Dr. Wesley will work with you to identify your personal goals for counseling and then tailor therapy to you and your goals. Dr. Wesley will listen closely to understand your experience and then find ways to assist you in moving towards your goals. Therapy is a personalized experience, so how it helps differs from person to person. It will often involve things such as getting a different perspective on your experiences, exploring and discovering things about yourself, making changes in unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving, processing difficult experiences and learning healthy coping tools.

The counseling process is confidential, which means that we cannot release any information about you except under certain legally prescribed conditions. If you have concerns or questions about confidentiality, please discuss them with Dr. Wesley.

Your session will take place via Video conferencing utilizing SimplePractice. They have a fully integrated, HIPAA-compliant Client Portal where you will be able to access the telehealth platform. You will be sent a guide that will assure you know how to gain access.

Our focus is on each individual (or couple/family). What a session is like for one person will most likely be different for another. However, the same initial steps or process takes place pretty much for each of the first couple of sessions. Your first session will include reviewing paperwork and confidentiality issues, possibly taking an assessment or two, and listening to you present the beginnings of your story. The second session will be a continuation of your story and the problems you are encountering, as well as beginning to focus on your strengths and how we can guide you toward resolution, using those strengths. You should also expect to have some “homework” along the way. It is your work outside of the session that really brings it all together for you and allows you to practice some of the changes we will talk about. This is where you will eventually begin to see your own personal growth and development.

In most cases, yes, telehealth works! There are plenty of people who have been successful utilizing an online process to work on mental health issues. However, there may be some instances where we discover more serious issues that need more intensive treatment. In those cases, we will either suggest our In-Home/Crisis Services temporarily, or possibly refer you out to someone who may be more qualified to help you.

It depends. Sometimes, it is helpful to have both the medication and therapy, depending on your particular situation. Medication is something that will be provided by your physician or psychiatrist, who will be able to monitor your physical health and possible side effects while on the prescription(s). Many times, though, our problems and issues can better be served through therapeutic sessions with a competent counselor who truly cares and is invested in your success. Usually, medication is about treating the symptoms, while psychotherapy attempts to address the cause of your distress and those behavior patterns that are blocking progress. If you and your medical doctor find that it is best to place you on medication, it is good to have a more collaborative care approach, utilizing your doctor for the psychiatric condition and your counselor for the emotional and behavioral aspects. You will often see more sustainable growth and obtain a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.

Dr. Wesley does not attempt to force you to fit his treatment modality, but attempts to style his modality to the client and their values, style and needs. Dr. Wesley is a person centered therapist who can use many different techniques from several methodologies and approaches. He can use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with some clients, while switching to an Adlerian approach with a child. For many he will do Solution Focused work, while others he will use Motivational Interviewing.

The first appointment is called an “intake” or an intake appointment. An intake is a time for you to meet Dr. Wesley to determine the best approach and services to address your needs. Once you have scheduled an intake, you will be sent several online forms to complete before you meet with Dr. Wesley. This information is reviewed by Dr. Wesley before the appointment, to ensure that we have the preliminary information about you and an initial first impression regarding your needs. It allows Dr. Wesley to spend time on you and your needs, instead of asking so many initial questions. Dr. Wesley will spend 45-60 minutes (sometimes more) discussing your concerns with you. At the end of the appointment, he will discuss the next steps in regard to recommending a counseling approach or additional needed services that may be a good fit for you. If Dr. Wesley cannot offer some services that best fit your needs, then he will work with you to get you connected to other appropriate resources.

Yes! We send out text and email reminders the day before your appointment if you authorize us to do so. If you are a victim of domestic violence and your phone or email is potentially being monitored, you may choose not to have these reminders sent to you.

If you’d like, you may call or email us for a 10-minute free consultation. We can talk with you about our services and see if we are a good fit for you.

If you are ready to get started, follow the Schedule Appointment LINK. This will take you to our Client Portal. Here you will find an appointment day and time convenient for you and fill out the required intake paperwork. You may also send messages, download documents, and make your payment on the Client Portal.

You should look for relevant training, licensing credentials, cultural competence, collaboration, and both research and practice experience. You should search for a provider who demonstrates evidence of training related to your area of concern or strength. In addition, you should find a provider who is licensed or supervised by a licensed mental health professional.

Dr. Wesley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor in Kentucky. He holds a PhD doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology. Licensed counselors with PhDs have experience integrating and conducting scientific research and practice. Most therapists only hold a Master’s degree.

You should search for a provider trained in understanding and applying multicultural knowledge and skills. This is relevant to all individuals, as all individuals have cultural factors that have influenced their experiences, values, goals, and behaviors. It is imperative to find a provider that you feel you can approach with concerns, questions, or suggestions.

In order for treatment to be effective, you should feel that your provider is working with you as a collaborator. Lastly, I recommend a provider who integrates both research studies and practice-related expertise. Your provider should understand and keep up to date with relevant scientific studies that pertain to your concerns and strengths. In addition, if your provider has conducted scientific research, this provides them with the ability to discern high quality studies from lower quality studies.

Wesley Counseling does not currently take health insurance. However, we can provide a superbill for you each month that you can submit to your insurance provider to obtain reimbursement since we are an out-of-network provider.

A superbill is a detailed receipt of the services we have provided that are recognized by insurance companies. It will generally contain medical coding that they will use to process the claim and reimburse you.

The first thing you should think about is considering therapy as an investment in yourself (and/or your family). Can you afford NOT to seek help from someone who is a qualified professional who can guide you through your struggles? Maybe you can cut some other expenses from your budget for a few weeks while you are trying to get the help you need through therapy. Is it possible to ask a family member or close friend to help with your expenses? Ultimately, the choice is yours to make, but please remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health and the two are very intertwined. Invest in your mental health today, and you may find improvement in more than just one area of your life.