Where does Hopebound provide services?
We currently operate in Georgia and New Jersey. As we expand our university and community partnerships, we expect that our services will expand into additional states.
Interested in services or partnering with us in a different state? Send us a message here.
Will the clinicians tell others about the private things their clients share?
All sessions are private and confidential. What your child talks about during their appointment will not be shared with their parents, school, or anyone else. There are a few exceptions to this rule. If the counselor thinks their client is a threat to themself or someone else, they may recommend further, more-intensive care. If their client shares information about child abuse, the counselor will be required to report this information to child protective services or the police.
Will caregivers join their child in therapy?
No, children and teenagers benefit most from discussing their issues independently with their counselor. This is developmentally appropriate for our target clients, who are between the ages of 10 and 17.
However, your child’s counselor will meet with you, the caregiver, monthly to discuss how your child is responding to therapy. Note that the counselor will not share private information your child has shared during the session unless he/she determines they are a threat to themselves or someone else.
Do you accept all applicants?
As we want to meet the needs of each of our clients, we will not accept a person who is actively in crisis, but we will refer the family to community resources who can better serve their unique needs.
How do you determine how much families pay for services?
Hopebound operates on a sliding scale policy where we provide therapy that is no or low cost. This means that caregivers are asked and encouraged to contribute between $0-$30 a session depending on what they are comfortable with giving. Hopebound is committed to never letting the inability to pay be a barrier to families in need, and any contribution made ensures that will always be the case. We operate in good faith and will not ask families to prove their financial status, but ask that if possible, you consider cost-sharing with us to the best of your ability.
Please note that if Hopebound is partnering directly with your child’s school, you will not be asked to pay for services.
What does it mean if the clinician is a pre-licensed therapist?
Hopebound is committed to using pre-licenced therapists in our program. Our pre-licensed therapists are master’s and doctoral-level graduate students pursuing licensure to become clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.
All therapists must complete a certain number of supervised hours before they are eligible to be fully licensed in their state to practice independent therapy. The Hopebound program offers graduate students studying therapy the chance to fulfill these hours.
Research shows pre-licensed therapists are highly effective and an under-utilized resource in the mental health community. Our counselors typically have a special interest and experience with under-resourced communities or young people and we provide opportunities for them to provide services to the communities they care about. They are highly passionate about working with the Hopebound population and providing high-quality services to fulfill their course requirements.
What if I don’t have access to the Internet or an Internet-connected device?
If you are interested in your child participating in the Hopebound program but do not have the necessary technology to connect to the therapy sessions, Hopebound will support your child with access to a mobile hotspot or a device, with the agreement that the device is returned when sessions conclude.
How much time does therapy take?
The Hopebound program lasts for the majority of the academic year, beginning in the Fall and ending in the Spring, toward the end of April.
Research shows that people can show improvement within 3-4 months of starting therapy, with some clients taking longer and others shorter.
After the school-year-long program, some families and children feel they have benefited fully from the program and no longer wish to continue in future years. Others may wish to enroll again in the next school year, with a new counselor. Each person is unique and we strive to serve your needs.
If you feel the program is not working for your family, you are free to end your participation at any time. Please contact us or your child’s partner school if you have any concerns about the sessions. Our top priority is meeting your child’s needs.