KLF Counseling and Consulting, PA provides individual, family, couple, and group services to residents of the Coastal areas of South Carolina. Located conveniently off of By-Pass 17, Murrells Inlet, SC, the office is private, confidential, with easy access for clients and their families. Beginning March 1, 2012, Life and Personal, Wellness, Relational, and Business/Executive Coaching services will be offered.
Additionally, KLF Counseling & Consulting, PA provides quality EAP services through several contracted companies, such as Magellan, CIGNA, United Behavioral Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and others.
Assessment services are available to clients and/or physicians should there be need for knowledge regarding what disorders may be affecting their clients and/or to determine the severity of issues impacting the day to day lives of their patient.
Patients of local physicians may contact the therapist for same day services, should there be need for prompt assessment. Clients are seen by appointment during day and/or evening hours.
Innovative and collaborative services are now available with Distance Counseling by a Board Certified Clinician for use with the military, training for national companies and EAP providers, and clients of the practice who are residents of South Carolina. Coaching services with training and groups in conjunction with individual life coaching delivered telephonically or virtually in areas of life, balancing work and life, wellness, business and executive coaching, stress management, ADHD for student and college students, and other areas of the coaching field.
For more information about the Licensed Professional Counselor, see the resources from AMHCA:
WHAT IS A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (FROM AMHCA)
FACTS:
- According to the report, “Mental Health, United States, 2004” published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 96,000 professional counselors are licensed or certified for independent practice in the United States.
- The majority of national behavioral health managed care companies reimburse mental health counselors for services they provide.
- The median cost per session for mental health counselors is $63, compared to a median cost of $100 for psychologists, and $65 for clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists, according to the January 2006 issue of Psychotherapy Finances.
- Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia license or certify mental health counselors for private practice.
- Mental health counselors adhere to a rigorous code of ethics.
Mental health counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training and clinical practice. The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the mental health counseling profession. Clinical membership in AMHCA requires a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related mental health field and adherence to AMHCA’s National Standards for Clinical Practice.
Graduate education and clinical training prepare mental health counselors to provide a full range of services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents and children. The core areas of mental health programs approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs include:
- Diagnosis and psychopathology
- Psychotherapy
- Psychological testing and assessment
- Professional orientation
- Research and program evaluation
- Group counseling
- Human growth and development
- Counseling theory
- Social and cultural foundations
- Lifestyle and career development
- Supervised practicum and internship
Licensure requirements for mental health counselors are equivalent to those for clinical social workers and marriage and family therapists – two other disciplines that require a master’s degree for independent status.
A licensed mental health counselor has met or exceeded the following professional qualifications:
- Earned a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related mental health discipline;
- Completed a minimum of two years post master’s clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional; and
- Passed a state-developed or national licensure or certification examination.
Mental health counselors practice in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs and substance abuse treatment centers. Mental health counselors are highly skilled professionals who provide a full range of services including:
- Assessment and diagnosis
- Psychotherapy
- Treatment planning and utilization review
- Brief and solution-focused therapy
- Alcoholism and substance abuse treatment
- Psychoeducational and prevention programs
- Crisis management
In today’s managed care environment, mental health counselors are uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of providing high quality care in a cost-effective manner. Mental health counselors provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical problem solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution.
Why Use A Mental Health Counselor; Code of Ethics
Individual, family, or couple sessions–Fee changes beginning January, 2011Individual, family, or couple sessions are by appointment only. The first session is $180.00 for approximately 1 1/2 – 2 hours. New fees for individual counseling for new clients starting October, 2009 will be $100 per clinical hour. The future sessions may vary, depending upon need and time given to the client, couple, or family between $100.00/hr to $150. Group sessions vary depending upon the time, which run between $30.00 per hour to $75.00 per hour. These are competitive rates in the Grand Strand area. Many services are billed to the insurance carrier for payment. Contact the office to learn more. Some credit cards are accepted. For Coaching rates, visit www.kathylfortnercoaching.com.
KLF Counseling and Consulting, PA provides individual, group, training, seminars, and referral services to patients, clients, medical/mental health/legal/education professionals, and other business desiring assistance with employees or employee related issues.
Mental health services are provided by contracting with an insurance provider, personal payment, or credit/debit charge accounts.
Wellness Services are provided for clients to learn stress management, self-esteem programs, communication skills, and other topics as promoted within the practice with accepted prevention guidelines. Prevention is the focus of these specialized services. With the additional of Life, Personal, and Wellness Coaching services, assessments are available for clients, who are not interested in the traditional counseling process, yet want to have opportunities to learn more about their strengths, develop a plan over a three, six, or twelve month plan toward wellness. These services are not covered in the traditional insurance coverage plans.
Career assessment and planning services are available to high school and college students on a contracted rate. Contact the clincians for further information.
Group experiences for divorce issues for adults and/or children, women’s group with specialized focus on timely topics, anger management groups, and specialized short term experiences, such as stress management, will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Some services may not be covered by insurance. Group experiences also include Life Coaching and Personal Development types of experiences.
Consultant and/or training rates are provided on an hourly, agreed to and contracted rate set by KLF Counseling and Consulting, PA.
Triple P Group, Active Parenting Certified Providers, and Individual Parenting Education Experiences are contracted through referral sources with the possibility of payment being made by the individual’s health/mental health insurance benefit plan. If payment is not available by insurance, then personal payment is required.
KLF Counseling and Consulting, PA has a set fee schedule, yet if an individual’s insurance plan is billed for services rendered, the necessary adjustments will be made to meet the requirements of the contracted rate. If our practice does not contract with a certain insurance plan, then the client will be provided the opportunity to have their claim form given to them for their own biling purposes.
Recent clients have reported they are seen on time in the practice; have easy access to the office; and believe they and/or their families have received quality services in a confidential, private setting.
Clients have also reported being seen within a very short time of their call, yet in a crisis situation, have been seen on a same day request. Certain insurance providers, for which Ms. Fortner is contracted, have same day appointments for crisis situation. EAP Services can often be seen on the same day or on the next day.
