Welcome to Lighthouse Counseling. Therapy is based upon boundaries and trust. Please carefully review the following information since it is the foundation on which the counseling relationship is built.

Professional Standards: I am a Licensed Resident in Counseling under clinical supervision. I have a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I believe that my office is a safe space where one can feel heard and understood. I believe in treating each client with dignity and respect. I adhere to professional values and standards, such as those from the American Counseling Association (ACA), designed to ensure client welfare, safety, and confidentiality. I practice with integrity, professionalism, and appropriate boundaries, provide services within my scope of training, and engage in ongoing professional development and continuing education.

Therapeutic Orientation: Every attempt will be made to match the best counseling approach to your specific needs. I’m prepared to respond with compassion to all challenging situations. During the initial visits, information is gathered to identify problems and discuss treatment goals. Assessment may include questionnaires and psychological testing. After the assessment is complete a decision will be made about whether your needs can be best met by myself or if an outside referral is necessary. If at any time, I find that your needs fall outside my scope of practice, I am ethically obligated to refer you to appropriate professionals. My orientation to counseling is to approach individual sessions from an integrative therapeutic orientation, drawing primarily from person-centered and cognitive behavioral approaches. I believe in building a trusting, supportive counseling relationship where clients feel heard, empowered, and equipped with skills to foster personal growth and positive change.

Counselor Education and Experience: I practice as a Licensed Resident in Counseling in the state of Virginia, under the supervision of Meichell Worthing, MA, LPC, providing individual and family counseling. I hold a Bachelor of Social Work from Norfolk State University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. My clinical experience includes working with individuals with anxiety, depression, trauma, and survivors of domestic violence. I am committed to providing culturally responsive clinical care to older adults by addressing issues such as aging-related transitions, cognitive changes, chronic illness adjustment, and caregiver/family dynamics. Crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and victim advocacy are a few areas of practice that I consider heart work. Additionally, my personal experience with grief and loss has equipped me to help others from a place of deep understanding.

Client Responsibilities and Expectations: Clients are expected to actively participate in the counseling process by attending scheduled sessions consistently and on time. Clients are encouraged to engage openly and honestly in sessions to the extent you feel comfortable, while understanding that progress is influenced by your level of involvement. Clients are responsible for communicating concerns, asking questions, and discussing goals to ensure treatment aligns with your needs. Respectful behavior toward the counselor, Lighthouse staff and the therapeutic process is always expected. Clients are also responsible for notifying the counselor in advance when you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment and for understanding and following Lighthouse Counseling cancellation policies. Counseling is a collaborative process, and meaningful change is supported through mutual effort, trust, and commitment. Our sessions will provide a safe place to share thoughts and feelings, act out behaviors, and plans for change. At times, you may feel that progress has been made, and then later feel that little has been resolved. This is normal. My goal is that your counseling experience provides you with an opportunity for growth and healing.

Communication Guidelines: My preferred mode of communication is through email at larhonda@lighthouse-counselingllc.com. All emails will be responded to within 24 business hours. Please remember that email is not guaranteed to be secure (as noted in your consent form) and all communication through email must be saved to your electronic file. This means that this becomes part of your clinical file and subject to court-ordered records requests. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, you can also call the office at 757-376-8167. If you are in an emergency situation that requires immediate assistance, please call or text the suicide hotline at 988 or call Fire-Police-Rescue at 911.

Code of Ethics: As stated before, I am a Licensed Resident in Counseling in the state of Virginia under clinical supervision. I follow the ethical and professional standards of the ACA Code of Ethics. This code of ethics outlines my responsibilities to uphold a professional and appropriate relationship with clients. Outlined in this code are the values of the counseling profession and the purpose of the therapeutic relationship between counselors and clients. Following the ACA Code of Ethics will allow me to function at my highest potential and to do what is in your best interest as my client. You can review this code of ethics here https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf The direction given in my therapy sessions is influenced by both my Christian faith and counseling theory. If your core beliefs differ from mine, please discuss this with me. Please feel free to share any concerns and ask questions about any aspect of the counseling process including treatment approach, progress, and the termination (the end) of the counseling process.