Interview with Kimberly Tran, Licensed Psychologist, January 23, 2021

How Long Have You Worked for Carolina Counseling Services?

Although I have been with CCS for five and one-half years, it usually does not seem that long.  Before that, getting licensed took eight years; but sometimes it almost feels like I have been here forever.  I think it seems that way because my time here has been such a powerful, meaningful experience.  Times before then, life looked secondary – like watching a car drive by, not actually driving it. Now, I have been allowed to take what I learned in school, at work, and in life, and reinterpret it all in a new perspective, where the safety and comfort of the therapist is valued.  We are given trust up-front, from the start, and this is liberating to counselors who are dedicated to their clients.  When I work this way, “have-to” becomes “want-to.”

What First Attracted You to Working for Carolina Counseling Services?

Sadly, counselors are often treated poorly, and are deliberately used to further unethical and downright illegal practices.  This often amounts to nothing less than the company taking advantage of the painful situations many of their clients are in.  At CCS, I found their standards to be far above that type of thing.  Everything was presented clearly and consistently, and it was obvious that therapists were treated honestly, professionally, and with respect.  When the client-therapist assignment is made, it is not based on what type of services or insurance billing might prove the most profitable.  Clients are carefully assigned to counselors depending upon their individual needs and which therapist will best serve them.

What Makes Carolina Counseling Services a Match to Your Own Personal and Professional Standards?

I was immediately able to see that this company had a high ethical and professional foundation.  Here, we have a consistent framework where self-motivated counselors concentrate on serving clients, without trying to under-cut one another or having fear that management will attempt to take advantage of them.  If someone comes on board and tries to “work” the system, they don’t last long.  For example, gossip or sarcasm have no place here whatsoever.  If the need arises, steps are taken to ensure that a positive, productive environment is maintained for all.  Free of negative distractions and pressures, the therapist finds the opportunity to work with their own unique set of skills – where their particular knowledge, ability, and desire to be of service to others is fostered and nurtured.

What are some Typical Concerns that Counselors Face, and How are they Addressed Here?

At CCS, there is an emphasis on truthfulness and transparency.  While trust is crucial in all aspects of the counseling field, it is also essential that fair policies are clearly stated and followed.  A friendly and helpful, well-run support staff makes all the difference, too.  Everything has been structured to provide a place where you can be yourself, and in doing so, the entire organization succeeds.  Things are always moving forward here.  We learn from seeing what has and has not worked, and egos are not involved.  Rather, a pragmatic, grounded approach is taken where empathy is the focus.  Therapists are always treated fairly, and expectations are clearly outlined.  Although everyone knows what guidelines to follow, there is no impatience or micro-managing.  Say, an issue arises due to forgetfulness.  Therapists are not shamed if they sometimes need help – they simply address the situation and fix it.  The only ones who have a problem with this are those simply not trying to do a good job.  To not try is to be selfish, and we are expected to give our best.  Within this kind of environment, therapists are able to do Real Work for their clients because they are given both the respect and support that are so very important.

What Makes Carolina Counseling Services Different from Other Counseling Services?

Their bottom line is being truly dedicated to finding the therapist who is the “best-fit” for their clients.  Members of our scheduling team have been trained to be professional matchmakers, and they are skilled with assessing the needs of the client and working to ensure that they receive the best possible service.  I especially like the consistency and clarity of communication throughout CCS.  It not only applies to those within the organization, but it is especially emphasized where clients are concerned.  From their first inquiry to their initial paperwork, and all throughout their experience with us, clients are put at ease by how well the system has been designed to relieve the uncertainty that is often found elsewhere.  They are never treated rudely or indifferently, and phone calls are always returned.  The many details involved have all been anticipated and provided for, so that the client receives “soup-to-dessert” support.

Does Carolina Counseling Services Offer a Mentoring Program for Their Therapists?

Although our mentoring system is not a formal, step-by-step program, counselors are never left in a place where they feel unsupported or “stuck.”  First of all, contracted therapists “take a seat,” maintaining their own licensure and insurance.  CCS provides the chair, so to speak.  Our counselors are accountable to themselves and are self-driven.  At the same time, we are provided with information about other contracted therapists at CCS and what their expertise is.  We are encouraged to share things we have learned and to gain from the knowledge of others.  Additionally, our top management is overseen by people who have received years of mentoring themselves, and they especially appreciate the benefits of sharing information throughout our organization.  I was a little apprehensive when the two co-owners were first brought on board, but possessing the qualities of being both pragmatic and empathic, they were experienced, contracted therapists of CCS’s,  with unique abilities and experiences which they stood up with to bring to the table.

How Does Our Community Benefit from Carolina Counseling Services?

While other counseling services may not receive the same respect, CCS has built a reputation of trust, based upon the fine individuals we have on our team and how every person works to cover all the client will need to gain the most from their therapy.  Most of our counselors work with other outside interests on a volunteer basis – whether with the Red Cross, their Church, the Military Community, or in any number of other ways.  Having their own personal pursuits, they are simply wired that way, and they often are chosen to be a part of our team because they are self-driven individuals who want to be of service to others, not someone merely seeking a “job.”  CCS also supports the local economy and provides meaningful employment for many community members.  For our employees, being happy, and loving what they do is important, and at CCS they find the freedom to pursue their professional goals and are given the ideal framework where they can achieve them.

Looking Forward: How will Carolina Counseling Services Respond to the Future Needs of Counseling?

“CCS is State of the Art in teletherapy, reaching out to people through technology.”  When the pandemic first became a threat, CCS reacted immediately to implement the means of connecting with more people.  Not only is TeleMental Health a safer way of working with clients, but many of them are simply more at ease when they are in their own homes.  And during this time, new challenges have arisen that people have never addressed before in their lives, often bringing about uncertainty and confusion, and we are ready to help with those issues, as well.  As this company continues to grow, overall, I see Carolina Counseling Services as a leader in today’s greater approach to counseling!