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The fact that you are reading this is a positive step in your mental health. You have a community that cares about you and we are honored to be a part of that community.

The first thing to remember is that what you are experiencing are normal reactions to some very abnormal and stressful events. Realizing that you have some concerns and taking steps to address them is a positive sign and show of strength.

For your convenience, our Counselors are available by:
- telephone
- live chat
- videoconference
- secure messaging

Each participant is entitled to two free 30 minute counseling sessions. After that, you and your counselor can decide how to continue your relationship. To begin, click the link below to start the quick registration process. Once you have accessed your portal, click the "Get Therapy" link to find the Counselor that best suits your needs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible for COPE NC?

COPE NC is available to all current and former members of the North Carolina National Guard. It is also available to family members of these Soldiers and Veterans.

Who Can Benefit from COPE NC?

The Soldier that will benefit the most from COPE NC is one who is trying to reintegrate and negotiate back into civilian life. COPE NC is designed for any soldier or family member who is seeking treatment for transition issues or minor PTSD. It is also for those that have limited mobility, time constraints, or have few providers in their area. We also assist those facing stigma to accessing services, and those fearful of discrimination when seeking care and treatment.

COPE NC is not appropriate for patients that need on-site traditional care, schizophrenia, and other serious mental illnesses. This service is also not appropriate for people who are suicidal or homicidal.

Are you associated with the National Guard?

COPE NC is not affiliated with the NC National Guard. We are an independent resource available to National Guardsmen and their families. You may be referred to us from the Guard but we are independent.

How Does this Work?

Here are the steps to begin a counseling session:
1. Go to the Start Counseling page.
2. Start the registration process by inputting your email address and name.
3. After registering you will be taken to a secure portal powered by COPE Today (the parent company of COPE NC).
4. Click "Get Therapy" and review the credentials of our available Counselors.
5. Begin a session or schedule an appointment with your selected Counselor.

Do I need a credit card?

No. Each participant is entitled to two free 30 minute counseling sessions. No credit card is required to receive your two free sessions.

Is COPE NC available to family members?

Yes, COPE is available to serve the needs of family members. We are acutely aware that when a loved one returns home from service, emotional conflict and transition issues can arise. During this period of transition, spouses may feel helpless and alone. Professional help from COPE NC is available to successfully address these issues.

What Can I Expect?

It is important to understand what you can expect from this service. To start this pilot in North Carolina, several officers reviewed COPE NC and agreed to make this available to you and members of your family. Officers, as well as state officials, are aware of the problem facing soldiers who want to access mental health services. Again, you are not alone.

COPE NC is an alternative for you. It may be the bridge until you can receive an appointment with the VA, it may be the periodic check-in you need with a counselor to keep you on the road to recovery, or it simply may not be for you.

You and your counselor will work out your goals and how to attain them. The two of you will agree upon how often you two should have a session and how long both of you think counseling will last.

How Long will Counseling Last?

We want you to be in a better place. Counselors are volunteering their time and we need to be respectful of their time also. We have arranged each participant receive two free 30 minute sessions of therapy. After these initial sessions, your Counselor and you will determine if continuing COPE NC will achieve your objectives. After your two initial sessions, additional counseling may be free or may be offered at a discounted rate.

We see counseling ending with COPE NC in a couple of ways:
1. If you receive an appointment with the VA;
2. If you progress and decide that you are feeling better;
3. You feel that this type of therapy is not for you; or
4. You become suicidal or homicidal.

Is This Confidential?

COPE NC is confidential on many levels unless you become suicidal or homicidal.

First, all communication between you and your Counselor takes place over a secure and confidential web portal. You will receive emails advising you to log on to your secure account to view and communicate with your counselor or to remind you of a scheduled appointment. These emails do not make any mention of the topic of discussion.

Secondly, neither your commander nor anyone within the Guard will know that you are accessing counseling. It is totally confidential.

Finally, COPE NC uses several means to ensure your personal information is safe and secure. All communication and information sent over the Internet is encrypted, the database is encrypted, and the facility where the data is housed requires a combination of biometric scans, keys, and other identifying information to enter the facility.

What If I Become Suicidal or Homicidal?

Tell your counselor. If you are using secure messaging, you may not receive help for several hours after you send a message saying that you are suicidal. Depending on the severity of the situation, your counselor may notify the North Carolina National Guard or the local authorities.

There are several resources for you too. You can call:
1. VA Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 800-273-8255
2. National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
3. Military One Source: 1-800-342-9647

Additionally, you may contact the NC National Guard Integrated Behavioral Health System to speak with the on-call Behavioral Health Clinician at 1-800-621-4136 (press 1 for Behavioral Health). The on-call Behavioral Health Clinician is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days out of the year.

What Do You Expect From Me?

We expect you:
1. To work with your counselor on meaningful markers for success. This will help you and your counselor agree on the terms of the counseling and when counseling will decrease.
2. To give us your feedback at an appropriate time.
3. To breathe. What we mean is that we want you to feel better and sometimes you need to just take a few deep breaths. We hope COPE NC is a way to achieve some healing for you.

What Type of Computer Equipment Do I need?

All you need is a regular computer with access to the internet. You can access it at home, a public library or wherever you can find internet access. For video counseling a standard web camera is required. If you do not have one, a Patient Services representative from COPE NC can assist you in obtaining one.