How do I know if I am appropriate for online counseling?

While in-person counseling and virtual therapy have a lot of similarities, they are also quite different. Furthermore, more and more policies are being established surrounding the limitations of telehealth. While many clients are appropriate for online counseling, some are not. For example, clients who may not be appropriate for online counseling are those struggling with addictions, in relationships involving current or past domestic violence, clients actively or recently suicidal, clients diagnosed with severe mental health diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, severe depression, schizophrenia, personality disorder, a tendency to self harm, and child therapy. During the intake session, if I find that you are not appropriate for online services with me or or out of my speciality scope I will communicate that with you and offer other referrals of more appropriate counselors.

What do I do in the event that an emergency arises?

My business phone number and email are NOT monitored 24 hours per day given that I am a solo practitioner. However, please see my Crisis Resource Page for what you can do should an emergency arise.

Are my communications with my counselor confidential?

Yes! All communications with me are kept entirely confidential. I use only secure, HIPPA-compliant and/or encrypted platforms and I will be reviewing exactly what confidentiality means during our first intake session when we go over the consent forms.

Are my communications HIPAA protected?

Yes, every platform I use is HIPPA compliant and some even have an added layer of protection with encryption. I believe as a counselor it is our ethical duty to uphold as much security as possible given the sensitive content discussed during sessions. This is even more true when using online platforms.

Is it okay to email or text my counselor outside of sessions?

Of course it’s okay to email or text me outside of sessions. However, I ask that you do so only as it pertains to scheduling. Please try to refrain from texting, calling, or emailing in regards to therapy topics or questions as I do not monitor my business phone or email on a regular basis outside of business hours.

What forms of payment are accepted?

I accept only card payments. You are welcome to use either a bank account or a credit card to pay for session fees. I use Square for credit card payments and ZellePay for bank account payments.

Does online counseling work?

Online counseling has proven to be very successful! It is growing in popularity and I believe in the next 5-10 years it will be the main form of counseling used. The most important determinant of successful therapy is your relationship with the therapist. So take this decision very seriously and if you don’t feel a connection with me after the first few sessions please communicate that so I can help steer you in the right direction of someone else. You won’t hurt my feelings! You deserve to be matched with a therapist you are comfortable with.

What are the advantages to online counseling?

Convenience, convenience, convenience! I’ve found that clients are very relaxed during video or phone sessions given they are in the comfort of their own homes or private spaces. Commuting, finding parking, and worrying about running into a friend or colleague in the waiting room are not worrying factors.

How often do sessions take place?

Most clients prefer a weekly or biweekly schedule given that so much can arise in such a short period of time. Once you feel you have more skills to handle daily stressors we can transition to a less regular schedule after that. Monthly sessions are most common in clients who have been working with their therapist for a period of time and do not feel strong emotions regularly.

What do you do to protect my information during and after a session?

I work out of a home office. Email correspondence as well as electronic notes are all conducted via G-Suite which is secure and HIPAA compliant. If we engage in email therapy I use Proton Mail which is HIPAA compliant and encrypted. I utilize a white noise machine outside my office as well as headphones during our sessions. I do take hard copy notes during our session to help keep my thoughts organized and bullet points to revisit if conversation goes in another direction. However, all hard copy notes are immediately shredded at the conclusion of the session. Protecting your information is my utmost priority!

How long does counseling take to work?

The length of time in therapy entail varies significantly from person to person. Some clients seek counseling for very short term issues and those can often be resolved within 6-8 sessions. But most clients find therapy so helpful that they often stay in treatment for years. Some clients enjoy regularly scheduled sessions and others come in and out of therapy as needed. Therefore, it honestly depends on what your end goals are and your level of motivation and commitment to the process.

What does premarital counseling entail?

Pre-marital counseling is one of my favorite types of counseling! In fact, it is the only type of couples counseling I currently offer. Working with couples motivated to be proactive with relationship issues is SO rewarding. Depending on a couples history, pre-marital counseling is often short-term in nature. It averages about 6-8 sessions where I will often direct you to the PREPARE/ENRICH website to take an online extensive assessment on you as an individual and your perception of your couplehood. This assessment is an additional $35 paid directly to PREPARE/ENRICH. I will branch off of the assessment and personalize your treatment. By the end of our work together, you will be well ahead of your peers on the path to a healthy marriage before you even walk down the aisle.