Answers to Common Questions
General FAQ
While every person’s story and needs are unique, Corner Canyon Counseling has strived to retain a diverse staff of licensed and certified counselors, in order to meet the needs of every individual that passes through its doors. Get to know our staff and their story on our home page.
Unlike most mental health counselors, Corner Canyon Counseling actually works within most insurance to ensure that those who need the help can receive it. A quick call to our facility at 801.438.6053 can help you find out how your specific plan works within our structure. Insurances like Medicare and Medicaid are generally accepted.
The diversity of patients that visit us means a wide swath of needs, ranging from substance abuse prevention to depression and suicidality counseling. We believe in meeting each patient where they are and seeking new ways to treat them, if necessary. A list of modalities we employ to help our clients can be found here.
We understand that trust is a function of time and effort and that the best way to get to know us is through experience. However, we want each interested person to get a measure of us before they have their first visit. We suggest perusing our website or visiting our blog to learn more about what we do.
There are no special qualifications that need to be met ahead of time. Simply call us to schedule an appointment, or walk into any one of our facilities and we’d be happy to get you in the books. Be sure to come with any insurance cards you might have, as well as the name and facility of your previous health care professionals.
Your long-term counselor will be matched with you after an initial session by one of our intake counselors. If you have preferences for any counselor, in particular, we encourage you to let us know and we will try to accommodate that.
When you have been diagnosed with a mental health problem and/or have been prescribed psychotropic medication. Psychotherapy with medication has repeatedly been shown to be the most effective treatment for any mental health diagnosis. When you are feeling overwhelmed by the stressors and demands of your life. When you feel that you can’t live a happy and healthy life. When you need more effective skills to deal with situations and people. When you want to break old habits and develop new ways of handling life. When you are feeling confused about what’s going on in your life. When there is too much conflict or distance in your important relationships. When your children are not responding well to your parenting style and you need new skills to turn things around. When you need a deeper understanding of your behavior, motivations, and problems.
It helps to have an experienced professional examine your thinking, skills, and stressors and then help you develop new ways to think, act and deal with stress. It helps to have a safe place to discuss worries and concerns. It helps to have someone examine your situation from an objective point of view and offer suggestions that are free of expectations. It helps to gain a greater understanding of your behavior and motivations. It helps to examine deep unconscious forces that usually originate in early childhood or in traumatic life events and to make new decisions about these earlier experiences. It helps to be able to release old emotional baggage and move into a new life with less emotional weight. It helps to have greater skills to deal with life situations.
At Corner Canyon Counseling, our team of experienced professionals is certified and trained to utilize a number of different treatment modalities to provide the proper counseling for each individual. Therapy comes in a variety of forms and our Utah therapists are able to determine which modalities are appropriate for who, as each situation is unique.
Learn more about the variety of treatment modalities we offer.
This is an important decision for you. It has repeatedly been demonstrated that the most important ingredient in successful therapy is the therapeutic relationship. Can you trust and relate to the therapist you have selected? Do you think they have the clinical skills to help with your situation? Do you like them as a person? You may discuss these concerns with us at any time. Our office staff and our therapists in Salt Lake City, Utah will be happy to answer any questions you have. If, after discussing your concerns, you choose not to continue therapy with us, we will be happy to refer you to another appropriate provider.
If there is a mental health diagnosis, most insurance companies provide benefits. Your personal cost will depend on your deductible and your co-payment amount. These are determined by your insurance carrier. You can find these amounts on your insurance policy or by checking with your insurance carrier. We are providers on most insurance panels. There are a few exceptions. Again, it would be helpful to call your insurance company. Our standard rates are $180 for the initial assessment and $140 for each psychotherapy session with a Ph.D. trained practitioner. The cost is less for a Master’s level practitioner. Most insurance companies pay only a portion of this but we are required by law to use these rates for any private-pay patient.
Mental Illness FAQ
Mental illness is a sweeping categorization of many types of affliction, and may not be readily understood at first. Usually, a mental illness is diagnosed much like any other sickness found in the body﹘by visiting a doctor and getting a checkup. If you are experiencing more severe bouts of anxiety or depression than usual, or are dealing with any prolonged or unending mental/emotional struggles, then seeing a counselor is highly recommended. You should call to set up an appointment immediately if you have found yourself contemplating hurting yourself or others.
There is no singular root cause of mental illness that is uniform across all cases. By studying the commonalities among cases, however, as well as tracking the development of the brain, we can conclude that mental illness is a product of one or a combination of numerous factors. These include:
- Genetic traits and family history
- Prolonged exposure to traumatic circumstances
- Stressors placed upon an extremely young child, or even on the pregnant mother
- Conditioning under false or harmful pretenses
Anxiety and depression are often lumped together as part of an if-then pairing or are otherwise erroneously conflated as one. In fact, anxiety and depression don’t need to be linked in any way for the afflicted individual to be struggling with any one of them.
Anxiety is categorized as a prolonged and pervasive worry about anything and everything, from a fear that something bad will happen in the future to thoughts of death. Oftentimes people with anxiety avoid people and places that might trigger them, even those which they know.
Depression is an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and/or worthlessness that the individual feels for themselves and/or their situation. This may manifest as exhaustion or losing interest in things that once brought them joy.
Due to the multifaceted nature of mental illness and its causes, to say that medication can “cure” it is a tricky question to answer. Because mental and emotional issues stem in the brain, the proper application of medication can do much to help regulate good moods and resolve imbalances. In many cases, however, the counselor will have to work with the patient on how to cope with and self-manage the stressors that weigh upon them. Medication can be a great tool to aid in that endeavor but is rarely (if ever) an outright cure.
True empathy is a rare thing in the world of mental illness because every person’s journey to and through their illness is unique. That said, just because we can’t know everything about what you’re going through doesn’t mean that you are alone in this experience. Our counselors have helped thousands of people who have suffered similar types of pain and they are adept at finding the right treatments for everyone.
Currently, data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness suggests that 1 in 5 people aged 13-adulthood suffer from some form of mental illness.
While mental illnesses aren’t strictly communicable in the general sense of the word, those closest to you may very well have experience managing a mental illness, either their own (brought on through shared genetics or shared trauma) or helping you with yours. Mental illness can affect others without them needing to “catch” it, and so our counselors encourage you to take part in non-medication-related activities that can improve your symptoms alongside those you care for. This will not only help you recover faster but will draw you closer to your friends and family.
Warning signs of suicide include:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself;
- Looking for a way to kill oneself;
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose;
- Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain;
- Talking about being a burden to others;
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs;
- Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless;
- Sleeping too little or too much;
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated;
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
Needless to say, suicide is very serious. If you have immediate concerns about yourself or a loved one and think immediate action is necessary, call 9-1-1 or the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) Crisis Line (801-587-3000), or go to a local emergency room at a hospital.
If you have additional questions or if you need to speak with a licensed Utah therapist, contact us today.
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Problems with focus and concentration; inability to make decisions
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Lack of interest in things that are otherwise enjoyable
- Withdrawal from others and social activities
- Psychomotor agitation (pacing, hand wringing, rubbing, inability to sit still)
- Retardation (slowed or softened speech, slowed thinking, slowed movement)
- Weight loss or gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Anger and irritability may include violence
- Tearfulness
- Decreased libido
Learn more about depression as well as other Utah therapy treatments for the condition.
- Racing thoughts
- Excessive worry
- Restlessness
- Feeling on edge
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Headaches
- Racing heart
Learn more about anxiety as well as other Utah therapy treatments for the condition.
Early childhood behavioral problems are fairly common and include the following:
- Not cooperating at school
- Temper tantrums
- Aggressive behavior toward family/classmates
- Refusing to partake in family activities
- Persistent lying
- Withdrawing from others
- Manipulating siblings/classmates/adults
- Disrupting family routines, such as means, bedtime, and bath time
Many of these behaviors can be adjusted through a change in how the parent validates and disciplines the child, but at times, the issue can escape simple remedies. If you are struggling with your child’s behavior, give us a call today and schedule an appointment with one of your licensed therapists in Utah. We are experts in child development and psychology.
Addiction is complicated and has both physiological and psychological components. However, at the root of most any addiction is a mental health disorder that requires treatment. Drugs are often used as a coping mechanism to deal with depression, anxiety and other stressors. Addiction usually forms due to unhealthy behavioral patterns or relationships. These things can be effectively treated with Utah therapy.
Contact us at 801.438.6053 for more information.
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