FAQ

Currently, we conduct all sessions through Telehealth. In some cases, depending on your location, special arrangements to meet in-person with your therapist can be made. We can discuss that when appropriate.

Approximately within 24-48 hours, you will receive a Meeting link (we use Google Meet) via email. In the directions will be a passcode, and by entering this passcode, our sessions become HIPAA compliant and secure.

Before our on-line video meeting, please check your computer and camera to ensure you can access your Internet and get on Google Meet.

At your scheduled time, click the link you have received, and we will begin our meeting.

Google Meets is a video conference platform currently used by many therapists to conduct Tele-Health appointments. It is fully HIPPA compliant and your privacy is protected.

Yes, therapy is possible either via Google Meets or over the telephone, although telephone sessions are not common.

I am skilled at helping you via Telehealth; I attended Graduate School via video conference and online, and was instrumental in getting the hospice where I worked to conduct Telehealth sessions with clients. I also regularly run Clinical Skills Lab via Zoom with my students.

You will be participating in therapy with someone who is very in tune with the nuances clients make while on the phone or video conference, allowing me to pick up on your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Absolutely! In some locations, you can make arrangements with your therapist to meet in person.

We do accept several insurance plans and are credentialed with Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Priority Health, United Health/Optum, and Medicare (Medicare in MI only) and some Medicaid plans. See the About Me section for each therapist to determine if they are taking your insurance

Before beginning therapy, we will give you some forms to fill out. Included in the documents is an authorization to bill a debit or credit card.

The system we use for billing is private, secure, and while the system will have the credit/debit card on file, the credit card number is not visible or accessible by anyone, and will only be billed AFTER your session, or after the insurance claim is proicessed.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law, health care 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, including psychotherapy 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 health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care 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.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, call 800-985-3059 or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

I am so glad you asked! You can email me at admin@heartandmindcounseling.com, text or call me at (707) 815-0374. We can connect and discuss a time that will work for us to meet.

Good point! During graduate school for social work, we received training to remember entire therapy sessions by doing a “Process Recording assignment.” We learned to write out the whole session, along with other details. We did this task multiple times throughout the program, which taught us to remember all aspects of our time together.

To ensure your record is accurate, I like to write my notes immediately after we finish. Hence, I want to make sure that when we conclude that there is space in my schedule after your appointment to document your session with accurate and detailed notes.

The short answer is “no.” However, as you become comfortable talking to me, you will want to reveal more information as we go along because I can better help you.

In a sense, the more you can tell me about your situation, the better we can come up with solutions, process your emotions, and address your fears.

Feeling like you need to tell me everything right away may not be helpful to your therapeutic process, especially if it makes you nervous or uncomfortable. We will respect your mind and body, and you will set the pace for discussing your concerns.

The length of time you are in therapy is entirely up to you. If you feel like you have come to a place where you are comfortable with the skills and tools you have learned from our sessions, we will discuss a plan to taper back on the sessions.

When something comes up in your life you want to come back and work on, I am here for you.

Doing therapy is “work,” and sometimes it is hard. You will find after a particular session, you may be tired; or you will find that you are challenging yourself to grow, and it may be uncomfortable for you at some moments.

The benefit is that you will come out the other side, a stronger, more resilient person experiencing more moments of joy and happiness.

A therapist can help you through your challenges by using evidence-based interventions (such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), as well as making a mental diagnosis.

A therapist does not prescribe medication; if we reach a point where medication is needed, I will arrange for you to visit a trained professional, such as a psychiatrist, for an evaluation while we continue our work together.

Yes. I am a fully licensed Clinical Social Worker (I have a Doctorate in Social Work) and can practice in the states of Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Social Work focuses on the clinical aspect of mental health, and psychology focuses on research and diagnosis. For example, as social workers, our training helps us look at your whole biopsychosocial environment.

We look at your environment, including where you live, who you live with, and your family background. We also look at your community, friends, organizations to which you belong, and spiritual beliefs, as well as your employment, financial situation, and health. We assess how all of that can impact your current emotions and feelings, or perhaps how some of those aspects can help you.

I continue to conduct research and consult with colleagues in my field about new and upcoming interventions and techniques. Also, I teach Community Organizing, Advanced Psychosocial Skills, Clinical Skills Lab, and Research in the Master’s degree program of Social Work at Western New Mexico University and Walden University.

These experiences help me stay current with cutting-edge information to continue to help you as we progress throughout our time together.