What can I expect at my first session?

Embarking on the journey of counseling can often evoke feelings of apprehension and uncertainty. I understand the initial hesitancy and aim to create a comfortable and relaxing environment to alleviate any apprehensions you may have.

During our initial session, my goal is to establish an open dialogue where we can explore your expectations and aspirations for counseling. Your objectives will guide our sessions, which typically last for 55 minutes.

Before our first meeting, there will be some basic paperwork to complete. It can be beneficial to jot down any queries or concerns you might have to ensure we address them comprehensively during our initial conversation.

The frequency of our sessions is entirely at your discretion, and we will discuss what suits your needs best during our initial appointment. Most individuals start with weekly or biweekly sessions.

I firmly believe that the therapeutic relationship forms the cornerstone of the healing process. To ascertain if I am the right therapist for you, I offer complimentary 15-minute consultations, either by phone or in person. Your comfort and positive experience throughout your counseling journey are of utmost importance to me.

I look forward to the opportunity to support and guide you towards your desired goals.

How long will I need to be in counseling/therapy?

Therapy success comes from you no longer needing therapy. It is not my hope that you be in counseling indefinitely. My hope is that successful counseling will happen such that your need for therapy will decrease to the point you no longer need therapy. Working myself out of a job is how I measure success. In most cases, successful therapy leads to counseling sessions moving from weekly to biweekly to monthly and finally termination. While it is not my intent to rush the therapy process, my goal is to help you help yourself and ultimately build the skills and abilities to be your own therapist in the future.

Do you offer in person or telehealth sessions?

I currently offer in-person sessions and online sessions.  I offer online sessions through a HIPAA compliant platform.  There is no registration or downloads necessary, and you can do the sessions through your phone, Ipad, or computer.  You can switch at anytime and insurance providers pay for all options equally at this time.

What insurance plans do you accept?

I accept most major insurance plans. It can be helpful for you to contact your insurance company to learn the details of your plan.  Ultimately, it is your responsibility to contact your insurance company to verify your insurance coverage. I am in-network with the following insurance plans.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa

• Medicaid, Iowa Total Care

• Sisco

• United Healthcare / Optum Behavioral Health

Do you prescribe medication?

I do not prescribe medication.  You would need to contact your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist for medication management.  

What are your hours?

I run by appointment only and my office hours vary per day.  I do have early morning appointments (7 or 8 am). I do not offer evening or weekend appointments.

Please fill out the intake form to be contacted for an appointment or call if you have questions.

What is a "Good Faith Estimate?"

Under the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” (GFE) explaining how much your care will cost. Under the law, licensed mental health professionals need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for services.  If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.
Throughout your treatment, the provider may recommend additional items or services as part of your treatment that are not reflected in this estimate. These would need to be scheduled separately with your consent and the understanding that any additional service costs are in addition to the Good Faith Estimate.
If your needs change during treatment, your provider should supply a new, updated Good Faith Estimate to reflect the changes to treatment, and the accompanying cost change
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your GFE, you can dispute the bill.  To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call HHS at (800) 985-3059.