FAQ

does insurance pay for counseling?

We are contracted with several insurance panels. Many insurances do cover mental health services. We have been approved to provide service for Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, the Caterpillar Network (BCBS and UHC), Aetna, and Health Alliance. Your insurance company may have Out-of-Network benefits that you could be reimbursed for.

We do provide a limited number of sliding-scale openings for people who do not have insurance. This rate is based on your household income. In both cases, payment is required at the time of service. We would be able to talk about this in more detail at an intake call or free consultation.

Do I need a special computer for telehealth?

No. Telehealth can be done using any device with a camera including cell phone, tablet, computer, or laptop. You will get a link for each appointment through email, text, or both, if you like. You will click on the link and it will take you to a virtual waiting room, similar to as if you were waiting in the lobby. The software is HIPAA-compliant and secure. If this is still difficult for you, we would be happy to walk you through the process.

Do I have to schedule a consultation?

No. If you’ve read through the material provided and feel like we would be a good fit for you, you are welcome to call or send an email. We will chat for a few minutes about the process, we will gather some basic information from you and if everything looks good and you would still like to proceed, we can move forward with scheduling. We will do our best to give you an estimate of what you will potentially be responsible for if you are using insurance benefits, although we cannot guarantee the information provided by the insurance company.

Why is counseling different than talking to a friend?

While talking with a friend can be helpful and they can definitely be supportive, they are involved in your life on a personal level. By engaging in therapy with a licensed clinician, you are provided a relationship where the person is not involved in your daily life, can remain neutral and objective, and is trained to help you come to your own conclusions and decisions. As a therapist, we will not give advice, but instead help you to process, explore, and make informed decisions. You do not have to worry about hurting our feelings, sharing your inner most details, or judging you. Counseling is a safe space where you can be your most vulnerable! 

What should I expect from counseling?

In the beginning, we will begin to get to know each other and build a trusting relationship. The process typically starts with weekly, 55-minute sessions; however, this can be adjusted to meet your individual needs. As we build a relationship and explore deeper what your goals are and what is causing you concern, we will make strides towards more formal processes. The weekly sessions provide just a small window into your life, and there is a lot of life happening outside of the session. As you work to make behavior or lifestyle changes, there is work that happens outside of the session. Some clients call this “homework” although it is rarely formalized homework; others affectionately refer to it as “practice”. Either way, you will have opportunities to practice what we work on outside of session to, hopefully, have a longer-lasting impact. If at any time during the process you are unhappy or unsatisfied with the relationship or experience, you are encouraged to let us know and bring this up during the session so we can work together to make a plan that is best for you!