FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COUNSELING CENTER

by Avalon Birke, M.A., Director

How do I make an appointment?

First, if you have questions about the counseling process, be sure to ask me - I am glad to help you decide if this is the right process for you. If you have finished reading this site about The Counseling Center and our notecards and would like to make an appointment, here is how to do that:

1) Check the Google Calendar HERE. All appointment times are SLT.

2) Find a time that works for you that is marked as "AVAILABLE."

3) Fill out a confidential Counseling Intake Form, which can be found HERE. it looks like a clipboard. The form will be sent to me and I will contact you as soon as possible. If you have any problems with the form, IM or email me and I will help you. The info I need is as follows:

--Your SL name
--The issues you would like to work on with me at The Counseling Center
--Are you having any thoughts of harming yourself or someone else?
--Have you read our notecards about the service, how it works, making appointments, confidentiality, fees, etc? (it helps to read this first, and all info is available at both locations) If you have any questions, just let me know. I'm here to help.
--An email address (optional) where I can reach you if the grid is down.

4) After we agree on a time/day for your appointment, you pay the session fee and the spot will be reserved for you, and marked unavailable to other residents. I will send you a TP to a private counseling office a few minutes before your appointment time.

Is Avalon Birke a real person/counselor/female? How do I know you are not a scammer?
Good question - I suppose the same way I know you are for real in-world - we each gather information about the other and decide if the possibility of a good therapeutic relationship exists. But yes - Avalon Birke is an SL name, obviously (and many of my clients know my real name and use it, while others don't), but a basic resume run down is as follows: I have worked as a RL counselor since the late 90's, first in career counseling and then, with further education and experience, with individuals, couples, and families as a therapist. I have RL accredited graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology (M.A.), Human Resource Management (M.A.), and Sociology (B.S.) and am working on a PhD at this time. I have also been a part-time college professor since 1984. My areas of interest in RL are personal growth and identity issues, trauma, chronic pain, disability, relationship counseling, and addiction. I am trained in EMDR, Domestic Violence Recovery Programs, and Non-Violent Communication, have published two books IRL, and am working on a third. I own Wellness Island and work extensively with SL residents, Groups, and organizations to help raise awareness about mental health and to assist SL residents in finding the resources and support they need.

Is this a roleplay?
No, it is a counseling/coaching service in-world.

How many clients do you have? How often do they come in to see you? Do you ever turn anyone away?
Since November 2006 I have seen over 100 individual clients in SL, run many workshops and groups, appeared as a speaker at numerous in-world events, and provided resource materials for countless SL groups and libraries.

Some clients come in a few times, some are ongoing. They set the pace for how often they come in - depending on what they are dealing with I have seen some clients a few times in one week, all the way to once every 6 months or so. When I first talk with a potential client we are both deciding if working together is in their best interest. Once or twice I have felt it would not be a good fit, but I always offer other resources if I can and try to help the person find the help they need.

How do I know my session is private?
I own Wellness Island and the estate controls are set to provide maximum privacy for clients. In addition, I use security orbs, visitor detection devices, and scan regularly for scripted objects that can eavesdrop or in any way disrupt your session. No one can come within chat range during your session unless you want them there. :-) Important: confidentiality has its limits. By law, I must report threats to harm yourself or someone else.

This sounds like a great job. How can I make a living being an SL counselor too?
I don't know of anyone who makes a living doing counseling in Second Life, but I could be wrong - there are dozens of residents offering various types of counseling these days. Some are legitimate, some are not. If you have RL counseling experience, training, education, certification, degrees, or licensure, there are lots of ways to go about setting up a practice. Start with your profile and perhaps an inexpensive SL weekly ad to let others know you are a mental health practitioner, your specialty, and how residents in SL can contact you directly.

How can I get updates or network with others?
There are a number of mental health related Groups in Second Life now - just go to Search and type in some keywords. We sponsor the Mental Health Network - free of charge, and a great way to stay in touch. If you would like an invitation, let me know or use Search in SL. There are many more groups for general psychology discussion and specific mental health issues.

How do you treat schizophrenia/PTSD/bipolar/DID/etc online?
I don't believe all disorders can be responsibly treated in Second Life. Other practitioners may have found a way to do so successfully - this is just a personal choice for me. My decision is based on client safety and wellbeing. Some disorders need care in Real Life and I will not hesitate to refer if needed - the client's health and safety comes before a few Lindens. That said, how to treat some disorders varies with the client, the theoretical orientation, the overall big picture.

Why is Wellness Island sometimes closed?
Our primary focus is working with residents, Groups, offering workshops and trainings, and developing materials which are used all over Second Life by a wide variety of groups and individuals. While we keep the island a fun and beautiful place to visit, it is not primarily recreational in nature. Clients, staff, and colleagues have access at all times, and we open sometimes to the public for events, meetings, workshops, tours, etc. We are basically a small, quiet operation and focus on our work in-world. There are many gorgeous locations to visit on the grid, like Svarga and any of the Rezzable sims - check them out! :-) Updates to Wellness Island's schedule are always in my Profile Picks.

Can you cleanse my aura/help me find spiritual enlightenment/channel my grandmother's ghost?
Probably not :-) I lean toward a little more traditional therapy, where we talk, uncover issues, resolve concerns, increase your coping skills and understanding, grow, resolve old issues, and set and achieve your goals. I don't "fix" my clients, but I walk with them on their journey as they discover their own answers and truths and integrate them into their lives. If that works for you, send me an IM, notecard, or email and let me know if I can be of assistance!

I want to: discuss counseling/ask you some questions for my own research/get your help on my thesis/etc.
I am happy to do this as time permits - between a busy SL and a busier Real Life, extra moments are sometimes scarce. My time in SL is mainly reserved for work with clients, island/estate management, or development of materials. The best thing is to email me at avalonbirke@gmail.com - if I can help, I will. The more specific your questions the better, and if you could first check to see if they are already answered here or in my profile that would be great.

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