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 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, practicing under the supervision of Beth Hunter, LPC. While providing counseling services to individuals and couples, I commit to serving my clients with honor and respect, remaining focused on meeting their needs and working collaboratively towards their goals.

Education and Experience: I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Ministry from Regent University and currently serve as a pastor in my local church, providing pastoral counseling and spiritual guidance to my congregants. I have also received a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University. My clinical experience includes working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, religious/spiritual issues, poor self-esteem, and various symptoms stemming from trauma and abuse. I have also worked with couples preparing for marriage, experiencing relational conflict, recovering from betrayal/affairs, and those considering divorce.

Therapeutic Orientation:

My approach to therapy is built upon the theoretical foundation of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This means I believe that the psychological issues that my clients face are based on faulty or unhelpful patterns of thought and behavior. As such, the treatment I suggest to my clients generally involves taking those thinking patterns and learned behaviors that are not helping, and even harming, and replacing them with new ones that will increase the client’s desired result. I also incorporate parts of Family Systems Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to best meet the unique needs and goals of my clients. I am also willing to incorporate aspects of the client’s religion and spirituality when desired.

Codes of Ethics:

As stated before, I am a Licensed Resident in Counseling in the state of Virginia. I follow the ethical and professional standards of the American Counseling Association (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.

As a Christian, I also follow the Code of Ethics established by the American Association of Christian Counseling (AACC). My counseling theory and practice is influenced by my Christian faith, however, your goals and comfortability are my priority. If at any time you have questions or concerns about the counseling process, please feel free to bring those up for us to address.

Confidentiality:

Confidentiality is an essential component of the counseling process. It is vital that you trust the safety of our relationship in order to feel comfortable enough to disclose personal information that is pertinent to the matters we are discussing. I commit to keep confidential anything that you say to me in our session. However, there are a few general exceptions to our confidentiality including the following:

• In the event that the client is under the age of 18, the client’s legal guardians have the right to know what is happening in session. Whenever possible, I will speak only of general themes and not specifics. It is important for the client to feel safe and know that what they share will not automatically be reported to their parents. However, the client’s legal guardians do have access to all of the client’s records and may authorize their release to other parties with or without the consent of the underage client.
• If I as the counselor determine that you are an imminent danger to yourself or others, I have an ethical and legal responsibility to report that information to the proper authorities.
• If the client discloses information regarding the abuse of children, the elderly, or disabled adults, it is my ethical and legal responsibility to report that information to the proper authorities.

Complaint Procedures:

As previously stated, I practice under the professional supervision of Elizabeth Hunter, LPC. If at any time you become unhappy with the services I have provided, you have several options for lodging complaints. First, you may lodge a complaint with my supervisor at beth@lighthouse-conselingllc.com. Second, clients may submit a complaint to the Owner of Lighthouse Counseling, Meichell Worthing, LPC at meichell@lighthouse-counselingllc.com. Finally, clients may submit a complaint to the Virginia State Board of Counseling referencing my temporary license (No. 0704017103).