Therapy has both benefits and risks.The outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process authentically. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings (such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness) because the process of therapy often requires discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life. You may learn things about yourself that you do not like. Often, growth cannot occur until you experience and confront issues that cause you to feel discomfort. The success of our work together depends on the quality of the efforts on both our parts, and the realization that YOU are ultimately responsible for lifestyle choices/changes that may result from therapy. I will not tell you what to do or make decisions for you; I will help navigate and guide you through your own choices and generally support the decisions you decide to make.
Counseling has been shown to have many benefits for individuals who undertake it. Therapy often leads to: a significant reduction in feelings of distress; increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships; greater personal awareness and insight; increased skills for managing stress; and resolutions to specific problems. But, there are no guarantees about what will happen. Therapy requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions. I promise to support you, and do my very best to understand you, and to help you clarify what it is that you want for yourself.
Yes! I am currently in network with BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna.
Utilizing your insurance will require me to provide a diagnosis and, at times, clinical information to support the diagnosis and need for further treatment. Any diagnosis made will become part of your permanent insurance records and may have implications concerning future applications for life insurance, long-term care insurance, or future health coverage in the event of a change in health care plans. If you have concerns regarding having a diagnosis provided to your insurance, please discuss them with me; alternatives to utilizing insurance will be explored. Should you opt to not utilize your health insurance, you must sign a separate and formal acknowledgement of your decision.
The fee for individual therapy is $130/session, for couples therapy $150/session.
A sliding scale fee structure is available, given clinician availability.
Under the No Surprises Act, clients who do not have insurance or who opt to not use insurance have the right by law to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your mental health care is estimated to cost.
Sundream Counseling is an entirely virtual practice. I simply love the convenience of telehealth. Through audio and video over the internet, you can meet with me on-the-go from your computer or mobile device. Please prioritize your own privacy when selecting an appropriate meeting location, making sure no one is within earshot. I've had clients connect from home, work, outside, in a parked car, in a closet, and from bed. As long as you are dressed (PJs included), I don't mind where you are!
Sundream Counseling utilizes a HIPAA compliant secure video platform, Telehealth by SimplePractice, for all appointments. For each appointment, a unique meeting link is generated and emailed to you. You may connect to the meeting from anywhere within the state of Texas; laws vary if you are out of state so please let me know in advance.
Kindly reach out to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions that are missed or canceled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged a $100 fee. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. Pending availability, sessions rescheduled for the same week will not be charged a fee. Cancellations of a rescheduled session will result in a $100 fee. In cases of emergency or special circumstances where 24 hours notice is not possible, the late cancellation fee may be waived, per clinician’s discretion.
If you are paying for your sessions via insurance, you will be personally responsible for paying the fee, as insurance companies will not cover or pay for missed sessions. If you are paying for your sessions out of pocket, you will be subjected to the $100 rate. If you are paying for your sessions on a sliding scale, you will be charged the amount of the contracted session rate.
If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time. For billing purposes, we cannot meet after more than thirty (30) minutes past your scheduled appointment time.
As a client, you have the right to:
Select a professional counselor who meets your needs. That may not be me, and that’s ok.
Receive specific information about my qualifications, including education, experience, national counseling certifications, and state licensure.
Obtain a copy of the code of ethics that I must follow.
Receive a written explanation of services offered, time commitments, fee scales, and billing policies prior to receipt of services. (“Informed Consent” document)
Understand my areas of expertise and scope of practice (e.g., career development, adolescents, couples, etc.).
Ask questions about confidentiality and its limits as specified in state laws and professional ethical codes.
Receive information about emergency procedures (e.g., how to contact your counselor in the event of a crisis).
Ask questions about counseling techniques and strategies, including potential risks and benefits.
Establish goals and evaluate progress with me.
Request additional opinions from other mental health assessment professionals.
Understand the implications of diagnosis and the intended use of psychological reports.
Obtain copies of records and reports in a timely manner.
Terminate the counseling relationship at any time.
Share any concerns or complaints you may have regarding my conduct with the appropriate professional counseling licensure board.
If you are displeased with what is happening in therapy, I hope you will talk with me so that I can respond to your concerns. Your input will be taken seriously and handled with care and respect. You have the right to considerate, safe, and respectful care, without discrimination of age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, race, religion, marital status, disability, or source of payment.