"Do I need therapy?"
Taking the first step to call for an appointment can be intimidating. It requires courage to admit that the way you have been doing things is not working. Or perhaps things have happened in your life, through no fault of your own, that feel out of control or unmanageable. Therapy is right for you if you are willing to take the chance, to be truthful about what is happening and to take a risk in sharing your thoughts and feelings with a trained professional. Together we can look at the big picture and help make sense of it all. In some cases, I may be able to direct you to a resource that is just what you need for your particular problem. Or perhaps, at this point in your life, you just need someone who will listen. We will work together to figure out the next best steps. Therapy is right for you if you are ready to get the most out of your life by taking responsible actions to improve your self awareness and to intentionally work towards greater health. You deserve that. You don't have to keep hurting.
"What happens during a therapy session?"
We call this "Talk Therapy" for a reason. We will talk. Yet each session is unique to you and your needs. Sessions are 45 to 50 minutes long. In the first meeting, I will ask you questions related to what you hope to accomplish during therapy and how long you have been experiencing difficulties. We will discuss the relationships in your life and what things are working or not working. Some therapy can be short term. Sometimes therapy will need to be ongoing for several months to work on deeper issues. You and I will come up with a plan together. I will ask you to be an active participant in session, and I may ask you to do some reading or exercises on your own to integrate the best possible change. My hope is for you to leave the first session feeling some relief and with a plan in mind.
"What can I expect from you as my therapist?"
You can expect to receive compassion, respect and understanding from me, along with practical guidance and perhaps a new perspective to help you understand patterns and negative feelings that are inhibiting you from living your best life. You can expect to feel safe. I am a good listener and will interact with you in a non-judging, non-shaming way.
"What does each session cost? Will health insurance pay for it?"
My fee is $160 per 50 minute clinical hour or session, no matter how many people are present. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, checks or credit card or debit cards.
Please ask me about insurance before you schedule as I am only on one panel, and the available slots are few. In general, couples counseling is not covered by insurance plans, as we cannot assign a diagnosis to a couple. Individual sessions usually are covered. Insurance sessions run for 45 minutes, not 50. You can call the number on the back of your card to see what kind of benefits they allow for mental health/ behavioral issues and for out of network providers. Ask if you have met your deductible and about your co-pay.
Or if you choose to pay privately, I can give you a form that you can submit to your insurance company for them to reimburse you, per your plan, for your appointments. In order to submit forms to your insurance company, a diagnosis must be assigned to the client.
Many people choose to pay privately to avoid sharing personal and sensitive information with the insurance company. Please ask me about this for a fuller explanation. In some cases, I can offer a sliding scale based on your income.
Please ask me about insurance before you schedule as I am only on one panel, and the available slots are few. In general, couples counseling is not covered by insurance plans, as we cannot assign a diagnosis to a couple. Individual sessions usually are covered. Insurance sessions run for 45 minutes, not 50. You can call the number on the back of your card to see what kind of benefits they allow for mental health/ behavioral issues and for out of network providers. Ask if you have met your deductible and about your co-pay.
Or if you choose to pay privately, I can give you a form that you can submit to your insurance company for them to reimburse you, per your plan, for your appointments. In order to submit forms to your insurance company, a diagnosis must be assigned to the client.
Many people choose to pay privately to avoid sharing personal and sensitive information with the insurance company. Please ask me about this for a fuller explanation. In some cases, I can offer a sliding scale based on your income.
"What hours are you in the office? Do you have evening or Saturday times available? Can we do a video chat instead of in person?"
I have availability Monday through Thursday. Some of those days are reserved strictly for telehealth. Usually my first appointment of the day is at 9 am. My last appointment of the day begins at 530 pm. Sometimes, I will adapt those hours to meet the needs of my clients. I am not in the office on Saturday or Sunday. I am available to do Telehealth/video sessions via the internet in a HIPPA compliant manner through Simple Practice app. Certain parameters exist with that modality, so please ask. One of the requirements, for instance, is that we are both in Tennessee at the time of the video session.
"Is therapy confidential?"
The law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and their therapist.
Information will not be disclosed to anyone else unless the appropriate releases are signed by you authorizing permission to share.
There are, however, some exceptions by law, which would require the therapist to file a report or disclose information about the client. These include:
Information will not be disclosed to anyone else unless the appropriate releases are signed by you authorizing permission to share.
There are, however, some exceptions by law, which would require the therapist to file a report or disclose information about the client. These include:
- Suspected or actual child, adult or elder abuse.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, or to herself or himself.
- Cases where a subpoena has been issued by a Judge to access records.
"What if I need to take medication?"
Sometimes, combining medication (anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs, for example) with therapy can be the right course of action. Your medical doctor will help you decide what is best for you. It is well known that an established solution to mental and emotional wellness cannot be achieved by medication alone. Talking with me in therapy can help to treat the underlying cause of some of your distress and help you look at behavioral patterns that inhibit progress. I will work with you and your physician to create the best treatment plan for you.
"What is the difference between a Marital and Family Therapist and other counselors?"
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) operate on the premise that individuals and their problems are best seen in context, and that the most important context is the family. MFTs focus on understanding their clients' symptoms and the interaction patterns with family and friends that may contribute to the problem. MFTs will typically ask questions about roles, patterns, rules, goals, beliefs and stages of development. The MFT then works with the individual, couple or family to change interaction patterns to help resolve the issues. You DO NOT need to be a married person to see an MFT.
Always ask about your therapist's credentials and licensure. Using a therapist who is licensed by the state (or is in process for licensure under appropriate supervision) protects you!
Always ask about your therapist's credentials and licensure. Using a therapist who is licensed by the state (or is in process for licensure under appropriate supervision) protects you!
