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Our Approach

The potential benefits of counseling far surpass helping people with problems. Our counselors are able to connect with people, understand them, and have empathy towards their feelings while providing unconditional positive regard and remaining non-judgmental. Therapy is designed to aid in understanding one’s self and to find meaningful reactions to life’s situations. 

 

Research-proven skills are used to encourage self-sufficiency and help the client move forward in life. Clients learn the extraordinary value of one-on-one communication and developing healthy relationships…leading to the healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

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Fresh Start Counseling provides Professional, Individual, Marriage, and Family Counseling to Children, Adolescents, and Adults. In addition, we also provide comprehensive assessment services, crisis intervention, group counseling, educational seminars, and consulting services to churches and businesses.

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All counseling at Fresh Start is conducted by appointment. Individuals who would like to schedule an appointment or request additional information may contact us at 912.489.7590.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is important to the practice of Fresh Start Counseling and to all of its clients. The guidelines for HIPPA, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist and the American Counselors Association Code of Ethics are followed by all clinicians and staff  members. The therapist is told what the client chooses to tell him or her. At all times the client is in control of what is said. References to any client or his or her family will be coded to insure anonymity. 

Material revealed in counseling will remain strictly confidential except when:
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  1. The client signs a written release of information indicating formal consent of such release;

  2. The client expresses intent to harm self or  someone else;

  3. There is a reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect against a minor child, dependent adult or elderly person age sixty-five or older;

  4. Material from our session is used in clinical  supervision while carefully protecting your identity and;

  5. A court order is received directing the disclosure of information. A subpoena is not a court order and not sufficient for release. Certain types of litigation, such as child custody suits, may lead to the court-ordered release of any and all information without your consent.

Otherwise, we cannot disclose any information outside of the treatment context without a written authorization from all individuals competent to sign such authorization. Verbal authorization will not be sufficient except in emergency situations. We cannot release to an attorney any information about either or both spouses we have seen for marital therapy without signed authorizations from both spouses. 
When working with various family members, information given by one person in private cannot be shared with another family member unless all individuals involved give their written permission. Again, there are certain legal exceptions to this as already noted
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