First off, how amazing is it to have therapy anywhere you feel comfortable in your own safe space. This looks like:
- Therapy in your (parked) car
- Therapy in your work office
- Therapy in your home, i.e., living room, kitchen, dining room, backyard- even your bed!
- Wherever you find a space that meets your comfort and convenience, it all works and is very accessible.
Next, these are things to definitely consider when setting up virtual meetings:
- Privacy and a distraction-free space. Your therapy set-up helps you feel safe and cozy! Any background noise, pets, or other people in the home may impede on your therapy experience. Thus, I encourage headphones, a warm blanket and lighting up your favorite scented candle or diffuser to get into therapy mode.
- Internet stability. If you intend on going mobile (phone/tablet) ensure that your WiFi connection is strong and stable.
- Chargers. A sidenote of going mobile is if you know your mobile device dies quickly or overheats. Chargers on-hand certainly helps!
For now, my hours are 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Group running times are evenings, from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
At this time, all methods of payment are private pay. This includes debit, credit, or Health Savings Account/Flexible Savings Account cards to be placed on file.
Therapy-through-insurance has a potential to be limiting (dare I say intrusive?) for clients, in terms of health information. Your insurance may require us to share with them your diagnosis, health records/therapy notes, or only offer to pay for a limited number of sessions to cover what they deem as medically necessary. They can review your information at any time, too. For therapists, this makes treatment planning a doozy. Because of this, I’ve opted to stay as a private pay provider, at this time.
However!
In insurance terms, I am considered an “out-of-network” provider; if your insurance permits, I can provide you with monthly “Superbills” to help you claim out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance company. All insurance plans handle this process differently, so I recommend you calling them up to confirm these details.
Here are some helpful questions you can ask when you contact your insurance company:
- Do I have mental health or behavioral health out-of-network benefits for outpatient settings?
- What is my deductible? Has it been met?
- How many mental health sessions does my plan cover annually?
- How do I obtain reimbursement for an out-of-network mental health provider?
- What will the coverage amount be per session? How much can I expect to be reimbursed?
- How long does it usually take to receive reimbursement once I’ve submitted my claim?
- Is a referral required by my primary care physician?
- Does my insurance plan cover sessions provided via telehealth?
As of March 2023, yes. BUT…
I am definitely keeping a close eye on The Counseling Compact to determine if this changes. The Counseling Compact permits licensed professional counselors to practice in other compact member states, without the need for multiple state licenses. *Fingers crossed* Texas becomes a Compact member soon. 🙂
If you frequently travel between states for work or personal reasons, seeking a professional counselor that resides/practices in a compact member state may be worth looking into. Check out the Compact Map!