FAQ

Can I use my insurance?

I’m currently able to accept most commercial plans under Aetna through a group practice called Headway. I can also accept most plans through United Healthcare, Oxford, and Oscar insurances for Cognitive Processing Therapy only (due to coverage restrictions). If you’d like to check your specific plan, you can visit my Headway profile page and enter your insurance information to verify your coverage. [Please be aware that although my profile may still list BCBS and/or Cigna as in-network, I am not able to accept new clients under BCBS or Cigna at this time.]

Video sessions are typically covered by most insurance plans (though coverage varies, so check your plan documents) whereas phone sessions and text-based support are rarely covered, if ever. If you would like to use your insurance to pay for sessions, but I don’t accept your plan, please note your insurance carrier (Cigna, Aetna, etc) and plan type (PPO, POS, HMO, etc) on the wait list form so that I can contact you if I’m able to accept your insurance in the future.

What if I have a plan you don’t accept?

If you have insurance through a company or plan I’m not in-network with, you may want to see if you have out-of-network benefits. If you do, I can provide you with a special receipt called a “superbill,” which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. In some cases, I may be able to connect you with a service that can streamline the reimbursement process for you; contact me to discuss options if you’re considering using out-of-network benefits.

***Please be aware that if you use your out-of-network benefits to pay for services, your insurance company may demand to view your records at any time.

Why would anyone pay privately for counseling instead of using insurance?

Simply put, many clients find that the limited options covered by insurance don’t fully meet their needs.  For example, insurance typically does not cover phone sessions or text-based support at all. Some clients have limits on how many sessions they can use per benefit period, or may have high deductibles and copays that make self-pay seem more attractive.  In some areas, wait lists for high-quality or specialized therapists who take a client’s particular insurance may be months or years long, or such specialists may not accept insurance at all. Some clients also have privacy concerns about using insurance, and want to limit the number of people who have access to their private health information.

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, therapists accepting insurance are typically required to diagnose you after your very first session.  Yes, you read that right.  If you’ve been to counseling before and used your insurance, you’ve likely been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, even if your therapist didn’t share this with you!  But what if you don’t want a clinical label on your medical record? What if you just don’t want to have to get diagnosed with a disorder in order to get help?  This is just one of many reasons clients may choose to pay privately for counseling rather than using their insurance benefits.

Don’t get me wrong, insurance can be a great option for many.  If your insurance network has good coverage and includes services and therapists who are the right fit for your needs, have availability when you’re free, and are geographically accessible to you, then you should absolutely consider taking advantage of that discount.  However, if you find yourself compromising your own healthcare or privacy needs in order to meet the needs of your insurance company, it may be time to reprioritize.

do you remember me? i was a client when you worked at ____…

Long time no see! If you’re a former client of mine interested in returning but unable to afford my current fees, please use this form to request a reduced fee. 

Online?  So I can meet with you from ANYWHERE???

Sorry to be a bummer, but no. Unfortunately, licensing for mental health professionals in the U.S. is still regulated on a state-by-state basis. I hold active licenses in both Texas and Illinois, so I can see clients who are currently located in either of these states. To be clear: this has nothing to do with your official address or your state of residence: you have to actually be sitting in one of these two states for us to work together. You can travel in-state in either Texas or Illinois and I can continue to work with you, but if you leave the state for any reason, we’ll need to pause our work until your return.
 

Okay fine, but as long as I’m in-state I can meet with you from anywhere (my home, my office, my car, the park), right?

With text-based support, you can reach out from anywhere you like within the state!  If you’re in a public place, I recommend being aware of people around you for your own privacy’s sake, of course (e.g. someone reading over your shoulder in a crowded coffee shop).

For video or phone sessions, you’ll need a private place to meet.  Private usually means a room with a door that closes, but more importantly it means there are no humans nearby who might overhear.  Your dogs, cats, and other animals are fine (unless perhaps you have a parrot who repeats things).

Walking around outside during a phone/video session may sound like a good idea, but with wind, traffic, and passersby you will end up having to yell for me to hear you, which makes it distinctly less private (please don’t try this).

what if my connection drops during a video session?

Although relatively rare, this does sometimes happen Usually it’s because of client-side tech issues, I’m afraid (like being too far from your router, using a mobile network, or having a billion tabs open). I’m happy to help you troubleshoot to the best of my ability, and there are usually several things we can do to improve your connection. However, if you have ongoing connectivity issues, we may want to try a different secure video client (I have several backup options that are all HIPAA-secure).

If for whatever reason our video session is interrupted, please wait patiently for at least two minutes while I try to reconnect us. If we can’t reconnect by video (or if the connection keeps dropping), I’ll call you and we can finish up our session via phone or switch to live-chat if you prefer. If tech issues interrupt your session, I’ll be happy to reschedule you for any available times that week.

Who is appropriate for online counseling?

Good question!

Online counseling is most appropriate for clients 18 years of age and older (not experiencing current or recent suicidal actions, psychiatric hospitalizations, homicidality, psychosis, dissociation, mania, or active substance abuse) who for whatever reason find in-person counseling inaccessible.  For some this may be because of long work hours or an unpredictable commute, while others may simply not be able to find local therapists with availability that matches their schedule. While video/phone sessions save you time you would have otherwise wasted sitting in traffic and in waiting rooms, they do still require you to find 50-55 minutes a week in a private space.

who do you typically work with?

I typically work with clients 18 and older dealing with life transitions, depression, anxiety (including imposter syndrome), trauma/PTSD, LGBTQIA+ issues, or chronic illnesses or disabilities. My specialties include ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD). I work with a lot of self-proclaimed nerds, geeks, and gamers. I especially love working with clients who are ready for change and want to start getting out of their own way.

what if i miss a session?

No problem; I keep several extra slots open every week for flexible rescheduling, even at the last minute! You can also cancel with zero guilt.

Unlike many therapists, I don’t lecture or punish clients for cancelling. You’re an adult, and it’s YOUR time and money to spend how you choose! There’s no need to feel ashamed, make excuses, or explain yourself, and I don’t discharge clients just for missing a few sessions

If you know in advance that you’ll be missing a scheduled session, please let me know as soon as possible so I can offer that time to another client. If you notify me at least 48 hours in advance of your appointment’s start time, there’s no fee (no-shows and later cancellations that aren’t made up are charged a fee to reduce the loss of income).

Notifying me when you’re missing a session is always helpful because it allows me to offer that session to other clients who might need flexibility that week. Hopefully some day someone else will do you the same favor!

do you write letters for emotional support animals?

I am willing to consider writing an ESA housing letter for an established client who meets the requirements, but generally will not do so until the therapeutic relationship has been firmly established and I am able to assess the client’s symptoms and needs over time (usually several months of regular attendance/participation). I will not write letters for specific or multiple animals, as this type of assessment is too far beyond my scope of practice. I strongly recommend that clients seeking an ESA letter find a therapist who specializes in this.

Any other questions?

Please contact me here for any further questions. I will answer your question in the format of your choosing (email, phone, text) but won’t bug you after that or send you any spam :)