What to Expect

The first appointment with the Parkview Employee Assistance Program allows you and a counselor to get to know one another and formulate a plan of action. This meeting is usually structured, as it involves the completion of initial paperwork, outlining your concerns, relevant history and goals. In some cases, the client and the counselor may agree to facilitate a referral to a community agency.

How to get the most out of your counseling experience:

Define your goals. Think about what you would like to get out of counseling. Self-exploration and change are hard work and can often stir up painful feelings. This is a normal part of the healing process, and we will help you through it.
Be an active participant. Use your time wisely. Be honest with the counselor and give feedback.
Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time and effort. Your coping strategies, habits and self-perceptions have formed over a long period of time.
Follow your counselor's recommendations. Take the time between the sessions to try the suggestions made by your counselor to improve your life. If you are unable to complete an exercise, be honest and explore the reasons behind it.
Ask questions. Your counselor is part of your team and is here to help.

Types of counseling

Individual counseling

Life can be challenging and most of our clients are working through normal life events and appreciate talking to someone who does not judge and can help them see new alternatives. Clients can meet one-on-one with a counselor to discuss a variety of problems. Individual counseling is a collaborative effort between you and your counselor. Our goal is to provide a supportive, open, and confidential environment for you to address any issue that concerns you.

Walk & talk therapy

Walk & Talk Therapy is the combination of talk therapy, the outdoors and exercise. During Walk & Talk Therapy, you meet with your therapist at the office, choose a destination and proceed in nature. Many clients benefit from mild to moderate movement outdoors. Instead of holding your therapy session indoors, let’s take in the sunshine, discuss what is on your mind and move forward together.

Research suggests that interacting with nature produces psychological, cognitive, spiritual and physiological benefits.

Psychological
- Participants’ mood and self-esteem significantly improved after exercise.
- Positive emotions were found to be significantly higher after exercise.
- Anxiety, depression and anger were significantly reduced after exercise.
- Mood and self-esteem both improved with exposure to the outdoors, suggesting that exercise may deliver greater benefits when it occurs in the presence of nature.
- Exposure to daylight for 30 minutes was found to improve positive mood.
Cognitive
- Cognitive functioning and performance were greater for individuals exposed to a tree-lined arboretum, compared to a busy city street.
- More sunlight improved work satisfaction and lowered work-related stress.
Spiritual
- Viewing wildlife evoked a feeling of awe and wonder and created a temporal experience in which all concentration was focused on the moment.
- Nature promoted a deep sense of well-being, leading to spiritual fulfillment.
Physiological
- Physical activity in parks or forests decreased stress-induced headaches.
- Post-operative patients with a window view of nature spent less time in the hospital than those with views of brick walls.
- Post-operative patients with tree views required fewer strong painkillers and had fewer post-surgical complications.
- The presence of office plants correlated with a reduction in dry skin, coughing, hoarse throat, and fatigue, improving health and decreasing physical discomfort.

Frequently asked questions:

What about bad weather?

Our main office is located at 3948 New Vision Drive, Suite E, Fort Wayne. You and your therapist will jointly make the ‘weather call.’ Depending on preferences, you may choose to reschedule, proceed indoors or grab an umbrella and seize the day.

Is this a cardio workout?

No. Walk & Talk is designed for slow to moderate pace walking. You set the pace.

What are the typical locations?

Our main office is located near several walking paths and the Parkview Family Park on the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.

What are the typical times?

You and your therapist choose the time of day, based on availability. The Employee Assistance Program office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Friday; and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday.

Is it confidential?

The rules of confidentiality still apply for the therapist. However, the session will be outside and complete confidentiality cannot be maintained due to the nature of this venue. There is a possibility that other people may see you or hear parts of the conversation. In situations where you see someone you know, please tell your therapist. Together, you can devise the best plan of action.

Couples counseling

Couple’s counseling can help couples determine and work through the influences putting stress on their relationships. While the goal is often to help couples repair their relationships, it can also help couples end relationships in a healthy and respectful manner.

To schedule that first appointment, simply call our scheduling office at?260-266-8060?or?1-800-721-8809.??