Counseling FAQs
Find answers to your questions about payments, insurance, and what to expect during counseling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment Information
Because sessions are held virtually, only credit/debit card payments are accepted. A working card must be kept on file, even if your copay is $0.
Why?
Insurance companies do not cover late cancellations or no-show fees.
Sometimes, insurance providers give incorrect cost estimates for sessions and may take up to 90 days to process billing.
What You Can Do:
✔ Contact your insurance provider to check your session costs and deductible status.
✔ Watch this video to understand how insurance works.
✔ Click here to learn about coinsurance.
For more information regarding insurances that I accept and costs please visit the Services page.
Who I Work With
I provide therapy for teens and adults.
For Ages 16+:
In Tennessee, state law (TN Code § 33-8-202) gives 16-year-olds the same rights as adults for mental health care. This means you can:
Decide to start or stop therapy.
Choose (or refuse) medications.
Keep your sessions private (unless safety is a concern).
Under 16 would be considered on a case by case basis:
A consultation with the child AND the parent or legal guardian is required
A parent or legal guardian must give consent for therapy.
If parents are separated, a copy of the custody agreement is required to know who can make medial decisions.
Sometimes, I’ll ask the guardian to join sessions; this helps everyone stay on the same page!
What to Expect
Behavioral health counseling is like having a guide for your feelings, thoughts, and actions.
How It Works:
Talking It Out: You meet with a counselor (a trained helper) to figure out what’s wrong and if it can be resolved.
Learning Skills: They teach you ways to handle tough situations (like calming down when upset or solving problems step by step).
Setting Goals: You work together to make small changes, like speaking up when you’re sad instead of hiding it.
What does LPC-MHSP Mean
An LPC-MHSP is a licensed therapist who’s trained to help you through issues like stress, anxiety, relationships, or big emotions.
What Those Letters Mean:
LPC = Licensed Professional Counselor (They went to grad school + did tons of supervised hours).
MHSP = Mental Health Service Provider (A Tennessee specialty license meaning they’re approved to diagnose & treat mental health needs).
Why It Matters:
✔ They’re qualified (checked by the state to make sure they’re safe & effective).
✔ They keep things private (with a few safety exceptions, like if you’re in danger).
✔ They don’t prescribe meds (but can team up with doctors who do!).
FMLA or Short Term Disability
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort for mental health but have no legal public access rights. Service animals are specially trained to perform tasks for disabilities and are allowed in public spaces under the ADA.
Just to keep things transparent, here’s my policy for ESA letters:
Eligibility: I only write ESA letters for participants I’ve worked with for 6+ months, and only if your pet has been part of our sessions.
Process: It requires a dedicated $125 ESA consultation (not covered by insurance).
Details: If approved, the letter expires in 1 year.
Important Notes:
Landlords/airlines aren’t required to accept it.
No refunds if the letter is rejected.
Just a heads-up: Because of my license type, I’m not able to fill out FMLA or short-term disability forms. For those documents, you’ll need to see a provider like an LCSW, MD, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, or Nurse Practitioner (NP).
