FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everyone is welcome and will be treated with dignity and respect. I do not discriminate based on race, age, religion, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity. However, my practice is limited based on my training and experience. I work only with adults, couples, adolescents, and families. I do not work with children but can refer you to a competent children’s therapist if one is needed.

I believe it is important to find a counselor who is a good fit for you in terms of your goals and personality. This is why I offer a free 30-minute telephone or face-to-face consultation to help you decide.

All counselors are not the same. They have different training, personalities, and approaches to therapy. No counselor is competent in every issue or effective with every person, so it is important that you know what you want and find a counselor who does that type of work.

There are many different types of counselors. In addition, there are vast differences between the quality of service and training available in the field of counseling. Picking a therapist at random is a sure recipe for disaster and is probably the single error that people make when looking for a therapist.

Most therapists in private practice are generalists, which means they have the training and experience to work with most client problems but will refer to a specialist when necessary. I utilize evidence-based interventions to treat individuals and couples. This means that I integrate my clinical expertise with the best available scientific research.

I specialize in treating individuals with anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, etc.), trauma (acute and chronic), depression (acute and chronic), as well as those with relationship problems. I also work with individuals who are dealing with life transitions (divorce and loss), obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias, and other mental illness. I help individuals with chronic health issues (e.g., diabetes) and with chronic pain. I work with post-bariatric surgery clients to help them adjust to major weight loss and create and maintain new lifestyle habits and routines.

As a personal coach, I help people assess where they are in life, set and achieve goals, and reach additional levels of understanding and growth.

I do not treat individuals with alcohol and drug problems, gambling addiction, or severe mental illness like schizophrenia. I also do not work with perpetrators of sexual violence. These are beyond the scope of my training and practice.

If you have unique needs, please tell me. I will do my best to accommodate them. My office is accessible to those with disabilities.

Honestly, it depends. The severity of your difficulty or problem is a factor. Acute problems will not take as long as chronic problems.

Counseling could be effective in a session or two, or it could take months or even longer. Counseling is a tool to resolve emotional, psychological, behavioral, or relationship problems, and a tool is only useful if you use it.

Your commitment and motivation are also important factors.

Yes, I will respect your moral and religious/spiritual values. In fact, your values are very important in reaching your counseling goals. I will help you harness and use your values to create meaningful change.

Counseling is an intimate relationship. I will know a lot about you, yet you will know little about me.

Counselors who impose their moral or religious/spiritual values on their clients can interfere with their clients’ progress. Therefore, the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association prohibits counselors from imposing their values on clients.

You are always in charge of what you choose to work on in counseling and how many issues you would like to address.

Some problems must be addressed immediately, or severe consequences are likely to occur.

Some problems are important, but not urgent.

Some problems are minor and can be solved or ignored.

I will conduct an assessment and make recommendations. Then, you will choose what you want to accomplish. You’re in charge.

I am licensed as a Professional Counselor and Board Qualified Supervisor by the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors. Only licensed mental health professionals may provide counseling services in this state.

In addition, I met certification requirements of the National Board of Certified Counselors, a private agency that recognizes counselors who have distinguished themselves through meeting the board’s standards for education, knowledge, and experience.

I hold graduate degrees in counseling from Mississippi State University. The program I completed is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

In addition to my graduate education, I have had extensive training in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure Therapy, EMDR, Positive Psychology, Internal Family Systems Therapy, integration of counseling with spirituality, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

I hold professional memberships in the American Counseling Association, the Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselors Association, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.

Choosing a counselor based on whether they are a provider on your health insurance panel is a common way to pick a counselor; however, it isn’t always the best strategy.

You should select a counselor based on quality of work and reputation, as well as training and experience. Make sure you feel comfortable with your counselor.

As I noted above, you should find a counselor who is a good fit for you in terms of your goals and personality. This is why I offer a free 30-minute telephone or face-to-face consultation to help you decide.

I am a provider for most insurance companies, including Aetna, Ambetter-Magnolia, AHS State Network, Anthem, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Magellan, Medicaid, Tricare, and United Behavioral Health.

If you call, I can tell you if I am an authorized provider of mental health services for a particular insurance company. Furthermore, if I am not a provider for your company, you may be able to utilize my services as an out-of-network provider.

I believe everyone should get the psychological help they need and will work with clients to help them afford my services. Please let me know if you have special circumstances.

My fees are currently $130 to $200 per session. My fees are reasonable and competitive for this area. I do not have a sliding fee schedule, but I am willing to work with clients to help them afford my services.

I expect to be paid when services are rendered and will work with you to make payment as easy as possible. I take cash, checks, and credit/debit cards (Visa, Master Charge, American Express and Discover), as well as medical reimbursement cards as forms of payment.

I can tell you if I am an authorized provider of services under your plan. If I am an authorized provider, services will be provided to you under the terms of that plan’s contract. Fees will be billed and collected according to the requirements of that plan.

If I am not an authorized provider, you may still receive services for a fee, but your plan will not reimburse you for the cost of my services.

Plans often will reimburse for only a limited number of visits per year. If you exceed that limit, you may still receive services from me, but your plan will not reimburse you for the cost of services that exceed their maximum number of visits. You are responsible for knowing your copay and deductible.

I realize that if you call me, you need help right away. I can usually schedule an appointment with all new clients within two to three days.

If you are having a mental health emergency, you should call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.