Individual Counseling
One-on-one sessions tailored to each student's goals, challenges, and pace — a consistent, private space to be heard.
XHORTATION
A teen counseling program of Mentors LLC
Where guidance becomes growth.
A structured twelve-week counseling program for students ages 12–18 and their families. Individual, group, and family sessions, built around who your student is. In office in Headland, serving Dothan and the Wiregrass, or by telehealth anywhere in Alabama.
12Weeks of care
3Guided phases
25Students per cycle
12–18Ages served
About the program
Built around one student at a time
Every student who enters the program is met as an individual first. Assessment, goals, and pacing are built around that one student and their family, never a standard script. The name reflects the work itself: exhortation means to encourage, to call forward, and to walk alongside someone as they grow.
XHORTATION is provided by Mentors LLC and led by John Preston Gunn, LPC, LPC-S. Every consent form, estimate, and invoice names Mentors LLC as the provider.
Inside the program
Care built around the whole student
Every service below feeds one personalized plan — assessment informs treatment, and treatment adapts as the student grows. Sessions are held in office or by telehealth, so distance does not decide whether your student gets consistent care.
Group Counseling
Small, guided peer sessions that build social skills, belonging, and shared accountability among students facing similar seasons.
Family Counseling
Structured sessions that strengthen communication at home and bring parents and guardians into the student's progress.
Biopsychosocial Intake & Assessment
A comprehensive evaluation of emotional, behavioral, social, and family history — the foundation every treatment plan is built from.
Individualized Treatment Planning
A personalized roadmap with measurable goals, reviewed and adjusted throughout the twelve weeks.
Progress Monitoring & Discharge Planning
Ongoing documentation of measurable change, a graduation review, and clear aftercare recommendations for the family.
How it works
Three months. Three phases.
A structured 12-week journey, four weeks at a time — moving each student from assessment to lasting, measurable change.
Enrollment is ongoing · each cycle is capped at 25 students, and new students begin as places open
Weeks 1–4
Foundation Growth
Assessment & stabilization
The program opens with a full picture of the student — clinically and personally — so every step that follows is built on solid ground.
- Biopsychosocial intake and comprehensive assessment
- Individual counseling begins; rapport and trust established
- Family orientation session
- Individualized treatment plan with measurable goals
- Safety and coping plan established
Weeks 5–8
Momentum Growth
Skill-building & support
With a plan in place, the student begins active work — building skills individually, alongside peers, and together with family.
- Weekly individual counseling continues
- Group counseling introduced — peer connection, emotional regulation, social skills
- Family counseling sessions begin
- Progress formally reviewed; treatment plan adjusted
- Coping strategies practiced in school and home settings
Weeks 9–12
Legacy Growth
Transition & empowerment
The final phase reinforces what has been built and prepares the student and family to carry it forward independently.
- Continued individual, group, and family counseling
- Relapse-prevention and coping-skills reinforcement
- Family integration and transition planning
- Graduation assessment and outcomes review
- Aftercare recommendations for the family
Adolescence isn't a problem to fix — it's a season to walk through with structure, encouragement, and honest support.
The program pairs evidence-informed clinical practice with a values-driven perspective — always centered on each student's individual needs, culture, and goals.
Free parent guide
The first three weeks are the ones that decide it
Most counseling with teenagers that fails does so by ending early. This free guide walks through what the first three weeks look like, what your teenager will and will not tell you, and what your role is.
PDF · Free · No cost, no obligation
The First Three Weeks
A parent's guide to starting counseling with your teenager
Questions parents ask
Answered plainly
Anything not here, ask on the first call.
What does it cost, and do you take insurance?
A weekly session is $135 and the twelve-week program is $2,095, payable in three installments. Reduced-fee spots are available. Call and we will confirm whether your insurance is accepted before you commit. Full fee schedule.
Does my teenager have to want to come?
No. Most do not, and the first phase is built for a student who was brought rather than one who volunteered. Attendance is what is required; buy-in is something we build.
What will you tell me about what my child says?
This is agreed in writing at intake. Progress and attendance are shared with you. Anything involving safety, including risk of harm and suspected abuse, is always shared or reported as Alabama law requires. Day-to-day content stays in the room, because a teenager who believes nothing is private will say nothing at all.
Is telehealth available?
Yes, for any family located in Alabama. Where in-office sessions would make a real difference, you will be told which ones and why.
What if we are in crisis right now?
This program provides scheduled counseling and is not a crisis service. If your student is in immediate danger, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911 now.
Next step
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment
Questions about cost, insurance, or fit are exactly what the first call is for. See the full fee schedule.