Frequently Asked Questions
Teletherapy provided in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Utah, and Arizona
Frequently Asked Questions about Scheduling
Do I have to call or email you before making an appointment?
No. I understand that people are often searching for a therapist during non-business hours. Feel free to make an appointment anytime by visiting the Client Portal or by clicking on the “Book Your First Appointment” button that is at the top of the page.
How do I book an appointment?
If it is your first appointment, you can use the “Book Your First Appointment” button or visit the Client Portal. Existing clients should book through the Client Portal. Once you are an established client, we can schedule at the end of your session, or set up recurring appointments.
What time zone am I booking in?
The booking software is programmed to the eastern time zone since I live on the east coast. If you are an Arizona or Utah client, please be mindful of this distinction. The program will prompt you to change it to your current time zone when booking. However, appointment reminders are still sent in Eastern Time. Please pay attention to the time zone and feel free to email me with questions or if you need confirmation if you are confused.
I share custody of my child. Do both parents have to sign the consent forms for treatment?
Yes, both parents must sign the consent for treatment forms. Alternatively, you can provide a copy of the legal documents that grant you sole custody or that show that you have sole authority to make medical decisions for your child.
Do you charge a no-show or late cancellation fee?
Yes. It is your responsibility to provide 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Otherwise, you will be responsible for half the cost of the service for a missed appointment. Your insurance company will not reimburse you for missed appointment fees. If you do not have your forms completed in time for your first appointment, I can assist you to complete them during the session time you have paid for, or you can reschedule last minute and pay half the cost of the session. Fill out your forms early to avoid the hassle and frustration of last-minute paperwork.
What teleconferencing platform do you use?
I use Simple Practice, which is a secure, HIPAA compliant platform. Before the session, you will be emailed a link to the appointment. I recommend doing the session on your computer, but you can also download the free Simple Practice app if you need to use your phone.
I don't live in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, or Utah. Can I still work with you?
At this time, I only offer therapy services to people who are physically in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, or Utah at the time of the session due to licensure laws.
What type of appointment should I book for the first appointment?
Unless you are interested in discernment counseling, you should book “Intake (First Appointment, All Ages)”. Once you begin the process, it will prompt you to specify whether the appointment is for you, someone else (like a child), or for you and your partner. Visit this page to help you learn more and make a decision about discernment counseling vs. couples therapy. If you would like to meet with me without your child present before we begin treatment, choose the “parent consult” option.
What happens after I book a session? Are there forms I need to fill out?
Yes. After you schedule an appointment, You will receive an email prompting you to complete the intake paperwork. You must have your paperwork completed before the appointment in order to be seen. I highly recommend filling these forms out a few days before your appointment, if possible, so you have time to email me if you have any questions about the documents. Allow yourself about 20-30 minutes to complete the forms. These forms help me get to know about you and the issues bringing you to therapy before we meet.
My partner and I signed up for couples counseling/discernment counseling. Do we both need to fill out forms?
Yes. You will both need to allow about 30 minutes to fill out forms well before the session.
Why do you charge a no-show/late cancellation fee?
I respect my time, your time, and the time of other clients. By having a strong incentive to show up when you say you will, you are more likely to keep your appointments and make steady progress. I understand that life gets busy and when you provide plenty of notice, I can offer the appointment time to other clients who may be on a wait-list and are happy to take your spot.
What do I need to do to prepare for the session?
I recommend logging into the meeting a few minutes before the session. Do your best to meet in a room with good lighting so I can see your face clearly. If you’re choosing me as your teletherapy provider, you’re probably already comfortable with teleconferencing, but if not, test your internet and audio to make sure everything is working properly. If you’re doing an individual session, headphones can improve the audio quality. Make sure you have a place you can meet alone and without interruption. Sit up in a chair like you would if we were meeting in person rather than laying down in your bed.
Frequently Asked Questions about Payment Options
Can I use my insurance benefits to pay for therapy?
If your insurance plan only covers services from in-network providers, then no, your insurance will not cover the fee for my services. If your insurance plan has out-of-network benefits, your insurance will likely cover some of the cost of therapy. Either way, you are responsible for payment at the time of service. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide you with a superbill that you will submit to your insurance company. Your insurance company will then reimburse you.
Is there a way to get my insurance company to cover your services?
During your insurance company’s open enrollment period, look at the different plans. You may find that upgrading to a higher plan that covers some of the cost of out-of-network benefits will actually save you money if you plan to engage in regular therapy during the upcoming year.
This is a big financial commitment for me. What if I try it and I regret it? I am nervous that we won't be a good fit.
The best way to get a sense of if you think I am a good fit for you is by getting to know as much as you can about me ahead of time. Do your research by reading through the content on this website and at my other websites athletementalwellness.com and kellyfurr.com. If you get a good vibe, chances are we’ll work well together.
What is your cancellation policy?
It is your responsibility to provide 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Otherwise, you will be responsible for half the cost of the service for a missed appointment. Your insurance company will not reimburse you for missed appointment fees.
Can I use my Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits?
I do not have any general contracts with EAPs. You can contact your EAP to see if they are willing to negotiate a single case agreement with me at my rates. For example, if your EAP typically provides 10 free sessions per year and contracts with providers at a $60/hour session rate for a total of $600 worth of coverage, they may be willing to sign a single case agreement with me to pay my $150/hour session rate for 4 sessions for the same total payout of $800. They may be more willing to do this for you if you can explain that I am a specialist in the area of expertise that your require (i.e. help for your tween, couples therapy, grief and loss, etc.)
What is a superbill?
A superbill is an itemized document that your healthcare provider (me) can give to you. Then you submit the superbill to your insurance company for reimbursement. For example, if your plan covers 60% of out of network costs, you would pay me the full fee of $150/session at the time of service. I would provide you with a superbill that you would submit to your insurance company. Your insurance company would reimburse you $90 (60% of $150), leaving you with an out of pocket cost of $60/session.
Can I use my Health Savings Account to pay for therapy?
Yes. You can use your HSA debit card to pay for therapy.
How can I find out whether my insurance plan will help me cover the cost of therapy?
I strongly recommend that you contact your insurance company before beginning treatment to see if you have out-of-network benefits and to understand how they work. Contact the customer service number on the back of your insurance card and they will be able to explain your coverage to you. Ask what percentage of an out-of-network bill they cover. Ask if you have an out-of-network deductible and how this may affect your coverage, if at all. If you do have out-of network benefits, ask how to submit a superbill from an out-of-network provider. Ask how long it takes to receive reimbursement.
You can ask your insurance company whether they cover the following codes:
90791-initial intake appointment
90834-individual therapy for 45-50 minutes
90847-couples counseling/family therapy
The following codes are less common but may also be used
90846-parent consult/family therapy-patient not present
90832- individual therapy for 25 minutes
90847+99354 for discernment counseling (80-110 minutes)
I encourage you to become educated about your benefits, however, you are ultimately responsible for payment for services. I cannot guarantee that your insurance company will reimburse you and do not offer refunds or discounts if you have a misunderstanding with your insurance company or if they refuse to reimburse you. It can seem like an intimidating process, but once you figure it out, it can be a great way to help cover the cost of your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Individual Therapy
How often will I come to individual therapy?
That depends on the urgency you feel and your finances. Clients most commonly come every other week. Some people whose lives feel more turbulent come weekly, at the beginning. Others who have been with me for a while but still feel that an ongoing therapeutic relationship is helpful come once a month or less.
I don’t have a babysitter. Can my kid be in the background?
If you can be by yourself, that’s preferable, as part of the point of individual therapy is to allow you time to focus on yourself. That being said, I love babies and understand that sometimes they need to be close to their caregivers even if it’s inconvenient. Kids who are old enough to understand what we are talking about are old enough to have headphones and screen time for an hour. But occasional check-ins won’t bother me. It’s the 2020s–we’ve all learned to be flexible and adapt by now.
Can I bring my partner or parent to individual therapy?
Yes. What makes it individual is that the primary focus is on you and the issues and goals that you present. Sometimes having a supportive parent or partner is really helpful all the time or just for a session or two.
Will you give me homework to work on between sessions?
That’s entirely up to you. Some people are task and efficiency-oriented and want to get as much done, as quickly as possible. For others, just coming to therapy is difficult enough and they don’t want to have to do much in between. I like to read and I may recommend a book to you, but if you’re not a reader and you feel like that’s what you’re paying me the big bucks for–to read and summarize in session, that works too. I’ll follow your lead.
Frequently Asked Questions about Couples Therapy
Is couples therapy ever a bad idea?
Yes. If your relationship has a history of domestic violence or if you are in a relationship where intimate partner violence (IPV) currently occurs, couples therapy may put the partner who is being abused at further risk of abuse.
Are there times when couples therapy might not be effective?
Yes. Therapists often cite the “three As” as reasons not to begin couples therapy. If there is an active addiction, affair, or abuse, couples therapy is not likely to be very productive. That being said, all three As often require therapy to improve the situation. If you or your partner are consciously working on making behavioral changes to end an addiction, affair, or abuse, couples therapy may be a helpful, albeit longer-term option. Depending on the situation, individual therapy may be recommended first before relationship issues are addressed. This is something that will be assessed at the beginning of therapy.
I’m not sure if I want to try couples counseling or discernment counseling. How do I decide?
Talk to your partner. If you both feel willing to try couples therapy, that is the way to go. If you or your partner is hesitant or are actively considering separation or divorce, discernment counseling is the way to go. It is possible to switch between approaches if necessary, but it is helpful if you can have an idea of what your goals are for therapy before the first session. If your partner is not willing to do any therapy, you can try individual therapy.
If we are attending couples therapy for parenting, will our children be involved?
It depends on your situation. Sometimes it can be helpful with older teenagers to do some family therapy sessions to strengthen family relationships. With younger kids, it is often more effective to work just with the parents.