One of the great things about counseling is that every client can have a different experience. With us, counseling is a safe place for you to explore your challenges and work towards your goals. It is casual in the sense that you can freely express yourself, but it is still productive for you to see progress in your life.
When you arrive at your first appointment, we review your paperwork together. We may spend a few minutes getting to know each other and you are welcome to ask questions to learn more about my education and experience.
The purpose of the initial session is to share what brings you to counseling and explore how you got to where you are now. Towards the end of the session, we will discuss treatment goals. These can be related to any area of your life that you want to improve.
Not knowing where to start is normal! We are meeting each other for the first time and you are trusting us with topics you may not have shared with anyone else before. There is a lot of ground to cover! Our best suggestion is starting with the first thing on your mind. It could be what is bothering you today or what bothered you when you were a child. We will start wherever you feel comfortable.
Yes! Aside from your immediate safety, protecting your privacy is our top priority. It is the foundation of a trusting relationship between us. Should you ever want information shared with another individual (e.g., family member, friend, doctor), we will only do so with your written consent.
In the cases of possible harm to yourself or others (especially children or vulnerable adults) or an official court order by a judge, we are legally required to notify necessary parties, including safety officials or victims of intended harm. We will still discuss disclosure before any release of information.
Our practice has clinicians In Network with BCBS, Optum/United Behavioral Health, Aetna, and Cigna insurance plans. If your insurance plan offers Out of Network benefits, we are happy to help submit the necessary documentation. This is not a guarantee of reminbursement as this depends on your specific plan and policy.
Your session cost is based on your specific plan and policy if using insurance, or your clinician’s current self-pay rate. Sessions are typically 53-55 minutes in length, but you can request to book a 30-minute or 45-minute session at a reduced rate for self-pay.
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled time. You may cancel or reschedule by emailing your clinician directly or Samm.
A cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment is billed at full fee and is not covered by insurance.
If you see your clinician in town, they will not acknowledge you first. This is to protect your privacy and confidentiality. You are more than welcome to come say hello or wave from afar, but we will take your lead on that to make sure you are comfortable.
If you want to pretend that you have no clue who your clinician is (or maybe you don't actually recognize them out in public), we will not be offended! And we can always process that experience in a session if you’d like.
Matching a counselor to a client is like finding a good pair of jeans. If you try on the first pair you see and they are too big, you find a smaller size. If you try on another pair and they are still not the right fit, you adjust your search accordingly.
Your first counselor (or second or third) may not be right for you at your time of need. That is totally understandable and a lot more common than you may realize. We will do the best we can to help you find what you need.