Frequently Asked Questions

Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” improves an individual's well-being by examining their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors. It treats a wide range of conditions such as depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and mental health disorders caused by life events. Therapy aims to enable individuals, or clients, to recognize both positive and negative feelings, what triggers positive and negative feelings as well as what situations can make them feel good, nervous, or depressed. This allows them to build and establish tools in order to cope with difficulties in a more constructive way. Therapy offers a safe, nonjudgmental space for you to talk about problems and anything that’s overwhelming you or even just making life a little tough. Your counselor and/or therapist listens to what you have to say and then works with you to develop a plan to confront challenges and achieve an improved quality of life. You can also go to therapy if you aren’t experiencing significant distress. Therapy can be beneficial in the pursuit of any goal, no matter what that goal is. In therapy, you drive the car. Your counselor and/or therapist can help you navigate when you get lost or help dig you out if you get stuck in the mud. The counselor and/or therapist provide you with the tools to cope and do that work yourself. Your counselor and/or therapist offer guidance during the therapy process, and you then do the work inside as well as outside of therapy toward the goal or goals you wish to achieve.

It’s important to find a good therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Finding a counselor and/or therapist you can work well with is so important. You can often help personalize your own therapy experience by choosing your own counselor and/or therapist, so look for someone you feel safe with. Counselors and/or therapists aren’t machines. Their unique personalities, mannerisms, and styles of interaction will likely show through in the therapy process. Their personality should help attract you to the work you’re doing together and motivate you to want to change. Finding a counselor and/or therapist who will encourage you to keep pushing through difficulties, even when it’s unpleasant, is essential. Trust is important. Therapy can feel uncomfortable, even unpleasant at times. That’s a normal part of the process. But when you and your counselor and/or therapist have a strong working relationship, you trust them to support you through the discomfort and arrive at a place where you feel ready to make change. If you don’t believe your counselor and/or therapist will continue offering compassion and support, regardless of the thoughts you share or challenges you face, you’ll have a harder time opening up and sharing your vulnerabilities. As a result, therapy may be less effective. If you go into therapy looking for a quick, easy solution, or with the hope your counselor and/or therapist will solve all your problems, you won’t get much out of the process. Therapy can be hard work, and going into therapy with this in mind can help prepare you for the occasional tough session. But when you work with the right counselor and/or therapist, therapy can be productive and healing, and most of your sessions will probably feel rewarding, even when they’re a little difficult. If you are interested in hearing more about my approach as a counselor and/or therapist click HERE and we can get you scheduled for a (free) 15 minute consultation call. References: Raypole, C. (2019, December 20). How Does Therapy Work? 3 Ways Counseling Could Help You. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-does-therapy-work-3-ways-counseling-could-help-you-1220197#:~:text=Rather%2C%20therapy%20offers%20a%20safe,an%20improved%20quality%20of%20life. © Copyright 2019 GoodTherapy.org. All rights reserved. Frey, E. (2017, April 27). How therapy actually works and 5 myths about therapy debunked. Retrieved from https://medium.com/kip-blog/5-myths-about-therapy-debunked-17e7fdd8b8a5 Going to a therapist. (2018). TeensHealth. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/therapist.html Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. (n.d.). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-psychotherapy What is psychotherapy? (2019). American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy

As a former military, third culture kid, collegiate athlete, worship leader/singer, empath/initiative healer, counselor educator and researcher pertaining to multicultural and sports counseling, I love providing space for individuals with concerns and stressors related to the intersection of race, gender, culture, ethnicity, and environment. Anyone with stressors related to identity, the intersection of multiple oppressed identities, transitions, finding purpose, greater self awareness and sense of self, direction, and healing. People that I find have benefited most from my services include: -those that want space to explore and process their thoughts, feelings, and emotions -health/mental health professionals that want restoration, healing, and a reset for the mind, body, and soul as well as spiritual balance and healing -those who need someone who understands and is empathetic towards racial and social injustices -those who need someone who understands the pressure of being a high performing athlete, singer, artist, professional -those transitioning in and out of sports, adjusting to sports, or overcoming athletic injuries -those struggling with mental blocks and athletic performance and performance anxiety -those who struggle with perfectionism or feel they have no room to mess up or a place to be their true authentic real selves and can let their guard down without judgement -those who are looking for a person and place that offers respect, love, and belonging and a space where they can be seen, heard, validated and vulnerable as their authentic selves. -teens and young adults with with parents and/or family members that struggled with addictions -young adults and college students finding a sense of self and independence -those struggling with relationships including relationships with themselves and patterns of unhealthy relationships -those struggling with identity, self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-confidence -those looking for comfort, healing, a reset for the mind, body, and soul and seeking balance

The terms counselor, therapist, and psychotherapist are often used interchangeably to describe Masters or Doctoral-level mental health professionals of varying credentials (LPC, LPCC, LSW, LCSW, LMFT, etc.). The term counselor is used broadly to refer to a professional trained in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work, or a range of medical fields. Mental health counselors, specifically, are those professionals working in a mental health capacity. Mental health counselors perform many functions and responsibilities. Their duties include conducting patient evaluations, providing education and informational resources to their clients, and making suggestions that the client or patient can use to solve the problem they are seeking counseling to address. Often, mental health counselors will specialize in addressing a particular issue, such as substance abuse, trauma, marriage and relationships, or family counseling, as well as career counseling. A therapist is an individual that has been professionally trained to provide some form of therapy to a patient or client that addresses either a mental or physical disorder. Examples of therapy used in the context of physical medicine can include physical therapists and occupational therapists. In the context of mental health, the terms mental health therapist and psychotherapist are common. As with counselors, therapists will often specialize in addressing particular client issues, such as marriage and family issues, substance abuse, etc. Mental health counselors and therapists occupy the same professional space, treating the same issues within the same patient populations. Even within the industry, you can find the terms used interchangeably in some contexts. There is significant overlap between therapists and counselors, and they will often borrow from each other’s playbooks. Additionally, both therapists and counselors will typically be Masters or Doctoral-level clinicians licensed by the state in which they practice. A psychologist is a mental health professional with a Doctoral degree who often conducts psychological assessments/evaluations in addition to providing therapy. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who prescribes mental health medications and usually does not provide therapy or provides minimal therapy to assist in skill development and psycho-education and will usually connect you with a counselor, therapist, or psychologist for the continued therapeutic need to assist with medication management. I am also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S) in the state of Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Missouri as well as a board-approved clinical supervisor and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Texas. I am a Doctoral Level mental health counselor and/or mental health therapist, and/or psychotherapist who also completed a Master's degree in clinical and mental health counseling. I passed two national licensing examinations, the National Counseling Exam (NCE), as well as the National Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE), and have completed 3,000 hours as a Master’s level clinician which includes supervised counseling experiences in several different environments. I completed an additional 3,000 hours at the Doctoral level which included serving as a clinical supervisor to Master level clinicians and supervised clinical, research, teaching, and leadership experience. Furthermore, I have a specialized area of expertise in Multicultural counseling, Sports counseling, and Mental performance. I have been supervised and mentored by an LPCC-S as well as PsyD, and a Ph.D. throughout my clinical career. I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NCC is the premier counseling board certification. Earning board certification demonstrates that you have voluntarily met high national standards for the practice of counseling. Those standards include demonstrating mastery of counseling knowledge and skills by completing a graduate degree from an institutionally accredited Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) counseling program, passing a rigorous national examination, provided documentation of work experience and supervision requirements, and subscribed to the highest ethical and practice standards.

You’ve made it! You are now past the initial consultation phase and have taken the first step by signing up for therapy. Finding a good fit and a therapist that you connect with can be stressful in and of itself. The first session is unlike the traditional therapy sessions, and therefore it can feel like an overwhelming encounter. The first session is known as the intake session. The purpose of the intake session is for the therapist and you to create the most whole and accurate picture of you as possible. In other words, this is a time where your therapist goes over all there is to know therapy as well as background information about you to help in establishing a firm foundation. One way in which your therapist gets to know you is through the use of forms. There are going to be a lot of forms you must fill out. These include mental health agreement/informed consent, intake forms, release of information, questionnaires (wellness, PHQ-9, GAD7), and so on. We will also discuss confidentiality, what that means, and answer any questions you may have pertaining to confidentiality and the paperwork. Once forms are complete, we will proceed with creating a treatment plan (a list of goals and objectives) together that will assist in guiding our therapy sessions moving forward. Treatment plans are usually updated on a regular basis, often every six months or so, to allow for changes in your priorities and to reflect on the progress you have made. If something in your life shifts, we do not have to wait. Your treatment plan can change as needed in order to continue serving your needs. From there we will schedule traditional therapy sessions (anywhere from weekly, biweekly, to monthly depending on the clients needs) and work towards building and establishing rapport as well as formulating trust so that interventions and treatment modalities are received and you develop the tools needed to cope with daily stressors, increase your level of functioning, and find a healthy balance in life!

THE FEE FOR SERVICES ARE LISTED BELOW Initial Counseling Assessment (First Appointment): 60-90 minute session: $200.00 Individual Traditional Counseling 50-minute session: $150.00 15-30 minute session: $75.00 60-90 minute session: $200.00 Individual Athlete, Parent, Coach, Professional Consultation session 60 minute session: $200.00 Team Talk group session 1-hour session (10-12 participants): $500.00 Supervision: $80 for individual $120.00 per hour for group Payment must be made at the time of service. If this rate does not fit in your budget, a Sliding Fee Scale is available and may be provided upon request. Rates are reviewed each year and are subject to increase with 30 days' notice. *Please call for additional rates and information on additional services*

Cash, all major credit cards, and HSA cards are accepted for payment. Payment is typically made at the end of each session. Your therapist will discuss payment and explain the payment process in your initial session. Monthly payment options are available for individuals paying in advance. Please contact us at any time if you have questions about payment or would like to make alternative payment arrangements. Payment must be made at time of service.

The Following Insurance is accepted in Ohio through Headway. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Ohio Oscar Health United Healthcare Oxford Cigna Aetna Please click on the headway logo for more details: If you do not see your insurance listed and are looking to pay out of pocket, we may be able to will provide the information you need to submit claims yourself. Please let your therapist know if you need documentation in order to file an insurance claim before the start of services. Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions: - Do I have mental health insurance benefits? - What is my deductible and has it been met? - How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover? - What is the coverage amount per therapy session? - Is approval required from my primary care physician? -What are the out of network provider benefits? Please discuss the answers to these questions with your therapist if you intend to file an insurance claim. The answers will help us work with you to plan the most appropriate counseling services for your specific needs and means.

There are a wide variety of reasons for not accepting insurance, including: Insurance companies REQUIRE a diagnosis in order to pay for your session. What we find is that not everyone who comes to counseling has a diagnosis. Some are just struggling in relationships, in their jobs, or working through grief. The diagnosis that is given, will REMAIN on the client’s permanent health record. This diagnosis will follow the client in school, enlisting in the military, landing federal jobs, security clearances, applying for life insurance, etc. Insurance companies can REQUEST the clients’ session notes at any point in time (by using your insurance you waive confidentiality) and many clients feel uncomfortable with this. Insurance companies DECIDE what type of treatment they will cover, and what type of treatment they will not. You must show that treatment is of medical necessity. Example: Many companies will not cover couples counseling, or will only cover specific and severe diagnoses. Or some will only cover a particular code, even if you need a different code. Another example, some companies will not cover particular diagnoses such as adjustment disorder (grief, teenage angst, etc) Insurance companies can LIMIT the number of sessions that a client can have by age & diagnosis The provider a client wants to see is not PANELED with their insurance company, or perhaps is paneled with their insurance company but not your specific plan. Insurance company copay or deductible is too high

You may find that you need to cancel an appointment due to unforeseen circumstances. We ask that you cancel or reschedule your appointment at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled start time to avoid being charged the full session fee for that appointment.

Yes! Sliding scale therapy refers to treatment priced by each person's income and dependents. This fee structure exists to help make therapy more affordable for people living at a lower income level. Please visit the Sliding fee scale under Fees for additional information required