FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What are your fees and payment options for counseling?
The fee for a one-hour session for individuals is $140 and for couples is $160. We typically meet weekly for one hour. All sessions are private pay and can be paid for by check, cash, and all credit cards, including Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts. Clients may submit their own claims to their insurance company, for out of network benefits, however, this office does not submit any insurance claims and is in no insurance networks.
2. Good Faith Estimate Notice
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical or mental health care will cost.
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 expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a 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 CLICK HERE
3. Are you accepting new clients and when do you see clients?
Yes, I am accepting new clients for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between 8AM and 4PM. Tuesdays and Thursday evenings 5PM to 8PM.
4. How do I schedule?
Convenient access to the 24-hour client portal allows new clients and existing clients to request and reschedule appointments. Please
CLICK HERE
for the portal.
5. How are new client appointment requests confirmed?
Appointment requests are confirmed based on preliminary information shared in the intake documents. After your request, you will be sent login instructions to access the intake documents. From there you can complete all documents in the client portal and I can review them before fully confirming your appointment. The intake documents allow me to get a better idea of your reason for counseling. There are times that the presenting concerns, or information shared leads to a referral to a provider who may specialize in a specific area of concern or for other reasons.
6. What areas of counseling treatment do you work with?
Individuals and couples I work with commonly present with anxiety and/or depression symptoms, struggles through various life transitions, difficulty managing painful emotions and thoughts, unhealthy current or past relationships, including family of origin relationships, pain from loss and/or betrayal, and feelings and thoughts of being stuck, unworthy, ashamed, and/or not good enough. Many of the individuals and couples I work with are generally satisfied with life and have a good idea of their value and worth in Christ, but have come up against an unfamiliar challenge, difficult decision, or are looking to enhance a relationship or prepare for marriage.
7. What is your clinical approach to counseling?
I love counseling clients from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) orientation, when applicable. This type of therapy is collaborative and focuses on identifying new ways to live a more values congruent life. It is an evidenced based treatment approach, like the more familiar Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and considered part of the family of third wave cognitive behavioral therapies.
ACT is useful for individuals struggling with difficult thoughts, painful emotions, life transitions, losses, goals, depression, anxiety, and even relationship issues. I do apply other theories and counseling approaches, such as client centered, supportive therapy, and other skills training. Therefore, I am generally speaking an eclectic therapist, concerned with providing the best treatment for your specific needs.
My primary approach to couple’s therapy is influenced by the work of Dr. John Gottman, to strengthen a couples bond and movement toward shared meaning, fondness and admiration, empathy, and healthier ways of dealing with conflict and reducing what Gottman describes as the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Contempt, Stonewalling, Defensiveness, and Criticism. I additionally provide premarital counseling using the PREPARE inventory, as a guide to our sessions. Premarital Couples completing 8 sessions with me qualify for a discount on their marriage license, since I am a provider for Twogether in Texas.
8. Why distinguish your practice as Christian Counseling?
I obtained a Masters in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio and was trained in all requirements for licensure and prepared to provide Professional counseling services to individuals and couples. I additionally, desired to integrate faith, based on years of ministry and my own personal, deep satisfaction in approaching all life issues from a Christian framework. My practicum and internship was obtained in a Christian church setting where I counseled not only members of that congregation, but many others from San Antonio area Christian churches. I attended many Christian counseling trainings during my time there and since. As I developed my practice, I made it my mission statement to help others experience a life lived well in Christ Jesus.
Christian clients often explain that their reason for seeking a Christian focused counselor, is that they can be assured that we share the same belief that we are created by a loving a God, who through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross bridged the gap between man and Himself, that we may live for eternity in His amazing grace. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within all believers and is the Almighty Counselor. This is so very important to the Christian believer, as it is not man alone that provides wisdom and guidance. With this in mind Christian Counseling adds prayer, scripture references, and a candid discussion of God’s will in our lives, to the counseling process.
9. Do you teach doctrine?
No, I do not. Doctrine is very specific to each denomination and organized places of worship. I work with clients from various denominations, and while it is not often necessary to share the exact same beliefs, it may be necessary to describe your beliefs in order for you to feel comfortable and open to the counseling process. It is important to me that you are working with the right person for you, so I make it a point to get to know the different counseling options we have available in the San Antonio area. At times a particular denominational belief or position may be of so much importance to the client that a referral to someone who better understand all that it entails for this person, may be necessary, or additional help from the client’s church through support groups or pastoral counseling will be recommended. What is most important here, is complete respect for the client and his/her goals for treatment.
10. Do you offer Crisis Counseling services?
My practice does not have the capacity to offer crisis care. Instead individuals or couples in crisis should consider the following options when necessary. If in a life threatening emergency, suicidal thoughts and/or intent, self harm, homicidal thoughts and/or intent, domestic violence, or child abuse should be directed to call 9-1-1 or go directly to the nearest emergency room, anytime of day or night. In some cases, mental health urgent care centers are available for crisis care daytime only, such as Sigma Mental Health Urgent Care in Stone Oak. You can also call the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK, for an immediate 24/7 resource for those in threat of self harm or suicide. Additionally, you can text HOME to 741741 anytime day or night when in crisis, not only suicidal thoughts but any painful thoughts and/or emotions.
