Today is the day to reach out, tomorrow is the day to feel better.

My goal as a therapist is to find solutions that work for you on an individual basis, helping you to discover the true potential of your life. We can work together to find comfort and resolve in the difficult areas of your life, and the challenges you have to face. All from the comfort of your couch. All you need is a smart phone, tablet, or computer and we can connect.

LGBTQ and life transitions counselor Syosset

April A. West, LPC

About

We all face unexpected challenges which sometimes leave us feeling hopeless and powerless. I believe that we have the ability to make healthy and appropriate choices regardless of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. My role as a therapist is to assist and support clients as they learn new ways of coping and adjusting to life’s challenges. Counseling will vary depending upon one’s personality, stage of life, strengths or particular concern. Getting started can feel overwhelming. You have no idea where to even begin. You’ve been putting off therapy because you’re afraid it won’t help. More than anything you’d like to be able to feel happy again. You’d like to be able to put yourself out there more and to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with others. You want to have the courage to be your authentic self without hiding behind a mask.

My career started as a classroom teacher and school counselor. I currently have over 20 years experience working with students and families. In addition to my school counseling career I am a crisis clinician in a major hospital in the DFW metroplex and work in over 32 emergency room providing on call patient care.

My Couch Counseling will provide you an opportunity to get the help and guidance you need in the comfort of your own home or office. All you need is a smart phone, tablet or computer and we can connect.

Call Me 1 (786) 755-1863Email MeMake Appointment Online

 

You are not broken,

you are breaking through.

I pride myself on being more than just someone to listen, but someone to help you look at things a different way. It’s important to face the challenges of life head-on, but with the right tools and resources in your arsenal. That all starts with a healthy mind, and a fresh perspective. From there, focusing on your well-being, mental and emotional health, and physical wellness comes into play like never before. You’re taking the first steps on a journey, but you’re not taking them alone.

Specialties & Issues:

Alcohol Abuse
Anger Management
Anxiety
Behavioral Issues
Blended Families
Codependency
Coping Skills
Depression
Family Conflict
Grief
Infidelity
Life Coaching

Marital and Premarital
Parenting
Peer Relationships
Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum
Self Esteem
Sexual Abuse
Stress
School issues
504 Consultations for Parents
Women’s issues
Addiction

As a professional therapist, my role is to guide you as you take steps towards positive life changes, healing, and a healthy mind. Together we’ll work to uncover and better understand life’s challenges and day-to-day stressors that detract from your life and focus, and begin identifying and practicing things that will make you stronger.

Getting Started

Consultation

I offer a free 30-minute consultation (either on the phone or in my office), so you can get a sense of whether we have a good match. It is also an opportunity for me to decide whether or not I will be able to help you.

Reduced Fees

If you cannot afford my fee, please let me know because I do have a limited sliding scale or I can connect you with another counselor to serve your needs.

Rates

$125 A session is approximately 50 minutes.

Insurance

April A. West, LPC accepts most insurance plans. This is to preserve your confidentiality during treatment, and to allow you more control over the treatment you receive. I can provide you with the paperwork needed to claim reimbursement from your insurance company. You may be reimbursed in full or in part depending upon your individual insurance plan.

If you do not want to submit claims yourself, you can use Better:
https://www.getbetter.co/

A company which will submit your out-of-network claims for you for a fee. Please note that they are a separate company and I do not work directly with them.

Cancellation Policy

If you do not attend your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified me at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session.

Payment

Cash, Credit Card or check accepted for payment at the time of service.

PAYMENT SCREEN

Please find the following helpful forms.

Please fill out the intake form prior to our appointment.
Client Intake
Consent to Release Information
Limits of Confidentiality

I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

What can therapy do for me?

There are a variety of benefits that can come from therapy, and they tend to be individualized. Therapists are there to provide levels of support, teach certain skills, and help patients discover new coping strategies for things like anxiety, depression, stress, or even creative blocks. You don’t need to have some kind of ‘major disorder’ to find usefulness from a therapist. In fact, if you’re simply looking for personal growth in any aspect of your life, you can typically find the skills and resources through therapy to help with family problems, marital issues, and more. Essentially, a therapist offers a different way of looking at things – perhaps a perspective you haven’t yet considered, which makes it easier to point you in the right direction, and find the solutions you’re looking for in life.

Of course, therapists can’t just ‘fix’ everything on their own. It’s about using those resources you learn in your everyday life that can really turn things around. Still unsure about what therapy could do for you? Let’s take a look a few examples of some common benefits:

– Grasping a deeper understanding of who you are
– Identifying your goals and dreams
– Obtaining the right skills for bettering your life’s relationships
– Learning resources to put an end to the issues that brought you to therapy
– Managing problem areas in your personal life, like anger, stress, depression, etc.
– Creating new patterns of behavior for yourself
– Changing your problem-solving perspective
– Boosting your self-esteem and confidence

If I feel as though I can handle my issues on my own, is therapy really necessary?

There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t experiences challenges of some kind throughout their life. Some people can simply get through them better than others, and even then, it’s never a bad idea to have additional support and understanding when it comes to the obstacles you’ve gone through. In all actuality, therapy is ideal for people who understand themselves enough to realize they actually could use some help, instead of denying it. Noticing that your life isn’t necessarily where you want it to be is a big realization and admittance, and taking the steps to change that for the better is something to be incredibly proud of. You’re taking the first step down an incredible path that can lead to long-lasting benefits for the rest of your life, even when challenges come up again.

What makes people go to therapy in the first place? How do I know if it’s the right decision?

While everyone’s reasons for coming to therapy are different, whether they’re going through a big life change, or a specific event like divorce, or just aren’t dealing with stressful situations ideally. Sometimes, the assistance of therapy can not only help with specific situations, but personal issues as well. Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and even low-self esteem are often common reasons to seek out help. You may start out looking for one thing, and find on your journey that you can gain so much more through learning the right skills, and having the right kind of encouragement.

In terms of making the ‘right decision’ for yourself, of course therapy is a personal decision, but if you take a look at your life, and your desire is to make a change that starts from within, it’s likely that some form of psychotherapy could be a great benefit.

What can I expect from therapy?

Just like the reasons for therapy are different for everyone, most people can expect different experiences. The good news is that therapy is completely individually-focused, which is why everyone can get something different out of it. Generally, your life, your history, and any relevant insights will be important to the specific discussions, but in a very personal and individualized manner. Sometimes therapy can be focused on a specific need, in which case it’s a ‘short term’ solution, while in other cases, many people go to therapy regularly, each week, to simply look for more personal growth.

Again, therapy isn’t meant to be some kind of ‘quick fix’ where you simply sit back and listen. It is a participatory experience. The more you involve yourself in the process, the better results you’re bound to see. It’s a practice in everyday living, in which you take what you learn from the session, and apply it to your life. Therefore, it’s important to be mentally prepared to make those changes in your life, and desire new perspectives on things.

How should one consider medication vs. psychotherapy?

While medication has been proven to help with many different disorders, it has also been proven that time and time again, it simply isn’t enough. Medication often treats the symptoms of a problem, without getting to the root of solving it, which is where therapy comes in. The decision to take psychotropic medications or not, is a highly personal one, and your personal wishes will be honored. If in the course of treatment, you decided you might benefit from medications, I will refer you out to an appropriate provider.

People are turning more and more to holistic and natural alternatives to modern medicine to treat mental, physical and spiritual issues. I fully support alternative options as such essential oils, chiropractic and massage care, yoga, diet/exercise and nutrition options, and other means you might explore to improve your well being. I can refer you to professional holistic providers in the area for further consultation.

How does insurance factor into therapy?

Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them, to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start in asking them questions, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.

Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?

There is practically nothing more important in therapy than confidentiality. As with any doctor/patient agreement, your privacy is of the utmost importance. A good therapist understands the vulnerability and openness that must come from each patient in order to really get through, so therapy itself can take a lot of trust, and that needs to be developed over time. Make sure your therapist offers a confidentiality agreement before you begin your sessions, typically called ‘informed consent.’ It is your choice if you’d like to have your therapist share anything significant with your other healthcare providers, but this can only be done with your written consent. Nothing you share in your sessions is to be told to anyone else, with the rare exceptions of suspected abuse of any kind (including child protection), or if the therapist has any reason to believe their patient may hurt themselves, or others. These situations are a matter of ethical procedures, and sometimes, even the law.

Resources


My Couch Counseling

Secure Online Therapy
April A. West, LPC

Trophy Club, Texas
[email protected]
1 (786) 755-1863

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