FAQ

What is therapy?
What is teletherapy? 
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Are there any situations where online therapy is not a good option?
Can you prescribe medication?
How long will I need to be in therapy?
Do I really need therapy?
How do I pay for therapy?
What types of payment are accepted?
Do you support alternative forms of treatment?
Are you supportive of the LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities?
How do I find the right therapist?
What are your hours of operation?
Is therapy confidential?
What can I expect during a session?
Will you give me advice?
What is the difference between therapy and life coaching?
Therapy will make me feel better, right?
What are your specializations?
What is an LCSW?
What is the enrollment process?
Who do you work with?
Do you collaborate with other therapists?
What is your cancellation policy?
What is the purpose of the initial paperwork/consent forms? It seems like a lot of information. I just want to get started with therapy!

What is therapy?

Therapy, also known as counseling or psychotherapy, is a form of treatment that aims to improve a person’s overall well-being and mental health. There are many types of therapy, provided by many types of licensed clinicians, who may use a variety of strategies to help you. For more information, consider reading What Really Happens in a Therapy Session.

What is teletherapy?

Teletherapy, also known as telehealth, tele-mentalhealth, or online therapy, refers to counseling that is conducted over the internet instead of face-to-face. Teletherapy usually involves both an audio and a video component using laptops, desktops, iphones, or tablets – so that both the therapist and client can see and hear each other during the session.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Research has shown that online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy. Benefits of online therapy include the following:

  • Accessibility – for people that may have trouble meeting face-to-face due to illness, injury, isolation precautions, or transportation problems.
  • Flexibility – people can participate in therapy anywhere in the state of NC or SC (where I am licensed) as long as they have a confidential space, access to a device that is audio and video-enabled,  and access to wifi. Some people who may not have private space at home have become creative with finding spaces such as a parked car or a library. 
  • Confidentiality – some people find that not having to encounter other people, such as in a waiting room for a face-to-face session, can make starting counseling feel more comfortable and private.
  • No commute – since people don’t have to come to a physical office, there is less potential stress from and time devoted to traffic, travel, and parking.

Are there any situations where online therapy is not a good option? 

If clients are dealing with a crisis, experiencing psychosis, experiencing severe suicidal thoughts, struggling with technology, or prefer a more intimate experience, face-to-face counseling may be a better fit. In addition, some people with vision, hearing, or cognitive impairments may find in-person therapy to be a better option. For more information about the pros and cons of online therapy, consider reading The Pros and Cons of Online Therapy.

Can you prescribe medication?

No, I am not licensed to prescribe medication. However, I am happy to help you locate a prescriber and/or work with you and your prescriber to collaboratively address your concerns. 

How long will I need to be in therapy?

This is not a simple question, as it depends on multiple factors. Therapy typically occurs once per week, and can last anywhere from one session to several months or even years. Some people come to therapy with a very specific problem they need to solve and might find that one or two sessions is sufficient, while others may have more complex concerns that will require a few months or more, while others may have been struggling with longstanding issues that require more long-term treatment. Therapy has been shown to be more effective when clients practice the skills taught during therapy sessions. In addition, being able to communicate openly with your therapist about the therapy process is key, as therapy is a partnership. As we discuss your concerns, we can work together on a treatment plan involving your chosen goals and if they might require short-term, intermediate, or long-term treatment. Therapy is voluntary; ultimately, you are always in complete control regarding your choice to continue or end therapy.  If at any point you feel that therapy is not helping you, please let me know so that we can discuss and find out the best way to be helpful to you.

 Do I really need therapy?

Most people, at some point in their life, struggle with difficult thoughts or feelings, or some aspect of their life. This is normal. It can help to have a neutral person to speak to, who also has specialized training in treating these types of concerns. Ultimately, you are in charge of the decision to start therapy. For more information, consider reading The Decision to Begin Therapy.

How do I pay for therapy?

I accept both private pay and insurance in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. Please visit my “Fees” page for information about this. If you are not using insurance (private pay), I am happy to provide you a “superbill” that you can submit to your insurance carrier. For more information about superbills, please check out this Step-by-Step Guide to Out-of-Network Benefits. Please note that I do not interact with insurance companies directly. 

If you are private pay: I recommend that you contact your insurance company directly to determine your specific coverage. You can call the customer service number on your insurance card. Some insurance cards have a separate number for mental health. Some questions that may be helpful in this conversation include:

  1. Do I have mental health insurance benefits that cover psychotherapy?
  2. Does my policy cover an out-of-network Licensed Clinical Social Worker? If so, what is the coverage amount per therapy session?
  3. What is my deductible and has it been met? If so, is this required before receiving benefits for out-of-network mental health services?
  4. Are my medical and mental health/behavioral health deductibles separate?
  5. How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
  6. Does the diagnosis matter? Are some diagnoses covered and others not?
  7. What paperwork or forms do I need to submit for sessions to be covered?
  8. Is approval required from my primary care physician?
  9. Are there certain procedure codes that are covered vs. not covered? (For reference, the procedure codes I commonly use include but are not limited to 90791, 90832,  90834, 90837, 90846, 90847, 90785, 90839, 90840). 

If I do not accept your insurance, and private pay is not an option for you – you can locate a therapist in-network with your insurance by calling your insurance company to obtain a list of covered providers. You can also locate a therapist via online therapist directories; here is a list of several online therapist directories: The Ultimate List of Therapy Directories. *Please note that I do not endorse any particular directory*

What types of payment are accepted?

For private pay clients: I utilize a HIPAA-compliant payment system called IvyPay, that was created specifically for therapists. Once you schedule your first session, I will send you a mobile link to IvyPay, where you will enter your card information to be stored securely. IvyPay works with your debit card, credit card, HSA or FSA account. I do not accept CareCredit. I will use IvyPay to automatically charge the card on file 24 hours before your scheduled appointment (unless the appointment is cancelled in accordance with my cancellation policy).  I do not allow balances to accumulate and I do not accept other forms of payment such as cash, check, or money order.

For Insurance clients: Since Alma handles all insurance-related matters, they also handle billing for session fees You will need to provide them with a card to keep on file. In addition, I require that all clients place a card on file with IvyPay through my practice. 

Do you support alternative forms of treatment?

I respect that each person’s healing process is unique, and may require a variety of healing approaches/healers/professionals. I encourage you to let me know what other forms of healing feel supportive to you. If you have questions about other forms of healing that are either not within my scope of practice, or in which I am not trained, I will do my best to direct you to a reputable resource/person that can answer your questions. I support your right to choose what methods work for you.

Are you supportive of the LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities/rights?

Absolutely! It is important to me to to provide an environment that is safe and welcoming to individuals of all identities and backgrounds. However, if you prefer to find a therapist who specializes in LGBTQIA or BIPOC issues, I will be happy to help refer you to other clinicians. 

How do I find the right therapist?

Think of finding the right therapist like shopping for a pair of shoes – not every pair will fit you. Just like you wouldn’t force yourself to wear a pair of shoes that are uncomfortable, neither should you force yourself to see a therapist that is not the right fit for you. Several research studies have found that a very important factor in determining the success of therapy is the safe, unique connection and dynamic between the client and therapist. It is ok to take some time to find a therapist that you truly feel is connected to and understands you, and one you feel you can trust.  As you search for a therapist, you might consider asking the following:

  • Are you familiar with evidence-based treatment? (Evidence-based treatment is based on controlled, scientific research that clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the treatment.) 
  • Do you have experience treating my particular concern? (Therapist have varying degrees of experience with certain issues.)
  • What are your fees? What is your cancellation policy? 
  • Will you ask me to do things between sessions?
  • Is your style more directive or are you more like a consultant to the client?
  • Do you think you can help me?
  • What is your training and background?
  • How will we track progress?

These are just some examples; I would encourage you to write down additional questions that are important to you as you search for a therapist. For more information about how to find the right therapist, you might consider reading How to Find a Therapist.

What are your hours of operation? 

Monday 8-3; Tuesday 8-3; Thursday 9-4; Friday 8-12. 

Is therapy confidential?

Absolutely!

Confidentiality between a client and a therapist is one of the most important aspects of therapy.  The law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a mental health provider.  No information is disclosed verbally or in writing, to any individual or organization, without the prior written permission of the client. (This includes family members and friends). However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule.  Exceptions include:

  • Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse: I am required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
  • If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person: I am required to notify the police and the person being threatened.
  • If a client intends to harm themselves, I will make every effort to work with the client to ensure their safety. However, if an individual is not able to participate in keeping themselves safe, additional measures may need to be taken.

For more information, please refer to the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices found on this page.

What can I expect during a session?

Expect a warm, safe, non-judgmental atmosphere! The initial session is approximately 50 minutes. It is a time for me to learn about you and what is bringing you to therapy. In order for me to gain as much understanding as possible, I will ask a lot of questions about a lot of things. You do not have to answer any questions that feel uncomfortable, and we can go at your pace. It is a time for you to share in more detail what concerns are bringing you to therapy and ask any questions you may have. We will go over important parts of the consent paperwork you signed. We will also begin to discuss your goals and what sorts of things I think might help you, and how long we think you might need therapy. Please keep in mind that this can all be subject to change depending on your life circumstances. It can take a few sessions to really narrow down what area/s you would like to focus on, and you are always able to change the focus of treatment. An initial session will feel very different than what you will experience during a regular therapy session, as it is more structured, and is focused more on gathering information as opposed to providing counseling. It is important that I have a complete understanding of multiple aspects of your life and history, in order to most effectively provide counseling. During regular therapy sessions, which are usually 50-53 minutes, I will ask you what you want to focus on, and move into more of a listening and guiding role.  I will offer new skills and ask that we practice them during the therapy session, and ask you to practice them outside the therapy session. I will check-in with you about how the skills are working, and how therapy is working. I will sometimes gently challenge you within the context of your therapy goals. Therapy is an active process, meaning that it involves not just talking about concerns but learning new skills to address them. My style is collaborative, compassionate, direct, gentle, humorous, and curious. 

Will you give me advice?

Every therapist has a unique way of working with clients. While I provide some direction, help clients consider various decisions, and may ask a client to practice a new skill, I do not generally give clients’ advice, simply because I am not able to truly stand in another person’s shoes and and know what choices are best for them. I respect my clients’ rights to make their own decisions. My philosophy is to help you carefully tune in to your values in helping you make decisions.

What is the difference between therapy and life coaching?

While you will probably find many different answers to this question, this article, The Difference Between Therapy and Life Coaching covers this topic well. 

Therapy will make me feel better, right?

My approach is to help you live a life of greater meaning. Many people find that living a richer life that is based on being aligned with their truest desires leads to feeling better emotionally. However, being human involves an ebb and flow of life’s joyful moments and life’s difficult moments; therefore, it would be impossible to attempt to conduct a treatment that aims to eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings. Throughout the course of therapy, it is not unusual to experience a range (both pleasant and unpleasant) of thoughts, feelings, and body sensations that were previously less noticeable. Part of the human condition is making attempts at avoiding unpleasant experiences through various strategies. When we begin looking closely at this process, you may discover what is working or not working for you, which can bring these thoughts and feelings into greater awareness. In addition, making choices that lead to greater meaning in your life can sometimes be difficult, often because this can mean a loss of old, familiar parts of your life in order to welcome new parts of your life that are more closely aligned with your values. Therapy can help you learn how to relate to difficult thoughts and feelings in new ways; ways that will lessen their impact on you and help you live the life you want.

What are your specializations?

Please refer to my Services Page page for information about my specializations. 

What is a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)?

A LCSW is one type of mental health professional. Check out this article for more information: What is an LCSW?

What is the enrollment process?

Your time is valuable. I ask that all potential new clients fill out a New Client Consultation Form to begin discovering if we might be a good fit. You are also welcome to email me with questions using my  Secure Contact Form. In general, email is the best way to reach me. If you decide to proceed with an appointment, I will send a detailed Welcome Email with instructions regarding filling out consents/paperwork. All paperwork and insurance verification must be completed 72 hours prior to a scheduled appointment. 

Who do you work with?

I work with individuals who are age 18 or older. I do not work with people experiencing frequent suicidal or homicidal thoughts, people with severe eating disorders, people experiencing psychosis, people experiencing manic episodes who are not taking psychiatric medication, or people experiencing frequent crises. Individuals may wish to occasionally bring a significant person (friend/family/other) into session with them (after discussing this with me ahead of time); however, I do not provide couples therapy because this is a specialty area. I am happy to help you locate a couples therapist if our work together leads to this need. 

Do you collaborate with other therapists?

It is not unusual for a person to be working with more than one healing professional, including other therapists, at the same time. I am happy to collaborate with other professionals, including other therapists, if this feels responsive to you. However, if you are already working with another therapist on the same issue/goal, I would most likely be unable to begin treatment with you, as 1)our code of ethics specifically discourages providing “duplication of services”, 2)combining different treatments can dilute the effectiveness of each treatment and become confusing for all parties and 3)if you are planning on submitting a “superbill” to your insurance company, insurance is less likely to provide reimbursement for the same issue that is being treated by two different therapists . We can discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

What is your cancellation policy?

Appointments must be cancelled at least 24 hours before the appointment time, or the full session fee is charged.

What is the purpose of the initial paperwork/consent forms? It seems like a lot of information. I just want to get started with therapy!

It makes sense that you might be eager to begin therapy, especially if you have a sense of urgency in resolving your discomfort/issue. Therapy is a profession that is bound by multiple legal and ethical considerations, rules, and laws. These are designed to protect the client and the therapist, and it is therefore important they be taken into consideration before beginning a treatment relationship. While the paperwork does contain a lot of information, the purpose is to clearly communicate my practice policies/procedures from the outset, so that there are no misunderstandings later. It tends to work much better for clients to know, from the beginning, what to expect throughout the course of treatment, rather than be surprised by information surfacing in the middle of treatment, that could take time to resolve and potentially disrupt treatment and the treatment relationship. You might think of this process similar to making a large purchase – such as buying a house, in that you would probably carefully consider all the features of the house, perhaps have a home inspection, and look at other houses, to gather as much information as possible before investing in it, so there are no surprises later. I care about providing the most effective treatment possible, and would rather spend our sessions focusing on the goals you care about, as opposed to discussing an issue that could have been communicated clearly in the initial paperwork. Having said this, you are always encouraged to bring up any questions or concerns that occur during the course of therapy!