Common Questions
It’s okay to be nervous about starting counseling or coaching. It can feel a little scary thinking about sharing things you have been holding inside for weeks, months, or even years. There are no silly questions when it comes to getting connected with the therapist/coach for you. I hope these common questions and answers ease your mind about getting started. If you have additional questions, feel free to connect with us here or call 918-221-9987 to get the answers you’re looking for to feel confident in your decision to move forward.
How do I know if counseling or coaching is right for me?
Counseling/Coaching is a very personal process. If you recognize you want change in one or more areas of life, are willing to talk about the issues, and willing to do the personal work in between sessions to practice new ways of thinking and coping, you are highly likely to experience meaningful change by participating in counseling/coaching.
What will happen in a counseling or coaching session?
We will sit together, usually for 50 minutes, and talk about what feels important to you related to the change you wish to accomplish. Sometimes we may talk about recent events, other times historical events, and other times we will focus on helping you acquire new skills for thinking and behaving in new and more helpful ways in your daily life.
What will my counselor/coach think of me if I share embarrassing or shameful things?
Counseling/Coaching is your safe space to work through anything you want or need to address. As humans ourselves, we are very aware that everyone has strengths and weakness. We all have proud moments and ashamed moments we would rather hide. We are not your judge. We are your guides along your journey to help you see clearly how to let go of what’s holding you back and how to move forward in healthier ways. You will get the best results from your counseling/coaching if you are open and honest.
When will I start feeling better?
You may experience relief at the first session as you allow us to come alongside you in the midst of painful struggles. It feels good to know you aren’t alone. Many sessions you may feel relieved, empowered, and hopeful as you tell your story, feel validated, and find new ways to think about your situation. Sometimes sessions feel hard and exhausting when you share hard things and allow yourself to work through your emotions. It’s important to take good care of yourself by resting more and engaging your support systems when things feel hard.
How long will my counseling last?
The length of your counseling/coaching will be determined by what works for you and our mutual evaluation of how you are experiencing progress in the areas you want to improve. You may find that you’ve experienced significant positive change after 3-6 months. You may prefer to continue counseling/coaching longer if you are continuing to find it helpful and see ongoing progress in your personal wellness. You may find that you feel much better and have the skills you need to move forward with even less time. We will check in along the way to see how you’re feeling about it.
How often will I have sessions?
Initially, we recommend that you start with at least 2 months of weekly sessions to build trust and gain momentum in addressing your concerns. Along the way, based on your needs and desires, we will create a plan for spacing your sessions out in a way that feels best to you. Sometimes that is every other week and sometimes that becomes monthly after you are feeling more confident with your new skills.
How will I pay for my counseling sessions?
Counseling/Coaching sessions are $175 per 55 minute session. Due to the highly private nature of the work we do together, we do not bill insurance directly to assist in keeping your mental health information confidential. Your services will be private pay, payable at the time of service and will be set up on an autobill system for ongoing ease. We are happy to provide you with a Super Bill upon request for your personal submission to your insurance provider for possible out of network benefit reimbursement for counseling sessions. Coaching sessions are not reimbursable through most insurances at this time. You will need to talk with your insurance company before beginning counseling to understand whether you have out of network benefits and the process for submitting your claims.
Is what I share in sessions confidential and private?
Your confidentiality is of utmost importance. When you meet with us, your personal information is kept private and confidential. Your counseling/coaching space is safe and what you share is protected. When receiving counseling, what you share is private except in the following situations according to the law:
If you express that you are a danger to yourself or someone else, the least amount of information possible will be shared to be sure you and others are safe.
If you share information about a child, dependent adult, or elder person being abused, the least amount of information possible will be share to be sure the child, dependent adult, or elder person are protected.
A therapist may disclose the least amount of information possible to defend herself, should legal action be initiated against her by a client.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my counseling session?
We believe in high mutual respect and valuing each others' time. Having kids ourselves, we understand sick days happen. If you need to cancel a scheduled appointment, please give 24 hours advanced notice by email, phone, or client portal to avoid a cancellation fee. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice (other than an unforseen illness or emergency) or no show a scheduled appointment, you will be charged the full session fee.
What if I want to bring a support person to my therapy session?
Your counseling/coaching is your process. If you would like to bring a family member or support person to your session, you are welcome to do that at anytime. It might be helpful to let us know beforehand if there are specific issues you are hoping to discuss regarding your relationship with that person.
What if I’m a teenager and I don’t want to my parents to know what I’m sharing?
Your confidentiality and trust are very important to your counseling/coaching experience. We let your parents know at the beginning of treatment that we will only share with them if you are a danger to yourself, someone else, or are in danger in some way. Everything else is private and confidential. We tell your parents at the first session that we will not communicate with them outside of your presence throughout the treatment process in person or over the phone. You will be part of all conversations. If there is an issue that we think would be helpful for you to share with your parents, we will talk with you about that and you will make a decision about whether or not you wish to share. In most cases, having your parents involved in some of your counseling sessions provides some helpful and needed support as you are working through your concerns.
Will I be able to talk and text with you in between counseling sessions?
The time we have together will be in your sessions. We do not provide text, email, or phone therapy in between sessions. As thoughts and feelings come up in between sessions, we encourage you to keep notes and bring those issues up in your next session. We will thoroughly address any thoughts, feelings, and concerns at that time. Part of your counseling will involve learning how to manage difficulties in-between sessions with healthy coping skills including engaging your support system.
What do I do if I’m in crisis in between sessions and need help immediately?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or urges to end your life, call the Santa Rosa Beach, FL Suicide Hotline at 850-267-2220 or 800-955-8770. You may also call the National Suicide Hotline at 800-SUICIDE. You can also ask a loved one to take you to the nearest hospital for help. If you’re suicidal, reaching out to one of your supportive people and being honest about your thoughts is important and helpful. If you are not suicidal and experiencing a crisis not involving immediate danger, you may call me, email, or log into the client portal to schedule additional needed sessions prior to your originally scheduled next session.