Frequently Asked Questions
It is normal to have many questions or concerns when starting therapy. This page provides answers about the process we will take together, and the basics of the cost and time involved.
MAIN QUESTIONS:
“How much do these visits cost and how long are they?”
The intake (first) appointment is $175, then it’s $135 for individual, and $150 for couples/family therapy after that. The appointments are about 53 minutes long.
“Do you take my insurance?”
Our office as a whole takes most private insurance including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Behavioral Health, United Health Care and Cigna. We do not accept Medicaid or Medicare. To find out which therapist takes your insurance, please call the office and talk to our front office staff.
“If I call today, how long will it be until I can get in to see you?”
This varies depending on the therapist’s availability and if they have a wait list. It could be a couple weeks or a couple months.
“What is a waitlist?”
When a therapist is currently not taking any clients because they are full, our office will have a ‘waitlist’ with the potential client’s contact information. Once a space opens up for therapist, the office will call and get them set up.
“How does telehealth work?”
The night before every appointment, you will get an email link from our electronic portal. When the time for the appointment is near, click on the link, and it will open our link to start the session. For each telehealth session, please find a private space, such as a bedroom with the door closed, or even your car. This is to make sure that you are protecting your privacy.
Making Appointments:
“Do I have to have a referral from a doctor in order to make an appointment?”
No. You can call yourself and make an appointment without a referral.
“How do I know who would be a good fit from your group of therapists?
The best thing would be to reach out to our office to talk to our front office staff for some guidance. They will ask some general questions including reason for coming in for therapy, which insurance company you would like to use and more, and can help you narrow down who would be a good fit. They may direct you to our bios on our website so you can look at each profile better.
“Can I call for my child and make an appointment for them?”
Yes, but once the client is 16 years old or older, they must call and make an appointment.
“What if I have to stop doing therapy because of personal or financial issues? Am I able to see the therapist again in the future?”
Yes. You can close your case at any time. When you are ready to come back to therapy, just call the front office and explain that you were a previous client that wanted to get your case opened again.
“What if the therapist I want to see does not take my insurance? Can they still see me?”
Yes. You would have to pay the full rate and self-file to see if you can get some reimbursement from your insurance company.
“What is self-filing?”
When you choose to see a therapist that is out-of-network, you will need to self-file that information on your own. You would first pay the full rate during your appointment and receive a ‘superbill.’ With this, then call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and explain that you want to self-file and give them the information they need from your invoice. In this way you may be able to receive some financial reimbursement from your insurer towards the cost of therapy. How much you are reimbursed depends on your insurance company and coverage.
“What are EAP sessions?”
Sometimes your employer may provide something called Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Sessions. These are a limited number of sessions that are free for the client and are paid by your employer at no cost to you. Once the sessions are used up, you may choose to stop therapy, or continue therapy using your regular health benefits or by paying out of pocket. If you are unsure if EAP sessions are available to you, ask your HR department at your workplace.
First Appointments:
“What kind of questions do you ask at the first session?”
The first session together is called an “intake session” and it is spent helping you get comfortable with our office and therapist, understanding more about therapy, and beginning to build the relationship. You may have many general questions about the process or want to start sharing your struggles. Hopefully you will leave the first session with a clear understanding of what led you to seek therapy, and what goals to work on.
“What do I have to bring to complete my intake paperwork?”
Your insurance card if you are using this.
“Where can I park?”
Our office is in the Pettigru Historic District in downtown Greenville, near the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Before 6pm during the weekday, feel free to park in front of the building on Pettigru Street. After 6pm or on Saturdays, we ask you to please park behind the building, which you can access from Toy Street or Boyce Street.
“What do I do when I get to the building for the first appointment?”
If you walk in the front door, keep going straight to the far back of the building and you will see the receptionist on the left. If you walk in the back door the receptionist will be immediately on your right. Let them know you’re there for a first-time appointment, and they will help get you checked in.
The Therapy Process:
“Why do people seek therapy?”
Every person has experienced feelings and thoughts that are distressing. Most of the time these emotions resolve - circumstances change, or the feelings fade. But sometimes, fear, sadness, grief, or anger can turn basic tasks into heavy burdens, threaten relationships, or lead to behaviors that are harmful. Sometimes the absence of normal emotions (feeling numb) or consistent problems with sleeping or eating may bother you. Whether an event triggered these struggles, or things changed slowly, something is wrong, and it is affecting your life!
People seek therapy because they want to overcome and move beyond the situations and feelings that are holding them back, and also to prevent negative consequences in life. Seeking therapy is a brave, positive action that will help you feel more empowered and able to live life to the fullest.
“I can talk to a friend for free, why pay someone to talk to?”
This is a valid question, and there are many good reasons to invest in seeing a therapist. As valuable as family and friends are to your mental health, there are several things that they are not: completely neutral, legally required to be confidential, educated, and experienced at understanding and treating many different types of mental health struggles. Even if your friend or family member is a therapist or pastor, their love for you and the experiences you have shared may actually be a barrier to providing help. A therapist is trained to see you from different perspectives, sometimes stepping back in ways that are impossible for someone close. Also, because your loved ones have their own opinions and needs that depend on you, their advice may not have your best interest at heart, even if they mean well. Starting off with a neutral person and then moving on without worrying about what was revealed, are so essential that all therapy professions are prohibited from providing help to someone they already have a relationship with. It’s that valuable and that important.
“What if I don’t feel comfortable with the therapist?
The relationship between the therapist and the client is the most important part in therapy. If you don’t feel comfortable or connect with your therapist, it is sometimes best for them to refer you to someone else. It’s helpful to let your therapist know your concerns. It may be based on very different life experiences or beliefs, or just something specific. However, a good therapist will not be mad or hurt by your honesty. They want you to get the best care and will support your transition.
“Is what we talk about kept between us?”
Yes. The only situation in which we are allowed to speak about our sessions is if you or someone else is in danger, a court orders me to do so, or you give me written permission yourself. If confidentiality is a concern for you, we will take time during our first session to discuss it in more depth. A few main reasons that I must reveal information from our sessions include preventing you from committing suicide if you have shared that you intend to, to protect someone from homicide, or to protect a child or vulnerable adult from being abused.
“Is family therapy the same thing as marital therapy?”
Marital therapy focuses on the relationship between two partners where the two of them are the ‘client.’ With family therapy, the focus is on the needs of one identified client and how their family supports and affects them.
What does family therapy look like?”
Family therapy is an extension or the next step of individual therapy. If we see you as an individual client and we both agree that your family plays an important role in your therapy and wellness goals, we will discuss including family therapy in your treatment plan. Once we build a strong relationship and you have progressed on your own, family members can participate in sessions to help you provide support, while the focus remains on your needs. Sessions are collaborative between client, family, and therapist. Depending on the therapist and the needs of the family, some sessions will be for the client only, some with the parents only, and some with all family members.
“Does anyone in your office prescribe medications?”
No, we currently do not have any psychiatrists on staff that can prescribe medications. We refer out to psychiatrists if needed.