About

Thank you for choosing me to pursue your therapeutic needs. This document is designed to inform you about my background and to ensure that you understand our professional relationship.

Professional Credentials
Mark Cox, LPC I received my M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University in 2003 and my B.A. in Psychology from Eckerd College in 1996. I have over ten years of direct counseling experience primarily in adolescent and family work in therapeutic boarding schools and wilderness-based settings. I have also worked for the Department of Defense and with active duty armed forces and their families as a Military and Family Life Counselor. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (#4978) in North Carolina and a Nationally Certified Counselor (#218818).

Counseling Approach
As a Professional Counselor I operate from an Existential/Person-Centered philosophy that emphasizes meaning in one’s life, responsibility, and the ability to express oneself in your own unique way. I view counseling as a process by which I facilitate my clients in exploration, clarification, and identification of their needs and help them to make changes in behaviors and cognitions. There are many reasons people seek counseling; regardless of the reasons, I believe an enhanced sense of self understanding and acceptance is essential in all situations, including how past experiences have shaped the way we view ourselves, as well as how we understand relating to others. Therapy provides a safe place to explore reactions, thoughts, and feelings about people in your life as well as yourself. It allows you the opportunity to practice new ways of interacting and, when ready, to try these in other relationships. I utilize the Multi-modal approach to counseling. Relying on research, I integrate an array of therapeutic interventions that will yield optimum results for the individual and the issues presented. I work with children, adolescents, and adults.

Counseling Services
I believe that as people become more accepting of themselves, they are more capable of finding happiness and contentment in their lives. Self-awareness and self-acceptance are goals that sometimes take a long time to achieve. While some clients may need only a few counseling sessions to feel complete, others may require months or even years of counseling. Clients are in complete control and may end the counseling relationship at any point and I will be supportive of that decision. If counseling is successful, clients should feel that they are able to face life’s challenges in the future without their counselor’s support or intervention. There are both benefits and risks associated with counseling. Risks can sometimes include experiencing uncomfortable levels of feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, and helplessness. Counseling often requires recalling unpleasant aspects of your history. On the other hand, counseling can have benefits for those who undertake it. It often leads to a significant reduction of feelings of distress, to better relationships, and resolution of specific problems.

Services
It is impossible to guarantee any specific results regarding your counseling goals. However, I assure you that my services will be rendered in a professional manner, consistent with accepted ethical standards. If you are dissatisfied with my services, please let me know. If I am unable to resolve your concerns about my services, you may report you complaints to the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, P.O. Box 77819, Greensboro, NC 27417 at 844-622-3572 or 336-217-6007 Fax: 336-217-9450. Email: [email protected].

Confidentiality
Your counselor respects your right to privacy and avoids unwarranted disclosures of confidential information. All information discussed in counseling will be treated as confidential except in instances when the client becomes a serious threat to self or others, when there is an indication of child or elder abuse, when mandated by the law, or upon an insurance company’s request for information regarding reimbursement of fees.

Emergencies
Emergency phone calls will be returned as soon as possible. If you feel you are in crisis please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room.