Agape, (pronounced a - ga - pae) is defined as universal, unconditional love, or the highest form of love and charity for others. In Christianity, it is also described as the love God has for humankind. It means loving others, simply because that is the way to treat other people. Agape love is not loving others for any sort of gain or selfish reasons. 

It is this definition that led our founder, Tanya Hamilton, LPC, to use this name for our counseling service. As counselors, we strive to provide all of our clients with non-judgmental, unconditional love and respect - Agape love. When you come through the doors of our clinic, you will be treated with respect and love, regardless of your circumstances. 

We are here to help you. We all have things we need to work through and figure out. At Agape Counseling, we can figure it out together. 

When you arrive at the Agape Counseling Service office, you will need to call or text 719-315-0574 to check in.  Once the therapist knows you have arrived, she will come get you from the waiting area in the lobby.  If she doesn’t answer or reply right away, don’t worry.  She may be finishing up with a client and will be with you soon. 

Once you are in the office, you will be asked to sign a series of forms, required by Agape Counseling Service, your insurance provider, DORA, and/or other regulating entities.  These forms will be explained to you and your questions answered.  There is also an intake form you will be asked to complete, in which you will begin to share some of your personal information and the reasons you are seeking therapy. 

These forms are kept confidential and are only used to complete intake notes by your therapist, unless you consent to them being shared.  Once this is complete, the therapist will discuss the information you provided with you, explain next steps, and answer any remaining questions.  This appointment typically lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Therapy can be different for different clients.  Overall, the therapists at Agape Counseling Service take a person - centered approach.  This means that what you want out of the sessions, what you think about what is going on, and how you feel about your unique situation are at the forefront of the work we do. 

Giving advice is not the role of your counselor, because everyone’s beliefs, values, morals, histories, and lives are exclusive to them.  Instead, we work through the information you provide in the sessions to guide you to the best outcomes for you.  It is also important to understand that most of what “therapy” is happens outside of the counseling office.

At Agape Counseling Service, we can explore ideas, learn new skills, and practice new ways to cope in session but it is the client actually working to implement them outside of the therapy session that makes the difference.

Therapy varies depending on the type of therapy, how often you attend sessions, and the issue you are working to address.  For example, a client that struggles with a severe mental illness may require more sessions to achieve stability compared to a client who is coming to work through whether they should move for their job or not. 

The short answer is no.  Clients come to therapy for help, not judgment.  Your therapist has a range of experience working with many different populations and this has helped give her many perspectives on a variety of issues.  No one should be defined by the worst choices they have made or experiences they have had.  At Agape Counseling Service, everyone is worthy and valued.

Therapy is confidential.  Unless there has been a signed release of information allowing the therapist to share information, no one will know you are in therapy unless you disclose it.  If insurance or Medicaid are paying for your sessions or you are court ordered to participate, there are some exceptions to confidentiality; however, those will be limited to what is required in order to bill for the services or maintain compliance with the court.

Agape Counseling Service will accept clients on a sliding fee scale based on proof of income on a case - by - case basis.  Please contact Agape Counseling Service for more information if you need financial assistance.  We also have contracts with Medicaid and several insurance carriers to bill for the costs of therapy sessions.

In your second session, your therapist will discuss your treatment plan with you. This will be a document that details the presenting problem (why you came to therapy) and ways that we can work together to help you improve. The goals and objectives are written in a Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant and Time - Based (SMART) way, so that the client knows what they can expect to see and by when in terms of improvement. 

The treatment plan is made in collaboration with and agreed upon by the client and will be reviewed every 3 months.

There are many different types of therapy. At Agape Counseling Service, we provide a wide range of therapy types.

• Individual and Family Counseling
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Solution - Focused Brief Therapy
• Clinical Supervision / Therapist Trainee Support
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Supervision

Yes!  Sometimes clients believe that they are working for the therapist to get it “right” or say the right thing. This is not the case. You are the client, and the therapist should always be working for you.

Sometimes people just don’t click with each other and that is ok. Sometimes people get along great but the techniques they are using just are not effective. It is important that you discuss concerns with your therapist so that she can provide you with the care you need.  What works great for one person may not work at all for another and sometimes your therapist will not know you are struggling if you are not honest.

Agape Counseling Service currently works with and accepts Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Centura EAP, Cigna, Kaiser, Medicaid, (Health Colorado, Colorado Access, CHP+), Medicare, Optum, UMR, and United Healthcare.  Private Pay and Sliding Fee Scale are also available for those without applicable health insurance or those not wanting to utilize their health insurance.