Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need therapy or life coaching?

Knowing whether to choose therapy or life coaching depends on what you want to achieve. The primary difference lies in their focus: therapy deals with healing the past, while life coaching concentrates on achieving future goals.

What are some of the benefits?

Understanding yourself–and your goals and values–better
Developing skills you can use to improve your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communication and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or partnership
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

What should I ask myself when looking for a therapist?

What do I hope to gain from therapy? Will this therapist help me do that?
Am I comfortable with this therapist? Would I want to come back?
Do I feel assured that the therapist is qualified to help me with the issues or concerns that have motivated me to seek therapy at this time?
Am I willing to do the work necessary to participate in therapy?

Remember: The most important factor in securing effective therapy is good therapeutic rapport.

How will I know I am no longer in need of the services?

The decision to end therapy is a personal one, made in collaboration with your therapist. The goal is to equip you with the tools to navigate life's challenges on your own.

You may be ready to stop therapy when:

You've Met Your Goals: The specific issues or goals that brought you to therapy, whether it was managing anxiety, processing a life event, or improving a relationship, have been successfully addressed.
You've Gained a New Perspective: You have a much stronger understanding of your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and you feel more confident in your ability to handle stress and setbacks.
You're Using Your Skills: The coping strategies and insights you've learned are now second nature, and you find yourself applying them to daily life without needing to consult your therapist.
Your Symptoms Have Improved: You've seen a significant and consistent reduction in symptoms of any mental health conditions you were treating, and you feel more balanced and stable.
You Feel Ready: You simply have a gut feeling that it's the right time to take a break or stop. This is a crucial sign that you've built the skills to become your own therapist.

How confidential are the sessions?

Therapy is confidential by law and ethical standards to create a safe space for clients to be open without fear of judgment. Your personal health information is protected by federal laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which prevents therapists from sharing your information without your explicit consent.

Limitations to Confidentiality

While confidentiality is a core principle, there are several key limitations where a therapist is legally or ethically obligated to break it. These are in place to ensure the safety of the client and the public. Therapists are required to break confidentiality in the following situations:

Duty to Warn: If you express a serious, credible threat to harm a specific, identifiable person, your therapist must warn that person and/or the authorities.
Danger to Self: If you are at imminent risk of harming yourself (e.g., planning suicide), your therapist is required to intervene to ensure your safety, which may include contacting emergency services or a family member.
Mandatory Reporting: Therapists are legally required to report any suspected abuse or neglect of a minor, an elderly person, or a dependent adult.
Court Orders: If a court issues a subpoena for your records, a therapist may be compelled to disclose information.
Insurance and Billing: A therapist may need to share some information with your health insurance company for billing and payment purposes, such as your diagnosis and the dates of your sessions.

These limitations are not a sign of a lack of trust but a necessary safeguard for public safety. Your therapist will typically explain these limitations to you in detail during your first session, so you're aware of the boundaries from the beginning.

How do I pay for services?

We accept a few insurances for:

One-on-one counseling sessions: In-person and online

Billing is contracted out to a talented team of billing experts who work in all states and with all payers. Extensive experience and fluent in government regulations.

We do not accept insurance for:

Intensives
Mind Over Matter
Workshops/Retreats
Group programs

These programs are exclusively private-pay, and there are no exceptions.

However, you can request a Superbill to submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Health Insurance

Navigating the world of health insurance can be confusing, but understanding the basics of how it works is key to managing the cost of your care.

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is a contract where you pay a monthly premium, and in return, your insurance company agrees to cover a portion of your medical expenses. This helps protect you from unexpected, high costs for services.

Understanding Key Insurance Terms

Using insurance for therapy isn't "free." Even with coverage, you may still owe money based on your plan's specific terms.

Copay: This is a fixed, flat fee you pay for each session, regardless of the total cost.
Deductible: This is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering any costs. Deductibles typically reset every year, meaning you may be responsible for the full session rate until you meet this amount.
Coinsurance: After you've met your deductible, your plan might still require you to share a percentage of the cost. For example, if your coinsurance is 20%, you would pay 20% of the session cost, and your insurance would cover the remaining 80%.