Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
We offer a free, brief phone consultation where we can discuss your needs and reasons for considering counseling. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions about our practice or the counseling process. If working together seems like a good fit, we will schedule an initial appointment and work to find an ongoing time for sessions.
You may reach out to Lida Holst, LCSW by phone, email, or via the contact form provided on this website. She currently practices in our Choteau location.
You may reach out to Shelly Hunt, LCPC-C by phone, email, or via the contact form provided on this website. She currently practice in our Conrad and Shelby locations.
We do our best to return all inquiries within a few business days.
Is counseling confidential?
Yes! Counseling with a licensed professional is confidential. Confidentiality is a core component of the counseling process. No information is exchanged with outside individuals or agencies unless clients provide us explicit consent to do so. In rare circumstances, mandated reporting, duty to warn, and suicide prevention laws may require your counselor to disclose unauthorized information. Your counselor will discuss these limits of confidentiality at the start of the counseling relationship.
We offer discrete and confidential scheduling and services. We are a small, private practice where you communicate and schedule appointments directly with your counselor. At True North Counseling, there is no front desk staff, no filled waiting rooms, and no long wait times.
How long will I be in counseling?
This varies from person to person. For some, counseling may be shorter-term, lasting 4-6 months. For others, counseling may be longer-term, lasting 1-2 years or longer. There is no set standard, as the overall length of counseling depends on several factors including the severity of your problem, the length of time you’ve been feeling the way you do, the quality of your support systems, and insurance session allowances. We will work together to make decisions about your counseling that are supportive to you.
How often do sessions take place?
Research shows that weekly counseling is typically most beneficial in helping people reach their goals and make progress, especially early on. We meet with most clients on a weekly basis. That said, we do meet with some clients on a bi-weekly basis, if weekly counseling is not needed or desired. When you reach a point where you no longer feel like frequent sessions are needed, we can discuss ending counseling or reducing frequency to what feels supportive to you.
Do you take insurance?
Yes! We are in-network with many commercial insurances, Medicaid, and Medicare. We also offer services to out-of-network and private pay clients. Please visit the Fees & Insurance page to learn more.
Where are you located?
We see clients in Choteau, Conrad, and Shelby. The Choteau office is located at 17 1st Street NW, Suite 14. The Conrad office is located at 600 Main Street, Suite 10. The Shelby office is located at 100 Main Street, Suite 3A. Regrettably, the Choteau office is not currently handicap accessible.
Step One
We set up a free, brief phone consultation to discuss your needs. I will ask a few questions to learn about what brings you to counseling, and will answer any questions you may have about my practice or the counseling process. If it feels like a good fit, we will schedule an initial appointment and work to find a regular ongoing time to meet that works for both of us.
How the Counseling Process Works
Step Two
We meet for our first appointment. In this session, we will review all initial paperwork (practice policies, insurance and payment information, etc.) and I will gather more in-depth information about what brings you into counseling, as well as any relevant background/historical information. You’re welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Within our first few sessions, we will develop counseling goals that align with your needs.
Step Three
Around the third or fourth session, we will likely start to find our rhythm and get more in-depth in our work. Weekly sessions are generally recommended, though some may decrease to biweekly sessions once significant progress is made. I will check in with you regularly to ensure that our sessions are feeling productive for you and to ensure that progress is being made.
Step Four
Counseling may be short-term for some (3-6 months) and longer term for others (1-3+ years). Either way, counseling is typically not forever. When you are feeling as though you’ve accomplished what you need from counseling, we will work together to create a plan for ending in a way that feels supportive to you. This is an opportunity to celebrate all of your hard work! It can also be common to need additional counseling support in the future, and I encourage you to reach out to me at any time.