services are provided.  There can be no guarantees made regarding the ultimate outcome of therapy.

In order for patients to reach their therapeutic goals, it is essential they attend their therapy sessions as scheduled.  Participation in the process with honesty and engagement is of utmost importance.  Make no mistake about it, therapy is work and thus requires time, effort, and a commitment that belies any spurious quick-fix notions around mental health.  Increasing your satisfaction with life is an ultimate goal of therapy and one that you should expect to feel as the process moves along; but be aware that there may be particularly charged sessions along the way where you may feel uncomfortable or challenged—all this means is that you are engaged in the necessary work, so trust in the process.  Throughout the therapy process, we identify goals, review progress, and modify the plan of treatment as needed.

One of the greatest benefits of seeking therapy is finding a non-bias, outside perspective on a variety of situations that you face in life. By your therapist ONLY functioning as your therapist, you preserve this benefit and protect your confidentiality. Therefore, our therapeutic relationships are strictly professional.  In order to preserve this relationship, it is imperative that there is no relationship outside of the therapy relationship (i.e. social, business, or friendship).