Welcome to Polaris Counseling! We are a group practice consisting of fully licensed counselors and social workers. Our mission is to provide high quality counseling services to individuals, couples and families in a professional, non-judgmental, supportive and friendly environment at an affordable cost to you.
Incorporated in 2005, Polaris started out as a consulting agency specializing in helping parents secure federal and state funding for their children struggling with severe mental health issues and developmental disabilities. The necessity for a more holistic approach to our services soon became evident and we began to provide ongoing counseling support to our clients to supplement our consulting and advocacy services. By the beginning of 2006, the demand for our counseling services increased dramatically and we slowly phased out our consulting services and became solely a counseling based practice.
Services Offered
Addiction Counseling - at Polaris, our addiction counselors understand and are trained to help you break your addiction. In order to address your needs fully, we help you to understand the root of your addiction. Many times addictions can result from a genetic predisposition or other conditions, such as depression, that lead you to seek an escape from reality.
Some of the addictions that our counselors work with are:
* Alcohol Abuse
* Drug/Substance Abuse/Dependence
* Sexual
* Gambling
* Internet/Pornography
* Internet/Gaming
* Spending
* Eating
Anger Management - Among other techniques, our trained therapists will work with you, using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) strategies. These strategies will help you identify irrational, destructive thoughts or beliefs that are driving your anger and reframe them in a rational and positive way.
Anxiety Counseling - At Polaris, we understand how debilitating anxiety can be. You may feel like you are drowning in a sea of worry, but it does not have to be this way. Our trained professionals are here to help.
Some types of anxiety that we treat include, but are not limited to:
* Generalized anxiety
* Phobias
* Social phobias
* Panic disorders
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Our counselors will work with you, using the principals of cognitive behavior therapy and other techniques to help you get your thoughts under control. They will also instruct you in various anxiety management and relaxation techniques. Through treatment, you will learn to free yourself of constant worry and reclaim your life.
Child & Teen Counseling - At Polaris, we understand the problems and challenges that children and teens face as they progress through different phases of their lives. We also understand your concern as parents. The goal of our counselors is to work with you and your child toward a better understanding and resolution of their problem. Whether you are concerned about your child coping with a divorce or re-marriage, anxiety, substance abuse, depression, sexual abuse, family issues, school problems, self-esteem issues, acting out, or another issue, we are here to help.
Christian Counseling - At Polaris, we understand how important it is for you to be counseled in a Christian setting that works with your beliefs and values. As our client, you have the option of working with one of our trained Christian counseling professionals.
Couples Counseling - At Polaris, we understand the stresses that marriages and relationships face. Whether it is a lack of trust, poor communication, loss of respect, infidelity, abuse (verbal or physical), constant arguing, issues with children, addictions, or other problems, we are here to help.
Depression - If you are depressed, you may feel that you are all alone with your problems, but you are not alone, we are here to help. At Polaris, we understand the feelings of hopelessness associated with depression. You may feel that your life can't get any better, or that you do not deserve a better life. But it can get better, and you do deserve a better life! Let us help.
Family Counseling - At Polaris, we understand the uniqueness of each family, and that of each family member that we work with. Through family therapy, we work with you to develop better communication skills, more effective and consistent discipline, and better boundary setting. We will also help you to understand the behaviors of your children and how to foster more positive behaviors and interact with them in a more productive and effective manner.
Group Counseling - At Polaris Counseling, we understand the value of combining professional guidance with the support of your peers. Through our cutting edge groups, you will learn the skills necessary to change your life and the lives of your loved ones for the better, and develop long-lasting bonds with other people that can understand, validate and help you overcome your struggles.
Individual Counseling - Sometimes life hands us problems that we cannot work through on our own. At Polaris, we are here to help you identify the individual issues that you are struggling with, and to help you work through them.
Fees and Payment
For those clients that are not using insurance and are paying "out of pocket" we charge $135 per session.
Yes. We are participating providers in almost all the major insurance and managed care networks. Some of the larger networks are listed below. These include, but are not limited too:
* Aetna
* Benefit Administrative Systems (BAS)
* Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO
* Cigna
* ComPsych
* Humana/LifeSynch
* Magellan
* Multiplan/PHCS
* United Healthcare
* Value Options
We offer a sliding scale fee for those clients that have an annual household income of less than $40,000 a year. A further discount may apply for those clients that also have dependents residing within the household. At Polaris, we understand that counseling can be very expensive without insurance and we take pride in working with our clients to find a fee that is manageable and acceptable to both parties.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
