Asked before the first appointment
Counseling Questions, Answered
Twenty straight answers about counseling at our Tulsa practice, from how to book through to what actually happens once you are in the room.
We are not an emergency service. In a crisis, call or text 988, call COPES at 918.744.4800, or dial 911.
Getting Started
How do I actually book a first appointment?
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Call or text 918.764.8006, or send the contact form and we will get back to you. Most people start with the free 15 minute call instead of booking blind, which costs nothing and sorts out who you would be seeing.
Do I need to know what is wrong before I call?
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No. Plenty of people open with some version of I am not sure why I am calling. Working out what is actually going on is part of the job, not a prerequisite for getting an appointment.
Can I pick which counselor I see?
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Yes. Ask for someone by name and we will get you on their schedule if they have room. Not sure who? Read the counselor bios first, or tell us what you are dealing with and we will point you to whoever fits best.
What happens on the free 15 minute call?
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A short conversation about what brought you to us and what you are looking for. It is not a session and nothing gets treated in it. The point is to work out whether counseling here is the right move, and with whom.
What should I have ready for the first appointment?
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Intake paperwork to fill out, and nothing else that matters. Bring notes if you have them. You do not need a diagnosis, a history written out, or a tidy version of events to be worth an hour.
Appointments & Telehealth
Do you offer telehealth?
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Yes, anywhere in Oklahoma. Some people do every session that way, some split it, and some prefer the room. Your counselor will tell you honestly if a particular piece of work would go better in person.
I travel for work. Does that rule out telehealth?
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No. Our counselors are licensed in Oklahoma, which means you need to be physically in Oklahoma at the time of the appointment. Travelling for work or school is worth mentioning when you book so the schedule accounts for it.
What are your hours?
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Monday through Friday, nine to five. There is no after hours service, so anything urgent outside those hours goes to 988, COPES at 918.744.4800, or 911.
Can I switch between in person and telehealth?
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Yes, and people do it constantly. Weather, a sick kid, a week where leaving the house is not happening. Tell your counselor ahead of the appointment and it moves.
Rescheduling, how much notice do you need?
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Let us know as early as you can and we will find another slot. Your counselor goes over the scheduling details with you at intake so there are no surprises later.
How Counseling Works
How often will I be coming?
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Usually weekly at the start, because momentum matters early. As things settle, plenty of people move to every other week or once a month. That is decided with you rather than handed to you.
How many sessions will this take?
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There is no set number, and anybody who quotes you one on a website is guessing. Some things resolve in a couple of months, some are longer. You are free to stop whenever you decide you are done.
Will I have to talk about my childhood?
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Only if it turns out to be relevant, and only when you are ready to. Some work goes back a long way and some stays firmly in the present. You have a say in what is on the table on any given day.
What if I do not click with my counselor?
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Say so. Fit matters more than almost anything else in this work, and switching to someone else in the practice is a normal request rather than an insult. We would rather move you than lose you.
Is what I say confidential?
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Yes, with narrow exceptions the law requires, such as serious risk of harm to you or somebody else, suspected abuse of a child or a vulnerable adult, or a court order. Your counselor walks through all of it at intake before you share anything.
Faith & Our Approach
Do I have to be a Christian to be a client?
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No. The name reflects where this practice comes from, not a requirement for walking in. People of every belief and of none are seen here and the standard of care does not change.
Will you pray with me if I want that?
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If you ask, yes. Prayer and scripture are available in the room at whatever depth you want them. Nobody brings them in uninvited, and declining changes nothing about how you are treated.
What if my faith is complicated right now?
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Then it is complicated, and that is allowed here. You will not be asked to resolve it, defend it, or land somewhere in particular before anyone will work with you.
Are you connected to a specific church?
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No. Redemption Counseling is an independent practice, not a ministry of any church or denomination. Nothing you say gets back to a congregation, because there is not one attached to this.
Is this the same as biblical or pastoral counseling?
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No. Our counselors are licensed clinicians and this is licensed mental health care that can include faith at your request. Pastoral counseling is a different thing offered by a different kind of person, and both have their place.