How to “do” therapy

My practice is 100% virtual. Sessions are held via encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing. You may use a phone, tablet, or computer as long as you have internet access and a microphone and camera. You get to have sessions from the comfort of your own space with your pet or stuffie with you if you so choose.

Below you’ll find answers to most of your burning questions. 

  • You’re here, on my website, consuming all of this lovely information. You decide “Hey, this therapist seems to get it. I want to reach out to her” or “Hm, I’m a little unsure. I need more information”

    You reach out to me via my contact form or Psychology Today. Give a brief description of what you’re struggling with/ hoping to get out of therapy.

  • I return your message (usually email unless you request text). I will offer to schedule a free 15-20 minute phone consultation so that you can get questions answered and do a vibe check. *

    *For those of you who may worry about these consultation calls: you do not need to have anything prepared. Questions are welcome, but I will make sure that we broadly cover: your past experience with therapy, past diagnoses, treatment goals, insurance/billing, scheduling, and my approach. 

  • We have the consultation. You ask your questions. I ask mine. If it feels like a good fit, we schedule our first session.

  • You will receive a follow up email from me with information on how to conduct telehealth sessions and a reminder of your appointment time and relevant next steps for getting yourself set up in my system (consents, assessments, insurance information, etc.) 

  • We’ll have our first session. At your appointment time, or just before, you’ll click the link I provided to you in my follow up email. Ensure you’re in a private space, in Indiana, and not driving (a parked car is okay). Our first session will be roughly an hour long and will be an expansion on our consultation call. We’ll review the forms you completed, discuss your history, and develop your goals.

  • We will schedule subsequent sessions. I tend to prefer putting folks at about the same day and time each week. This makes scheduling easier for most folks. I block an hour for each session, but I will not force you to stay the entire hour if it’s not needed.

The Roadmap

The Financials

Insurance

Insurance I can bill: Aetna, Ambetter, Anthem/ Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum (including United Medical Resources and United Healthcare)

Insurance I can NOT bill:  Caresource Marketplace,  Healthy Indiana Plan, Medicaid, or Medicare

Out of pocket costs when using insurance varies greatly based on your individual plan. You may pay anything between $0 to the insurance rate for coverage until you reach your deductible. Contact your insurance for more information.

Private Pay and Out of Network (OON)

Private pay is available for those who do not have or do not wish to use their commercial insurance. Please note: due to state laws, I cannot offer private pay to folks who have Medicaid, Medicare, or Healthy Indiana Plan. 

Private pay rate: $160 per session, regardless of session length. 

If you have Out of Network benefits, you may qualify for partial or full reimbursement for services. I cannot guarantee reimbursement, so please contact your insurance company for more information. 

If you’d like to use OON benefits, I will provide a specific receipt (superbill) each month for you to submit to your insurance company. 

More Nuts and Bolts

Are you ready for the next step? Use the button below to reach out.

Contact
Contact

  • The black and white: 

    As a general rule, I require 24-hour notice for cancellations and reschedules. If you cancel in less than 24 hours or do not show up to a session (meaning you are more than 15 minutes late), you will be charged a late cancellation/ no-show fee. Please note: insurance companies will not cover or reimburse these fees. 

    The flexibility:

    Emergencies and sudden illness happen. Trust me, I get it- and I hold myself to the exact same standard. If I ever need to cancel on you at the last minute, I will notify you immediately. 

    Because of that, I absolutely extend grace for true emergencies. If you wake up sick, or your kid is suddenly sent home from school, or the weather throws your day into chaos, you will not be penalized. 

    The boundary: 

    While I am happy to give grace for the occasional curveball that the universe throws your way, I must also ensure the integrity of my business and my ability to offer care to others. If late cancellations, no-shows, or tardiness to session become a pattern, we will discuss the underlying challenge and the cancellation policy will be strictly enforced moving forward. 

  • State licensing laws require you to be physically in the state(s) that I’m licensed in at the time of service. Currently, I am only licensed in Indiana, so you must be in Indiana when we meet. If you plan to travel, we will need to cancel appointments until you return. 

  • I am unable to provide 24/7 crisis coverage or after-hours emergency services. If you are experiencing a life-threatening mental health emergency, call 988, go to your nearest emergency room, or contact one of the warm lines listed under “external links” in the footer of this website. 

  • Tl,dr: No.

    With great power, comes great responsibility.

    Therapy inherently involves power dynamics from the start. It is my responsibility as the therapist to uphold the integrity of my personal and professional ethics to ensure that I am minimizing risk of harm to my clients.

    The work we do is deep, personal work. Because we d deep work and because there is a power imbalance, I will not befriend any current or past client.