How can counseling help me?
Benefits from participating in counseling include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself and others
- Increasing clarification and commitment to your values and goals
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and fear
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
What is counseling like?
I will ask you to identify what you would like to talk about or work on in your session. Most sessions last 45 - 60 minutes and many people want weekly sessions to start and then move to less frequent sessions as they try new approaches. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives. Here are some things you can expect:
- Compassion, respect, and understanding
- Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings
- Strategies for enacting positive change
- Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance
What about medication?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action, but please note that I DO NOT HAVE PRESCRIBING PRIVILEGES. You will need work with your medical doctor and/or qualified nurse practitioner for medications. The long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot generally be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptoms, therapy addresses the source of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can achieve sustainable growth and greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.
What about Telehealth Counseling?
Please note that most states have laws that specify that the provider must be licensed in the state that the patient is located at the time services are received. That means that you cannot be outside the state of Indiana at the time of the teleheatlh session. In addition, you need to be in a private, safe, stable location. You cannot, for instance, be driving in a car at the time of the session or have other people near by who can overhear the session You may not record or screen shot the session. Most insurance companies do cover telehealth, but you would need to check with your policy to verify.
Do you accept insurance? How does insurance work?
I am in network with Meritain, CHA, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Health, and Aetna. If unsure, call the customer service number on the back of your card.
To determine if you have mental health coverage with your insurance, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
- What are my mental health benefits? Note many plans do NOT include marital or family counseling.
- Will your insurance cover telehealth counseling?
- Do I have a deductible or co-pay?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
Is counseling confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and therapist. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Information about the date of service, type of service, diagnosis, treatment plan and progress is or can be submitted to the insurance carrier in order for them to pay the claim.
- Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
- Records can be the subject of subpoena in certain court litigation cases such as a custody dispute.