When is Therapy Appropriate?

HOW DO I WORK?

My style is as an active and interactive participant in the therapy process.

Some therapists listen, nod, and don’t say much at all. I believe that my honest feedback is important. Some of my roles include listening, providing support and encouragement, asking thought-provoking questions, teaching the client how to stand up for him/herself, and pointing out any behaviors that may not be helpful to the client. One question I like to ask clients is: “What do you want or need from me?”

I focus on the relationship between the client and me.

One of my priorities is that over time, the client feels safe with me. Trust takes time to develop. (It’s normal to feel nervous coming to therapy, especially during the first session.) I invite people to share with me if and when they feel uncomfortable for any reason at any time. I welcome feedback from my clients about what's going well, and what, if anything, does not seem to be helping. We are a team and our work depends on both of us being honest with each other.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

All therapists ask questions. It’s OK to not know the answers. However, if you want to understand yourself better, it helps to be curious. Increasing self-awareness is one of the goals of therapy. The better you know yourself, the more successful your relationships tend to be and the more open doors you will find.

WHEN IS THERAPY APPROPRIATE?

If you have no one to talk to...

because you don't have a close friend, or you don't feel comfortable leaning on the friends you do have, I can be your safe person.

Some people turn to therapy when

they are in a crisis...

"Oh my god,...I just got fired," or "I just found out my husband is having an affair," or "My parent/best friend died," or "I’m dealing with a serious medical illness;" or "I'm overwhelmed: my husband was laid off, we have financial stress, my boss is overbearing, and my kid is driving me nuts." The goal of therapy during these times is crisis stabilization and developing a plan to deal with stress, including identifying coping skills. What do you do to cope with life's stresses?

Sometimes people turn to therapy when

they are interested in growth...

They want to understand themselves better and make meaningful changes. They might notice some patterns of behavior and be curious about why they repeat these behaviors. There is not a quick fix. This is about dealing with chronic problems: "Why do I keep picking the wrong guys?", "Why do I always care about what everyone else thinks?", "How can I deal with my anger better?"

Whether you are in need of crisis stabilization or are looking for increased self-awareness and a desire to make lasting changes, I can help.

HOW LONG DOES THERAPY LAST?

The duration of therapy depends on the client's individual goals.

Some objectives can be met in short-term therapy, which might be five to eight sessions. Some people like to continue to learn and grow, and are interested in ongoing therapy. You decide how long therapy lasts. Each treatment plan is as unique as the individual who seeks out therapy.

HOW MUCH DOES THERAPY COST?

Fees are $150/45 minute session.
OR
An extended session is $225/75 minutes
($25 discount)

To schedule an initial appointment,
e-mail or call 404-275-9658.

INSURANCE

If you have an insurance policy that allows you to choose your own provider, sometimes called “out-of-network,” you are usually able to receive partial reimbursement for my services. Please check with your plan by calling the Customer Service number on the back of your insurance card to confirm the details for reimbursement.

There are several reasons that I am not in-network on insurance panels. Most importantly, I would be required to share information about your diagnosis and treatment with the insurance company. Sometimes, they submit that information to a national data bank where it is accessible to other insurers and, potentially, other people. I could not guarantee that they would keep that information confidential. The safety that confidentiality provides is essential for you to feel comfortable to share your concerns in therapy!

Second, and equally important, information shared with your insurance company about your treatment may have possible implications for future employment, future insurance, security clearances, child custody and other legal involvements.

A third problem that could occur is improper handling of treatment records by the insurance company if they transmit your information via FAX or electronic transmission.

Finally, your insurance company, and not you and I, determine what is “medically necessary,” who may provide the treatment, and how many sessions you can have to resolve your concerns.

I hope that having this information helps you make an informed decision about whether or not to use third party reimbursement to cover the cost of your treatment. I'm happy to answer any questions and I can provide a Superbill with all the necessary codes if you want to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

PAYMENTS

I ACCEPT ZELLE® PAYMENTS.

If your banking institution offers a Zelle® payment option, please look for me by my phone number and email address (as listed below) and add me as a recipient. If your banking institution does not offer Zelle®, please call me to make other arrangements.

How long does therapy last?

How much does therapy cost?

Insurance

Payments