Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance & Payment
Do you accept insurance?
I am currently in-network with many plans, including plans associated with:
Aetna
Anthem BCBS
BCBS of Massachusetts
Carelon Behavioral Health
Cigna
Evercare
Headspace EAP
Kaiser
Optum/United- EAP
Providence Health Plan
Rocky Mountain Health Plan
Select Health
Tricare
TriWest
UMR
United
Velocity National
Because insurance plans and network participation can change, I encourage all prospective clients to verify their benefits directly through their insurance company prior to scheduling.
Ultimately, it is the client's responsibility to confirm that I am in-network with their specific plan and to understand any applicable copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs.
How much do sessions cost?
Session fees vary depending on the service provided. Current self-pay rates are:
$75 for a 30-minute session
$125 for a 50-minute session
$250 for a 90-minute session
If you plan to use insurance, your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your specific plan benefits, including copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums. I encourage clients to verify their benefits directly with their insurance company prior to scheduling.
What happens if payment doesn't go through?
Clients are responsible for maintaining a valid payment method and ensuring that any balances owed for services are paid in a timely manner.
If a payment is declined, a credit card expires, an insurance-related balance remains unpaid, or there is another issue preventing payment, I may contact you to resolve the issue. Failure to address outstanding balances may result in future appointments being cancelled until the account is brought current.
Please note that appointment times cannot be guaranteed if sessions are cancelled due to unresolved payment issues.
What if I don't have insurance?
No problem. I accept self-pay clients and welcome individuals who choose not to use insurance for services.
Some clients do not have insurance, while others prefer not to involve their insurance company in their mental health treatment. Self-pay allows clients to access services without the requirements, limitations, or documentation standards often associated with insurance reimbursement.
Current self-pay rates are listed above.
Are coaching services covered by insurance?
No. Coaching services are not psychotherapy and are not eligible for insurance reimbursement. Insurance companies reimburse for medically necessary mental health treatment. Because coaching is not considered mental health treatment, coaching sessions must be paid for privately and cannot be billed to insurance.
Getting Started
Do you offer free consultations?
No. I do not currently offer free consultations.
I encourage prospective clients to review my My Approach, What to Expect, and service pages prior to scheduling. These pages provide a detailed overview of how I approach therapy, the types of conversations we may have, and what clients can expect from our work together.
What happens during the first session?
The first session is primarily focused on understanding what brings you to therapy. Before we begin, we'll review important policies, informed consent, and answer any questions you may have about the therapy process.
From there, we'll spend time discussing the concerns that led you to seek services, when those concerns began, how they're impacting your life, and what you hope to gain from therapy. Some clients arrive with a very specific issue they want to address, while others simply know something isn't working. Both are perfectly acceptable places to start.
Over the first few sessions, I'll gather additional background information to better understand your larger story, including the experiences, relationships, and environments that have shaped you. This helps me understand the context surrounding the challenges you're facing rather than focusing solely on the symptom itself.
Scheduling
What are your office hours?
My current office hours are listed on the website and are subject to change with adequate notice.
Therapy is most effective when clients are able to consistently attend appointments within the hours I have available. If you require a very specific appointment time or have extremely limited availability, it is important to consider whether my schedule is compatible with yours before beginning services. I am unable to create appointment times outside of my posted office hours.
Please note that evening and Sunday appointments are often the most requested and may have limited availability. While my office hours reflect the times I am available to see clients, specific appointment times cannot be guaranteed.
How often will we meet?
Most clients begin therapy on a weekly basis. Weekly sessions allow us to build momentum, establish a therapeutic relationship, gather important background information, and develop a deeper understanding of the concerns that brought you to therapy.
At a minimum, I recommend meeting every two weeks when starting therapy. The work we do together builds over time, and infrequent sessions often make it difficult to maintain continuity, remember important details, and gain meaningful traction. If you're looking for occasional monthly check-ins from the start, my approach may not be the best fit for your needs.
I understand that life circumstances sometimes require temporary breaks from therapy. Extended travel, military deployment, childbirth, medical leave, or other significant life events can all impact scheduling. If you anticipate needing time away from services, I simply ask that you communicate with me so we can discuss an appropriate plan moving forward.
Do you offer virtual or in-person sessions?
Yes. I offer both virtual and in-person therapy sessions for clients located in Colorado.
Virtual sessions are conducted through a secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform and can be a convenient option for clients who prefer to meet from home, work, or another private location.
In-person sessions are available at my Northwest Colorado Springs office on Monday and Thursday afternoons and evenings. The office is conveniently located just off I-25 and offers dedicated on-site parking.
Can I schedule recurring appointments?
Yes. Many clients choose to schedule recurring appointments to reserve a consistent day and time each week or every other week.
While I can initially schedule recurring appointments, recurring appointments eventually expire within the scheduling system. Clients are responsible for monitoring their upcoming appointments and ensuring future sessions remain scheduled.
If you notice your recurring appointments are ending or you need to make changes to your schedule, please let me know as soon as possible so we can discuss available options. Please note that appointment availability cannot be guaranteed if recurring appointments expire without being renewed.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide as much notice as possible. Advance notice increases the likelihood that the appointment can be offered to another client who may be waiting for services.
A detailed explanation of my cancellation, rescheduling, and no-show policies is provided in the informed consent paperwork and will be reviewed prior to beginning services.
Therapy Services
How long are sessions?
Session length varies depending on the service being provided and whether insurance, EAP benefits, or self-pay is being utilized.
Most individual therapy sessions range from 45 to 53 minutes. Extended 90-minute sessions may be available for self-pay clients when clinically appropriate and arranged in advance. Extended sessions are generally reserved for couples therapy or crisis-centered situations that require additional therapeutic support.
If you plan to use insurance, session length and frequency may be influenced by your specific insurance benefits and coverage. Self-pay clients
generally have greater flexibility in determining session length and frequency.
Do you work with children?
Yes. I provide therapy services for adolescents ages 12–17.
At this time, all minor clients are seen in person. I do not provide virtual therapy services for children or adolescents.
I am not a certified play therapist and generally do not work with younger children. My approach is best suited for adolescents who are able to engage in conversation-based therapy.
In accordance with Colorado law, consent from both legal guardians may be required prior to beginning treatment. Parent involvement and communication are often an important part of the therapeutic process when working with minors. If there are custody concerns or questions regarding legal decision-making authority, please contact me prior to scheduling.
My role as your child's therapist, confidentiality expectations, parental involvement, and the scope of my practice when working with minors are discussed in detail within the Minor Informed Consent document, which will be provided prior to your first appointment.