Life’s Canvas Soul-Focused Coaching and Counseling

Life’s Canvas: Soul-Focused Counseling and Coaching, Marietta and Atlanta Locations (727) 266-6863

Seeking help can be confusing and maybe a little scary.  Here are answers to some of the questions and concerns you may have.

What services do you provide?
We offer an array of mental health counseling and chemical dependency treatment for adults, adolescents, couples, families and groups. See additional information here.

How do I get counseling?
The first step to receiving services is to schedule a free consultation. After the consultation, you will be asked to fill out the agreement forms online, make your payment online, and schedule your first appointment.  If your appointment is over the phone, you can schedule your hour long slot via this website.  If your appointment is in person, call to schedule it.

When can I begin therapy?
During your free consultation we can schedule your first appointment, and we can usually get you an appointment within a week.

What should I bring to my first appointment?
Generally there is nothing that you will have to bring to your first appointment, unless it was asked for during your consultation.  It is helpful if you arrive 15 minutes prior to your first appointment.

Where are you located?
Most of our counseling is done over the phone, but we also practice out of both  St. Ann's 4905 Roswell Rd, Marietta, Georgia 30062, and Holy Cross 3175 Hathaway Court, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.  If done over the phone it is your responsibility to call (727) 266-6863 at the scheduled appointment time.  If you do not call within 10minutes of your scheduled appointment, then it will be considered a “no-show” without reimbursement of payment.  If your appointment is held at one of the two locations, listed above, your therapist will meet you in the front entrance of the church.

What are your hours?
You can find a schedule of our available times via this LINK.

What qualifications does your staff have?
All members of our staff are fully licensed professional counselors.  

I'm concerned for my privacy. How do you protect that?
Any information you share during your contacts with Life’s Canvas will be treated with the strictest confidentiality as allowed by law. In accordance with ethical and legal standards, this information will not be disclosed to anyone without your written consent, except in very specific circumstances as required by law.

How much do services cost?
Our fees are given via this LINK.

Do you accept insurance?
I am not on insurance panels; however, I will provide you a receipt that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement according to your policy. This will typically affect the level of coverage (if any) that an insurance company is willing to provide at our agency and may increase the size of a deductible if applicable. If you'd like to verify what your allotted coverage would be at our agency, simply call the phone number located on the back of your insurance card to get a quote.  Payment is expected 24 hours prior to your appointment; otherwise your appointment will be considered canceled.  A sliding scale fee for ongoing sessions is possible if income and resources are limited. This would be discussed at our first meeting. Payment is by check, cash, or credit card using PayPal.

What if I don't have insurance?
Luckily, we have a sliding fee scale that reduces the costs based on your family's income. Should your income change during the course of your therapy, the costs will be adjusted accordingly.   Our agency has limited additional grant funds which are subject to availability and qualifying criteria.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We need to receive 24 hour notice for any cancellations. Without such notice, you may be required to pay for the missed appointment in addition to your next scheduled appointment before services will be provided. A cancellation call should be directed to your therapist unless it is your initial visit, in which case please contact us.  If using email, use the following address raybarrett@lifescanvas.com and verify a response from us.  If you do not get a response, be sure to call (727) 266-6863 to cancel the appointment.

Can my partner and I receive couples counseling?
We do provide couples/family counseling. Each client is required to submit their own agreement forms and intakes are conducted separately. Couples may be required to engage in individual therapy or drug/alcohol treatment to resolve their own issues before couples counseling may be provided.  This will be determined by the therapist after the intake session.  Please note that most insurance plans will NOT cover couples/family counseling.  In addition no secret keeping between the therapist and one spouse is allowed.

Can I see a psychiatrist to get psychiatric medications prescribed?
We do not have psychiatrists at our facility.  We can, however, refer you to our trusted psychiatrists.  Your insurance provider can also give you a list of psychiatrists in your area.  Signing a release of information form is encouraged and allows your therapist to communicate with your psychiatrist.

Who can benefit from counseling at Life’s Canvas?

Just about anyone can benefit. No problem is too big or small. Listed below are just a few examples of some common concerns which bring individuals to Life’s Canvas:

 Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression

 Transition and adjustment issues

 Interpersonal difficulties, including family problems, romantic relationship concerns, problems with assertiveness, and other issues

 Difficulties at work

 Burnout

 Lack of focus

 Decision-making difficulties

 Communication difficulties

 Trauma or abuse history

 Bereavement and grief related to the loss of a loved one, identity, pregnancy, pet, relationship, or job

 Questions/confusion about identity, self-image, sexuality, gender, or religious concerns

 Behaviors that can be harmful to you, like drug or alcohol abuse or cutting

 Substance abuse issues

When to Seek Counseling

 You are unhappy on most days or feel a sense of hopelessness

 You worry excessively or are constantly on edge

 You are unable to concentrate on your schoolwork or other activities

 You are unable to sleep at night or constantly feel tired

 You have experienced a change in your appetite or your weight

 You have experienced a loss (e.g., a relationship breakup, a parent's death)

 You have increased your use of alcohol or other drugs (including cigarettes)

 You feel overwhelmed by what is going on in your life

 You are having thoughts about hurting yourself or someone else

 Your loved one’s recognize a need for counseling in you

 You know you are not living authentically

Limits to phone counseling

Phone counseling is not appropriate for people who are homicidal, suicidal, self-injuring, or requiring more care than one session per week.

What Happens at the First Appointment (Initial Consultation)?

The purpose of this first session is for your counselor to obtain information about your current concerns, relevant history, and goals. Your counselor should also review relevant Life’s Canvas policies and procedures. At the end of the appointment, you and your counselor will determine an appropriate course of action. This plan might include subsequent sessions with one of the Life’s Canvas counselors, participation in a Life’s Canvas group or class, referral to another provider to better meet your needs, or any one of our other many services.

You may decide to take no further action at that time; you are not obligated to continue counseling once you've attended an initial session.

Early on, you will work with your counselor to set goals for your counseling sessions. This will allow you to monitor your progress in counseling. If you have any questions or concerns about the counseling process, don't hesitate to bring these up with your counselor, who will be able to discuss them with you. The exact direction of your counseling experience will depend on the issues you bring into counseling, your counselor's perspective, and the goals you set for your work together.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Counseling Experience

 Define your goals. Think about what you would like to get out of counseling.  It might be helpful to write a list of events, relationship issues, or feelings that you think are contributing to your distress. Take time before each session to consider your expectations for that session.

 Be an active participant. Lean into the process, bring your own wisdom and be open to the exploration and growth.  Be honest with the counselor and give him or her feedback about how you see the sessions progressing.

 Be patient with yourself. Healing the past, undoing of old habits and establishing new ways of being is a important process that may take time and patience.  

 Ask questions. Ask questions about the counseling process, any methods used by the counselor, or about any other services at Life’s Canvas. Your counselor is there to assist you.

 Follow your counselor's recommendations. Take the time between sessions to complete any activities suggested by your counselor. Integrating what you learn in counseling takes practice and commitment.

How to communicate with my counselor between sessions

If you are simply following up with your therapist or have a question, you can email them.  If you have something that has to be addressed, but that is not urgent then call (727) 266-6863.  If you have any emergency call 911 and refer to the CRISIS link, followed by calling your therapist, (727) 266-6863.