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Fees 55-minute session costs $190. 90-minute session costs $290. I do occasionally offer a slightly discounted rate for college students, inquire if there is a need. Those interested in doing premarital counseling (often using Prepare-Enrich format, but not required) have the option of coming in as individual sessions or purchasing a package of 4, 6 or 8 sessions. Please inquire if you are interested in this service. I occasionally have a few slots open for a sliding scale fee, depending on an individual income, however these are not always available. Intern Fees 55-minute session costs $88. 90-minute session costs $123. Associate Fees 55-minute session costs $140. 90-minute session costs $210. I do occasionally offer a slightly discounted rate for college students, inquire if there is a need. Those interested in doing premarital counseling (often using Prepare-Enrich format, but not required) have the option of coming in as individual sessions or purchasing a package of 4, 6 or 8 sessions. Please inquire if you are interested in this service. Insurance At this time, I do not accept insurance. Certain insurance companies may reimburse the client a percentage of the session cost for an out-of-network provider. This is something that is the responsibility of the client to research. Often, the client sends a copy of the paid in full invoice to their own insurance company for reimbursement. Please let me know if you have questions about this process. While i can't answer specific questions, I can go over the general process and go over some questions that can be helpful to ask your insurance. Asking your insurance provider about your annual deductible, your out of network reimbursement rates and what your payout difference is if you see an in-network vs out-of-network providers are all helpful questions to ask your insurance provider. The answers to these questions varies person to person and has a wide range between each insurance company and each client coverage plan. Payment We are currently taking payment in the form of Venmo, Zelle, credit cards (HSA, Visa, Master), check or cash. You have the option of making a payment at the start of the session or the end of the session. While we recommend payment at the beginning of our time, as that can be a helpful time saver, it is at the client’s discretion what point they pay during the session.
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What To Expect When Beginning Therapy
Choosing a therapist Choosing a therapist can vary depending on what an individual is looking for. Some people prefer a therapist who is directive and interjects more often in session. Some prefer a therapist who processes information with very few suggestions or take home work. Many prefer something in between. The best way to find a good fit is having a conversation with the therapist and attaining an individual sense of whether you feel this person is the right fit for you. We are happy to have a 15-20 minute phone conversation discussing your needs and what you are looking for. You may then have a sense of how we might be helpful or we might have suggestions regarding locating someone who might be a good fit. What to expect prior to your first session If you contact us and make the decision to set up an initial session, there are a few steps which are helpful to have completed prior to coming in to the office. First email or call to schedule. We will then email you several documents and confirm the scheduled session. One of these forms is a two-sided intake form that requests a brief history and your contact information. It would be ideal to have this filled out prior to your first session. The remaining forms are the disclosure, consent and financial forms emailed prior to the first session to read and review. The forms will be reviewed with you in the first session. Copies of these forms are also kept in the office if you're unable to review them prior to the appointment. If you would prefer to come in 10-15 minutes early and review the documents, please do let us know to prepare them and you may do so in the waiting room. What a first session looks like Our first counseling session will begin with reviewing and signing the paperwork required to start a therapeutic relationship. We will go over and sign the papers listed above. We will also go over the financial agreement as well as a HIPPA release form. My HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) NPI (National Provider Number) with the state is 1760823884. We will then go through the reasons you are coming to therapy, what you are hoping to accomplish and other topics you would like to discuss. We will begin a brief assessment covering general areas in your life so we can have a better working relationship. This will also give you the opportunity to disclose other aspects you deem necessary. In the second or third session, we will formulate goals together that you deem a good fit and we will have these markers as tools in the future. We believe goals are helpful in showing accomplishment and awareness, however, we keep to them as much as each individual client desires. They can be a useful tool for reflection and progress and can impact the trajectory of the therapeutic process. See similar consent and disclosure forms for individual interns and associates on the Intern and Associates page. All clients seeing clinicians through Calm Counseling, LLC need to fill out an intake form prior to coming into therapy. Please email admin@calmcounseling.com or call 206-999-3889 with any questions. |
SERVICES
Emphasis In:Greif and Loss
Adolescent Issues Young Adult Issues and Adjustment Parenting Challenges and Opportunities Family Relationship Difficulties Couples Counseling (dating, engaged, married) Sexuality Issues Intimacy and Vulnerability Chronic Pain Abuse and Trauma Issues stemming from being Institutionalized Depression Anxiety and Stress Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Process Addiction Family members and friends of those who are alcoholics and addicts Described in further detail below. Adjustment to Life Stages There are many stages in life that require a period of adjustment. Having support through these can be enormously helpful. Having the time and space to reflect on what these life changes entail can foster individual and relational growth in a positive way. Life stages can mean the transition to adolesence, college, a committed relationship, parenthood, an 'empty nest', or having aging parents as well as a whole lot more in between. It can be extremely helpful having someone to process and integrate these changes in life. Grief and Loss Losing those you care for can be a difficult and challenging process. Dealing with the pain and numbness can be a confusing and lonely process. Sometimes talking through and identifying any feelings you have, can be a helpful way to learn how to cope. In an individual setting or a group setting, there are ways to deal with the issues that need to be discussed. Grief and loss aren't always about the loss of a person; there can be grief and loss around life stages, abuse and trauma and other types of events. Adolescent Challenges and Needs Adolescence is a time and opportunity for growth and independence. This can be a struggle for the teen as well as their parent or guardian. Having a dependable, trusting, confidential space can be helpful for all parties involved. Much can be learned for the teen in regards to psycho-education, self-care and expressing their needs or desires with minimal conflict. Young people can learn how to balance their families, friends, jobs and personal responsibilities as well as forage a path to becoming responsible adults. Difficulties around Institutionalization Most inpatient treatment centers are a helpful element for those in need. They teach coping skills and how to make healthy life choices. That being said, there are some throughout the country that use archaic and detrimental practices. These centers often work with mentally and physically abusive 'behavior modification' techniques for adolescents that are dealing with drug/alcohol abuse, depression, eating disorders, acting out and poor school behavior. Some of these facilities have caused undue distress which can linger into adulthood. They can result in PTSD and other trauma induced disorders. I admire those who can seek therapy after therapy has been used in a negative way. I believe the proper support, empathy and understanding will begin to rebuild the individuals self-esteem, communication skills and ability to expess and work through the trauma they've encountered. Chronic Pain and Illness Coping with the seemingly endless issue of chronic pain can be incredibly lonely and difficult. Some people have resources but are unsure how to navigate them. Some need to learn how to process and accept the diagnosis they've been given from a doctor. And some are determined not to. I am able to help and support someone through the challenging health care system while learning how to hold and deal with the emotions and the frustrations that can sometimes come up. I have many tools from which to draw up a plan to work through these issues. It is best to set and follow attainable goals and acknowledge when they are set too high and adjust accordingly. There are many practices from keeping a schedule and calendar to mindfulness exercises to medical interventions that can improve the quality of life for all involved. |
Specializing In:Couples Counseling
When working with couples I draw extensively from my education and training and the many factors these covered. This includes work around gender roles, cultural differences, communication challenges and family relationships. Entering into a relationship is often a blending of culture, communication styles, expectations and traditions. Part of counseling can be discussing these topics and the effects they have on your relationship. When a couple is seeking to prepare their relationship for marriage or a further level of commitment, I sometimes draw from the Prepare-Enrich Inventory. This inventory is also empowering for couples who have been married and it is used to 'enrich' the current committed relationship. See link below to learn more about the Prepare Enrich process. As a relational therapist I have worked with and continue to work with a variety of couples: dating, engaged, committed, married, gay, lesbian and straight, separated, non-traditional, with children, without children and long-distance. There are far more than just these limited words to describe the vast spectrum of couples that present in therapy. Every couple is different even when they present with the same descriptors. I look at all relationships in their own context and with their own unique people who bring their own experiences and feelings into the therapy room. The vast array of tools, books and techniques available to me are ideal for working with the variety of relationships that are a part of our community. Intimacy and Vulnerability Being vulnerable as a couple in a relational context can be a challenge. If this is something that needs to be explored (as an individual or as a couple) there are multiple tools and ways to open up with others. As a culture we are somtimes given messages from early on that don't support the transparency of being vulnerable and sharing intimately. This can sometimes mean expressing feelings and describing a deeper side of yourself. This can be a risk for some and having the safe space of a therapy room can minimize the potential difficulty. Please inquire for a copy of the disclosure and consent agreement when working with integrated intimacy and the supervision of Tina Schermer Sellers PhD, LMFT. Communication Challenges We are all in relationship with other people, whether that is with our family members, co-workers or friends. Sometimes communicating with others can be tough. New communication skills, techniques and ways of expressing how we feel can be practiced and learned. These experiences can improve our connection with others and our lives can grow and improve in countless ways. Working on these issues can be done in relational counseling (more than one person attending) and individually depending on the client's needs. Drug and Alcohol Abuse and Process Addiction Dealing with drug and alcohol can be a challenge for individuals and family members to deal with. Issues can arise from chemical abuse that effect every facet of life from work to play. If someone is willing to make a change and has the desire to work through the motivations that keep them using, therapy can be a wonderful resource. There are multiple supports in the community from 12-step progams to support groups and everyone has unique needs for making healthy choices. I have extensive experience in this area and can pass on a list of contacts and resources that might be helpful even if the individual abusing drugs and/or alcohol isn't interested in coming to therapy. Drugs and alcohol are not the only addictions people have; some people are addicted to gambling, shopping, sex and food. All addictions are best handled with a clear plan to find supports for the individual, processing pain from the active addiction and working through any residual pain that was with someone before they picked up the addiction. All addictions serve a purpose and finding what that is and how it's being used as a coping skill is imperative to improving your overall physical and mental health. |