What are your fees?

Individual counseling sessions (in-person or online) are $250 and last 50 minutes. D&D online social skills groups are $75 and last 90 minutes. My coping skills course is $99.

Do you take insurance?

I'm not in network with any insurance companies, which means I don't directly take insurance. Some insurance plans offer out of network benefits, in which case they'll reimburse you for part of what you pay a therapist, even if the therapist isn't in their network. If that's the case for you, I'm happy to provide a receipt you can give to your insurance company to get reimbursed.

How do I use out of network benefits?

First, check your insurance plan's Summary of Benefits on their website or in the packet you received when you signed up to confirm that you have out of network benefits.

To use this benefit, you'll be responsible for paying the full session fee yourself at the time of service. After the session, I'll give you an itemized receipt called a Superbill that you can send to your insurance provider. They'll repay you directly for the portion of the fee that they'll cover.

If you need more information, you can call the company and ask:

• What's my out of network deductible for outpatient mental health?
• How much of my deductible have I already met this year?
• Do I need a referral to see someone out of network?
• How much will I be reimbursed for out of network services?
• Where should I send my Superbill to get reimbursed?

What do I need to Know about the No Surprises Act and Good Faith Estimates?

The No Surprises Act protects people from receiving surprise medical bills when they don't have insurance or they receive healthcare from an out of network provider. 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.

• 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.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.

My Child Has Never Been to Therapy Before. What Do I Tell Them?

Check out this blog post for tips on when and how to introduce the idea of counseling to your child, and how to explain what a counselor does in a kid-friendly way.

My Child Has Tried Therapy in the Past, and It Wasn't The Right Fit. How Is Your Counseling Style Different?

It's really important to find a counselor that both you and your child connect with and trust. Not every counselor is the right fit for every kid! I put a lot of focus on learning skills backed by research and blend this into the art and play we do in our therapy sessions. If your child felt like they weren't really getting at deeper issues or learning coping strategies, we might be a good fit.

Will I Be Involved and Know What Happens In My Child's Sessions?

Yes! In fact, it's really hepful for you to be involved. Having your support makes therapy so much more effective.

I always keep parents informed about the "big picture" of what's happening in therapy...I don't want it to feel like something mysterious is happening behind closed doors! We'll meet to discuss what our therapy goals are, and how you can help your child achieve them at home.

On the other hand, kids need to feel like they have a reasonbale amount of privacy in sessions in order to feel safe opening up. I may not always share details of the day-to-day things we talk about. I will never keep information a secret that could put your child or somebody else in danger.

How Long Will My Child Attend Counseling?

If I looked at every kid who has been in therapy with me and came up with an average time spent in therapy, it would be about six months. That's a pretty good guess for many kids, but it's still just an approximate number.

Children whose struggles are very recent, or whose anxiety is limited to just one area may be done with therapy much more quickly. Kids with a long history of anxiety or trauma, or whose anxiety affects many parts of their lives may need more time.

I know therapy is a big financial and time commitment. I'm eager to see kids getting back to living their lives independently of counseling! I'm often the first to suggest a child may be ready to graduate from treatment, and it's always something we can discuss.

How Does Online Counseling Work?

I use a video conferencing platform that is a lot like Zoom, but with more security features to make sure counseling sessions stay confidential. It’s easy to use: no need to download anything or use a new link every week.

Online therapy generally works well for kids. Children who do online counseling with me move through the therapy process just as quickly as those who are face-to-face.

You can learn more about online therapy here or on my blog.

How Do I Pay for Sessions, and What's Your Cancellation Policy?

Before our first appointment, you'll fill out some brief intake paperwork for me that includes a place to securely enter a credit or debit card number. That card is automatically billed the night after each session unless the appointment is cancelled.

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If an appointment is canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, you may be billed for the session.

What age range do you work with?

Many of the kids I work with in counseling are between the ages of 8 and 12. They're still interested in art and play, but starting to think about more adult problems, too. Kids in our D&D social groups are a little older, usually ages 11 to 14.

My child is a little older or younger. Can they still work with you?

Yes! If you read through my site and felt like it described your child, we might be a good fit even if they're older or younger. Kids who could use concrete coping skills to manage anxiety tend to benefit from therapy with me. Reach out to me and we can talk about it!

What states are you able to see clients in?

I'm licensed to practice in New York, North Carolina, and Florida. So, even if you aren't able to meet in person at my Davidson, NC office, we can still work together online if you live in one of these states.

My child doesn't live in NY, NC, or FL. Can you still work with them?

Unfortately, I can't. Every state has its own laws about licensing therapists. At the moment, I'm only licensed to work with children in New York, North Carolina, and Florida. My coping skills course is available online for kids in all locations.

Can you recommend a children's therapist similar to you in my area?

Most of the therapists I know well work nearby, so it's hard to make personal recommendations for providers in other cities or states.

Searching a large directory like Psychology Today, TherapyDen, or Open Path Collective is a good way to find therapists near your zip code. If you'd like to find someone with a similar appraoch, search for therapists who practice CBT and Play Therapy with children, tweens, or teens.