FAQs

Thank you for choosing us to support you, in this journey of healing, hope, and recovery! To book a mental health therapy appointment via Telehealth therapy or in person simply pick up the phone and dial my number (253) 987-5561. If we do not answer your call immediately, please leave me a message expressing interest in booking an appointment, we will do our best to respond in under 48 business hours.

There is no simple answer to this question. Sometimes clients find the answer, resolution or level of understanding of an issue in as little as one session. For others, the issue is deeper rooted, and counseling can last for months or years.

Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Counselors/Therapists help clients (a) identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; (b) seek to improve communication and coping skills; (c) strengthen self-esteem; and (d) promote positive behavior change and optimal mental health.

If you cannot make an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. Unless there is an emergency, we do have a cancellation fee policy if your appointment is not cancelled outside of your 48-hour appointment window. Our office is staffed Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.

The complexities of life involving relationships, careers, parenting, self-care and even personal growth can be overwhelming. Counseling can often be the catalyst that helps you to answer your own questions about your life. There are many signs that are indicators that counseling might help:

• Feeling unhappy for no reason

• Not being satisfied with your life

• Having trouble making decisions

• Having trouble setting or reaching goals

• Being tired for no reason

• Feeling hopeless or worried

• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits

• Acting in ways that you don’t like

• Acting in ways that get you in trouble

• Problems with alcohol or drugs

• Relationship problems

• Having issues at work

• Thinking about death or any kind of self-harm

It’s important for you to select someone with whom you feel comfortable. We provide bios of all our providers so that you can read about their approach to counseling as well as their specialty areas of counseling. Our Client Care Coordinator is trained to help match you with the best-fit counselor in our practice.

Yes, we can provide mental health services via high-resolution, live video conferencing.  In response to the current COVID 19 (Corona Virus) outbreak, teletherapy can be a flexible alternative for clients who choose to limit their exposure to the general public. When requesting an appointment, you can request a specific location or teletherapy as an option.

When a doctor, hospital or clinic has a contract with an insurance provider and is included in the provider network connected to your health plan, they are known as being “in network”. When you use an in-network provider, you will receive medical services at the best possible price. Your insurance provider may be able to provide you with a list of in-network doctors, hospitals or clinics.

The deductible is the amount you will pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you will pay the first $2,000 of covered services. After you pay your $2000 deductible, you usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance for covered services.

A copay, or copayment is a fixed amount paid by you to your health care provider at the time of your appointment for services covered by your insurance policy.

An Explanation of Benefits, or EOB, is sent to you after you’ve received medical care. It’s important to know that the EOB is not a bill. It will list:

• Services you received

• Total amount billed by the provider

• Health insurance payments made to date

• Costs that you are responsible to pay

• Our rate can vary between $200-$100 for initial evaluation & $160-$80 for a standard 50-minute mental health therapy session  pending on therapist qualifications and levels of expertise. Family & Couples standard 50 minute sessions are charged at the same rate as indivdiual sessions ($160-$80). Our rate for Group rate is $160 per person.

• We accept payment via Cash, Check, or Credit Card. FSA or HSA cards are also acceptable forms of payment. Payment is due at the time of session.

This is an excellent option to consider if the opportunity is there.  

FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account) buffers the costs of medical treatment, and mental health therapy is an included service if you are looking to use your pre-tax dollars to help you manage your anxiety, depression, or resolve trauma! 

Some employers offer FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account), and the benefit extends to dependents of the employee.  Check with your employer if mental health services, such as Telehealth therapy and counseling with a psychotherapist, are included. If so, we can accept your FSA or HSA cards as a form of payment.

We are in-network with Premera Blue Cross, Regence, HMA, Kaiser, Lifewise, First Choice Health, Cigna, Aetna, Molina, Tricare, HMA, Medicare, and Medicaid.  Fully licensed therapist can provide you with a detailed receipt (called a “superbill") for out-of-network benefits upon request. Please check your insurance coverage regarding reimbursement.

Your Rights and Protection Against Surprise Medical Bills (OMB Control Number: 0938-1401) 

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs,   such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a healthcare facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between  what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount could be more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

 “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care - like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services: If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable  condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensive services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections  not to be balance billed.

 If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance  bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections. 

You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

•   Your health plan generally must:

•  Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

•  Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

•  Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

•  Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may file a complaint with the federal government at https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or by calling 1-800-985-3059; and/or file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner at their website or by calling 1-800-562- 6900. 

Visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law. 

Visit the Office of the Insurance Commissioner Balance Billing Protection Act website for more information about your rights under Washington state law.