Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy is a financial commitment. It’s an investment in yourself and your ability to become aware of self-sabotaging patterns and more capable of practicing new, more effective thoughts and behaviors. This – this ability to think and behave more effectively – can profoundly and positively impact your future relationships, your work, your health, and even your finances. If you’re like most of the individuals we’ve worked with, you’ve likely already invested a lot of time and energy and money into your education, your career, your home, and your physical health. I truly believe that investing in therapy is an investment in your overall well-being and success in life.  

I currently accept Blue Cross Blue Shield & United Health. However, if you don't have insurance or would like to use your health insurance plan's out-of-network benefits, we can navigate this! I’m happy to work with you to provide itemized receipts for your insurance company for partial or full reimbursement for your out-of-network therapy benefits or you check to see if your out of network benefits are eligible for direct billing. For more information on this, please read my Insurance and Fees page. 

You can use Your FSA/HSA/HRA Account: While you should always consult with your employer’s HR department to be sure, therapy is often eligible for reimbursement with  flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and health reimbursement accounts (HRA) that you may have through your employer. So what this means is that you can set aside pre-tax dollars into your account to pay for eligible medical expenses (therapy being one) and then use that money to fund your therapy. I  have a secure credit card system set up that accepts FSA and HSA cards so that my clients can use these accounts much like they would a debit card to pay for their therapy. Paying for treatment by using your pre-tax dollars is something that can help make therapy more accessible

Therapists are healthcare providers, while coaches are not. While every state requires therapists to be licensed, no state regulates or licenses coaches.
A coach is not a healthcare professional and cannot do work that infringes on a therapist’s legal scope of practice.  Under the law, coaches cannot do any of the following:

• Bill their services to health insurance companies
• Offer the breadth of care and services provided by therapists
• Diagnose or treat mental health conditions

While coaching can work with issues such as identifying and reaching goals, boundary setting, dealing with and managing stress, self-defeating thoughts, cognitive dissonance, navigating divorce and breakups, identifying blindspots, and changing the behaviors that are keeping you stuck, coaching cannot deal with issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. For issues such as these, you must see a Physician or Licensed Mental Health Professional. Although you as a client may have a diagnosis, such as PTSD or Anxiety, coaching is not intended as a treatment or cure for these conditions. 

I only offer virtual appointments.  Many of my clients have told me that their online therapy experience has been more satisfying than previous in-person therapy experiences. I can tell you that the integrity of the therapeutic relationship is not diluted in any way because we are connecting through a screen. 

Other beneficial aspects of virtual therapy include:

• Flexibility in scheduling
•  You use my services without living close by 
• Convenience, which seems to result in fewer cancellations than in face-to-face settings
• Saving time from commuting to and from appointments
• Generally less expensive than traditional therapy
• Eliminates fears of running into known others in waiting area of therapy office
• Potentially feeling more comfortable in a familiar setting, enhancing vulnerability and disclosure

CONNECTIVITY

The most predictable issues would be the poor quality of the connection or becoming disconnected altogether. In such instances, the frustration is compounded if you are having an important conversation with your therapist!

The likely remedy would be that we could continue for the rest of the session by telephone. Because of sound quality, we may also elect at some points to have a phone conversation at the same time as the video conversation. By eliminating the audio that comes over the internet, we can improve the quality of the communication.

SECURITY

There are many way to connect over video, I use a platform that uses encrypted video to protect your privacy.  The video conferencing that I provide is HIPAA compliant. Although there are always risks to your confidentiality, not coming to my office in person is probably a net improvement in your privacy.

AVAILABILITY FOR EMERGENCIES

Video conferencing is not an ideal modality for emergencies and individuals who may need crisis support. While the technology of video conferencing may make it seem like I will be able to be more available, it should be agreed that if we anticipate needing to meet on an emergency basis, then online therapy is not an appropriate treatment modality for you.

I'm licenced to practice psychotherapy in Texas and California. In terms of providing therapy to residents of other US states, the key issue is the law of the state in which the client lives. While there are currently no applicable federal or state laws explicitly regulating or prohibiting teletherapy across state lines, every state in the US has its own specific laws regulating the practice of psychotherapy.

Every US state has laws limit the practice of psychotherapy to clinicians licensed and/or registered in that specific state. Due to these state legal issues, I only provide therapy to clients residing in Texas and California. 

If you reside in another US state or internationally, I can provide narcissistic abuse recovery coaching or couples coaching. (requires pre-assessment for appropriateness) Our work together would be highly focused and I would not provide treatment for any mental/ mental health disorders. You could consider seeing a therapist in your state for mental heath treatment while working with me on narcissistic abuse recovery or couples coaching. 

See above FAQ for an explanation about the differences between Coaching and Psychotherapy. 

You can connect with your laptop (as long as it has a built-in webcam and audio device, most do) or your mobile device. If you use your mobile device, it's recommended you use a pair of earphones for better sound quality. If you have a desktop computer make sure it has a webcam and consider using compatible headphones for better sound quality. 

Choosing a therapist or coach is a very personal decision. Therapy is only as effective as the relationship between therapist and client and because of this, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consult call to learn more about your individual situation and goals. Then, when we meet for your first session, ask yourself: “Can I see myself feeling safe and comfortable with this person? Does it seem like they *get* me?” It doesn’t matter how many degrees a therapist has hanging on the wall; if you don’t feel good about sitting in a room with that person, it may not be good therapy. So please book a complimentary consult call with me.

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises