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General Frequently Asked Questions
- Who needs counseling?
- What is online counseling?
- Is online counseling for me?
- Who are the professionals who offer online counseling?
- How do I choose a professional to help me?
- Can I change professionals?
- How often should the contact be?
- How much does it cost?
- How do I get started?
- How confidential and secure is my information?
- What are the browser requirements?
- What happens if my computer crashes or I lose Internet connection?
- If I have a complaint, what should I do?
Counseling is something that everyone could probably use at one time or another for help with problems, overcoming bad habits, developing new skills, sorting out emotionally confusing situations, dealing with difficult relationships, confronting family issues, or getting clearer about life in general. A psychiatric diagnosis is not necessarily part of the picture. Counseling is a "wellness resource" for you, your family and loved ones.
This new approach to counseling involves connecting with a professional over the Internet. It is a convenient, cost effective, and timesaving way of getting help.
Online counseling is best suited for general problems of living at this time. This includes relationship concerns, career advice, parenting or child-raising issues, or other similar types of general issues that are causing you some concern. Online counseling is best suited for individuals who have already spent some time online (the longer, the better). Individuals who have some familiarity with writing and can express themselves through words also will find online counseling easier than those who do not have a comfort level with written expression.
All of our professionals are qualified practitioners - an independent firm has verified their credentials. To find out more about them, read their Directory entries and "brochures" located on the Web site.
We've taken some of the guesswork out of making a choice by listing only those professionals who are qualified to deliver mental health services based on training and licensure. From here, the choice is up to you!
Perhaps the best way to find out is to submit a question for "E-mmediate" response and see if the professional who responds is helpful. We also give you several ways to search our Directory for a professional who will match your needs. Simply select a professional from the Directory and make up your mind on the basis of your own experience with that individual.
Yes, you may make a change at any time. If you feel that you and the professional you selected are not working well together, you may elect to contact another one.
This should be arranged between you and the professional with whom you are working. Initially, you might consider frequent contact (multiple times a week) and then move to less frequent contact as you make and maintain changes.
This is between you and the professional you choose. On our site, a professional's standard fees are posted for you to review before making contact.
First, you decide whether you want to see a counselor for e-mail based counseling, or
a chat/videoconferencing session. While a chat or videoconferencing session may be
attractive, most people do online counseling via our secure e-mail system because it
is more convenient and costs less than other options.
Next, choose a counselor from our online Professional Directory.
Find someone whose description and Care Topics meet your needs. Click on the counselor's
name to learn more about them, then choose to send them a secure e-mail to begin
an e-counseling session with them.
Read their disclaimers and biographical information, then choose a payment option.
You will then be given the opportunity to write your first e-mail to them. Describe
yourself and the problems you're facing right now in your life. Expect to hear
back from the counselor within a day or two. That's all there is to it!
HelpHorizons.com is completely confidential. All exchanges are strictly between you and the professional with whom you communicate. HelpHorizons.com does not monitor or track any messages sent through our system.
Security is the most important service we offer. We protect every transaction on the site through a highly sophisticated web of overlapping security mechanisms. These mechanisms range from security technologies (such as firewalls, logins, and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology on your Web browser) to business decisions (such as 24/7 monitoring and maintaining our computer servers at a secure hosting facility).
To make full use of these state-of-the-art features and functions, you need to have one of the following browsers:
1. Internet Explorer 6.x or higher
2. Netscape 7.x/Mozilla 1.x or higher
Important note: If you use any pop-up blocking or anti-virus software that blocks
pop-up windows, you must either disable it manually for this site, or know that certain
features of our site will not work for you (such as Instant Sessions). Our software has
been designed to make the use of dynamic windowing technology, and without it, it wouldn't be
posssible to provide the level of services we currently offer.
You can start again exactly where you left off by contacting the professional with whom you are working and resuming your session.
We encourage our members to try and work out differences they have with professionals between themselves. If, however, you still have concerns you'd like to have addressed, please send a detailed e-mail describing the problem and the professional's name to HHinfo@workplaceoptions.com.
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