Free Resources
FAQs
Do you take insurance?
Yes! I am considered an in-network provider for several insurance companies, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the following types of Medicaid: Healthy Blue, UHC Community Plan, Carolina Complete, Amerihealth Caritas of NC, Partners BHM, Trillium, and Wellcare. For insurance plans not listed above, I can provide a superbill for you to seek reimbursement from your insurance company as an "Out of Network" provider. Please note, there is no guarantee of payment or reimbursement from your insurance company. If you would rather not deal with billing your insurance company for reimbursement, you may be interested in Thrizer. Please see the Insurance/Rates page for more information on Thrizer and a link to their website.
What is a superbill?
A superbill is a detailed document used in healthcare settings to provide a comprehensive summary of services and charges for a client. It's typically created by a healthcare provider (counselor) and includes information such as: –Client Details: Name, date of birth, and insurance information. –Counselor Information: Name, address, and National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. –Service Details: Descriptions of the services or procedures provided, including dates and associated codes (like CPT or HCPCS codes). –Charges: Costs for each service or procedure. - –Diagnosis Codes: ICD-10 codes that describe the client’s condition or reason for the visit. Clients can use a superbill to submit claims for reimbursement to their insurance company if the counselor does not bill the insurance directly. It also helps with record-keeping and ensuring that all services rendered are accounted for.
Do you provide a Good Faith Estimate?
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to protect patients from surprise bills for emergency services at out-of-network facilities or for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, holding them liable only for in-network cost-sharing amounts. The No Surprises Act also enables uninsured patients to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of care. You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, healthcare 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 healthcare provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare 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. Get More Information For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
What should I know about using insurance vs. not using insurance?
First, insurance companies will not cover coaching services, but most will cover counseling as psychotherapy treatment and interventions. Insurance can be helpful in making counseling more accessible and affordable and at the same time, it is important to be informed of what insurance companies require from counselors and how that information might impact you. Most insurance companies will require a counselor to diagnose a client in order to be reimbursed for treatment. The diagnosis given to the insurance company will become a part of your permanent medical history. While medical history is protected information, there may be certain reasons (career, military readiness, etc.) that will require your own discernment of whether a diagnosis on your health record is in your best interest or not. Similarly, using your insurance to pay for services may mean that your insurance company dictates how many sessions will be covered and who you can seek services from, depending on your specific health insurance plan or the diagnosis. Clearly, the other option is to not use insurance. I fully understand that this is not financially feasible for everyone, and I do strive to provide access to counseling despite financial barriers. I offer a limited number of reduced fee and pro bono slots for this reason. If you feel that your situation would qualify for reduced fee or pro bono services, please reach out. Let's talk more about it.
I've never been to counseling before. What can I expect?
Counseling is a confidential space meant to help you explore, solve, assess, heal, plan, gain clarity, find empowerment, and much more. It’s not just one thing but instead an inclusive place of collaboration, celebration, non-judgment, and is customized treatment for you and what you are looking for using scientific, evidence-based treatment interventions. Some people go to counseling when something is wrong, some people have counseling on a regular basis whether things are wrong or not. Some consider counseling a regular "tuneup" or a way to seek alternate perspectives or a brainstorming partner when they have a big decision to make. As you can see, there is not just one reason people go to counseling. Counseling is a great self-improvement tool, and can help you fill that toolbox of yours with relational, communication, self-knowledge, and interpersonal tools that will continue to serve you well in the future. Equally important is to discuss what counseling is not. Counseling is not a place to assign blame or fault–I think we would all agree that each of us can do that all by ourselves and don't need to pay good money for it. However, if you find that blaming or assigning fault to someone/something for a situation is only increasing the amount of resentment, anger, or angst you feel, counseling is a great option to find a resolution to this. Counseling is also not advice giving, although many people think it is. Counselors will explore options with you and take the time to "learn what it is like to be you", they will listen to where you are stuck, why, and how you'd rather feel, and explore options for getting there, but ultimately the next step is always your choice and your autonomy to do what is right for you is respected here.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based, clinician led, psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, successful outcomes are well-documented in the literature for EMDR treatment of other psychiatric disorders, mental health problems, and somatic symptoms, such as CPTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, negative core beliefs, and more. The model on which EMDR is based, Adaptive Information Processing (AIP), posits that much of psychopathology is due to the maladaptive encoding of and/or incomplete processing of traumatic or disturbing adverse life experiences. This impairs the client’s ability to integrate these experiences in an adaptive manner. The eight-phase, three-pronged process of EMDR facilitates the resumption of normal information processing and integration. This treatment approach, which targets past experience, current triggers, and future potential challenges, results in the alleviation of presenting symptoms, a decrease or elimination of distress from the disturbing memory, improved view of the self, relief from bodily disturbance, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers. EMDR therapy is a therapeutic intervention that must be administered by an EMDR trained clinician or those who are currently participating in an EMDR International Association Approved training. EMDR procedures facilitate the effective reprocessing of traumatic events or adverse life experiences and associated beliefs, to an adaptive resolution. Specific procedural steps are used to access and reprocess information which incorporates alternating bilateral visual, auditory, or tactile stimulation. These well-defined treatment procedures and protocols facilitate information reprocessing. EMDR utilizes an 8-phase, 3-pronged, approach to treatment that optimizes sufficient client stabilization before, during, and after the reprocessing of distressing and traumatic memories and associated stimuli. The intent of the EMDR approach to psychotherapy is to facilitate the client’s innate ability to heal. Therefore, during memory reprocessing, therapist intervention is kept to the minimum necessary for the continuity of information reprocessing.
Are you a gender and queer affirming counselor?
Yes! I'm glad you asked. You are welcome here just as you are. I am an ally of LGBTQ+ clients and provide affirming care for all identities. I have training in Referral Letters for Gender-Affirming Medical Care, and am certified in SAIGE Affirming counseling to better serve the sexual, affectional, intersex, and gender expansive (SAIGE) communities. I am also a member of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality.