Charles A Stiles, MS LCMHC

I am pleased that you are considering me as your counselor. The following is designed to inform you about the counseling process and ensure that you understand our professional relationship.

 

Qualifications: I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN in 1974 and years later went on to receive a Masters Degree in Educational Counseling and Psychology with a concentration in Community Agency Counseling from the University of Tennessee in 1995. A component of the Masters coursework included Life Transitioning coursework at the University of San Francisco in 1989. The graduate program I completed is accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  I furthered my education with Doctoral coursework at both Ohio University in 1995-96 and at North Carolina State University in 1999. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor (license #5491) in North Carolina since 12/8/2006. North Carolina law changed the name of Licensed Professional Counselor to Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor on January 1, 2020. I have been working as a licensed professional for 14 years. Prior to my work as a counselor, I worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer, a Group Home Supervisor, a DSS Social Worker, a Special Education Teacher and as a Mental Health Assistant in psychiatric hospital settings.

 

Counseling Background: I currently provide services to children over age 11, adolescents, adults, and families. I work with individuals on a variety of issues including emotional, spiritual, behavioral, relationships, depression, anxiety, and recovery from difficult life situations such as divorce, or those simply wanting to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and to be able to more fully engage in life with purpose. My specialties include dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and those dealing with chronic mental illness. My work in counseling is a collaborative process where the clients are respected as the experts in their life’s dilemma and are looking to develop a relationship that will provide an access to their inner resources for resilience and growth. I utilize my experience in the western approaches of Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with underlying eastern approaches of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Meditation and Mindfulness Based Therapies to instill an attitude of curious inquiry and self-acceptance effective for personal growth.

Session Fees and Length of Service: The rates for individual sessions are $135 for the initial session which is 90 minutes, $100 for a 55-60 minute session, and $75 for a 40-45 minute session. Rates for in-network insurance are based on the contracted rates with each insurance company and the individual policy. Cancellations are requested at least 24 hours in advance. No-show and cancellations without at least 24 hours’ notice will be charged $60. Please let our office staff know if there are extenuating circumstances preventing you from being able to keep your appointment (illness, death in the family, etc) as we certainly recognize that unexpected situations can arise. Cash, check, or credit card is acceptable and expected following sessions unless other arrangements have been made. We will assist you in obtaining insurance information and will file all claims.

Use of Diagnosis: Some health insurance companies will reimburse clients for counseling services and some will not. In addition, most will require a diagnosis of a mental health condition before they will agree to reimburse you. Some conditions for which people seek counseling do not qualify for reimbursement. If a qualifying diagnosis is appropriate in your case, I will inform you of the diagnosis before we submit the diagnosis to the health insurance company. Any diagnosis made will become part of your permanent record.

Confidentiality: All of our communication becomes part of the clinical record, which is accessible to you upon request. I will keep confidential anything you say as part of our counseling relationship, with the following exceptions: 1) You express intent to hurt yourself or someone else, 2) There is a reasonable suspicion of abuse/neglect against a minor child, elderly person (65 or older) or a dependent adult, 3) A subpoena or other court order in received directing the disclosure of information is necessary to provide optimal care, or 4) I am working collaboratively with other professionals where disclosure of personal information is necessary to provide optimal care, or 5) You are a minor for whom confidentiality is limited to the extent exercised by your parent/legal guardian. Otherwise, I will not give information about you without your full knowledge and a signed consent for release of information specifying exactly what is to be released and to whom. I will respect your confidentiality outside the counseling session. For example, if I see you in a public place, I will not acknowledge you unless you acknowledge me first.

Complaints: Although clients are encouraged to discuss any concerns with me, you may file a complaint against me with the organization below should you feel I am in violation of any of these codes of ethics. I abide by the ACA Code of Ethics (http://www.counseling.org/Rescource/aca-code-ethics.pdf).

North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors

PO Box 77819    Greensboro, NC  27417                                                                              Phone 844-622-3572 or 336-217-6007, Fax 336-217-9450

Email: Complaints@ncblpc.org

     

We agree to these terms and will abide by these guidelines.