FAQ
What are your fees?
My full fees are $110 for a 50-minute session for individuals and $130 for couples. If you are in need of a lower fee please contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation as I do hold limited spots for reduced fees.
Sometimes clients need a minute or two between sessions to bounce their ideas or feelings off of me. Phone check-ins are no more than 15 minutes and are included with the price of your session fee. If you feel you need more than the occasional check-in I may suggest increasing the number of times we meet face to face.
Do you take insurance?
No, and there are some benefits to private pay counseling. Most people don’t know that when you use your insurance for counseling they are looking for a reason that is medically necessary. Medically necessary means a few things.
A required diagnosis is attached to your permanent medical record from the first session.
50 minutes is not enough time to diagnose a person and not everyone is looking for or are in need of a diagnosis.
Insurance companies want to see progress. Any treatment you receive is required to be recorded in your health record. This means any private detail the therapist documents is accessible to the insurance company. When an insurance company conducts an audit to prevent fraud, they will be looking at the details of what has happened in each counseling session. If they don’t believe you are progressing, then they can stop covering your counseling, potentially leaving you without a therapist and issues unresolved.
What is EMDR?
An Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) approach believes past experiences influence present insights, attitudes, and behaviors. Sometimes during traditional talk therapy, it can be hard to cope with certain events. This is where sleep comes in; helping our brains work through our problems. When transitioning between normal sleep and REM sleep, your eyes move back and forth, this is called bilateral stimulation. EMDR becomes a safe way to generate change by replicating bilateral stimulation in the here and now.
How many weeks will I be in counseling?
The length of counseling is unique to each person. Some people come to counseling to work out a specific problem and others choose to utilize counseling as a regular self-care practice.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes, I need a 24-hour notice of cancellation or rescheduling. If not the fee of the session will be charged. I understand life happens and your progress is important and that is why I offer video counseling sessions through a HIPPA-compliant site if you are unable to come into my office.
If I am unable to attend you will not be charged for the session and I will try to notify you as soon as possible.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! I do offer virtual sessions to those who are unable to come into the office. My license is in Missouri so I am able to offer counseling to anyone in the state. Virtual sessions are great for when you are sick, when it snows, when you don’t live in St. Louis, and many other reasons.
What does LPC, NCC mean?
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) means I am a fully licensed therapist. I have completed my master’s, passed the licensure exam, and completed two years of supervision.
Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) means I have met national standards which include attending an accredited school, passing a national exam, and following a separate set of ethical guidelines. This certification comes from the National Board for Certified Counselors.
*If you have any additional questions please contact me.