What if I am afraid or unsure about starting therapy?

First and foremost, know you are not alone! Going to therapy can be an incredibly scary, uncomfortable, intimidating experience. I am asking you to come into my office and share your most vulnerable thoughts and emotions. Know that anything that is said in my office (or my virtual office!) is completely confidential, I will never share or repeat anything you tell me. My office is a safe place for you to come and talk about difficult topics without fear of judgment and with my fullest support and confidence.

What do I do if I want to start therapy?

First, give yourself credit. Acknowledging you want and need therapy is a huge step, and you are already searching out therapists. These are big accomplishments on the road to starting therapy. Once you have found somebody you think you would get along with, reach out to them to get an appointment scheduled.

How much is therapy going to cost me?

You have a couple of different options when it comes to payment. You can use your insurance benefits (I accept BCBS, and Medicaid). Since each insurance plan has different costs associated with them, I will attempt to verify your insurance coverage ahead of time to give you an idea of your costs. You can also choose to pay cash/check/Venmo for services. Finally, I am able to accept FSA and HSA payments for services.

I want to start therapy with you, but I don’t live in Grand Rapids. How will this work?

I have an office within an established group practice, Portal Point Counseling, in Wyoming on the corner of 44th St and Byron Center Ave. If you are local, you are more than welcome to come in for a face-to-face visit. However, with COVID-19 many people may not feel comfortable with this, and others simply don’t live close enough to come in. I am happy to do teletherapy with clients. Once we decide on telehealth, I will send you a link before each session that will direct you to video meeting. This video will be secure and HIPAA-compliant. This means that your security and privacy are protected with this service.

What is teletherapy?

Teletherapy or telehealth are broad terms and can mean different things to different organizations. Telehealth is an umbrella term meaning “the provision of healthcare remotely by means of telecommunications technology.” Basically, healthcare that is delivered via phone, video, or some other way using technology. Teletherapy takes this broad umbrella term and narrows it to mean therapy that is delivered via telecommunications.

When I use the term “teletherapy” or “telehealth” I mean that I am willing to see clients from the comfort of their home, or any location of their choosing, via video chat. I have that technology platform that will host the video chat, you just need a phone, tablet, computer, etc. to access the link.

Sometimes telehealth can be delivered via a phone call. This is something that I try my hardest to avoid. Often the things discussed in session are best discussed where I can see you while talking. I may be willing to do a phone session only in extenuating circumstances, and ONLY with established clients.

How is safety being maintained during COVID-19?

I understand that everybody is responding to COVID differently. I am willing to let you take the lead in how you would like to see visits handled. If you would like for both of us to wear a mask during the entire visit, I am happy to do so. If you would rather take the mask off once we are both seated, I am happy with that as well.

General rules for our practice are that everybody has to wear a mask into the building and while in the lobby, and then can take it off (if they want) once we are in my office.

I sanitize my office, and any surfaces a client may have touched, in between each client. We also offer hand sanitizer in the lobby and within my office. My office is also set up that we sit across the office from each other so there is space between us.

Please let me know if there are other COVID considerations you would like me to take into account. I am happy to discuss making changes to my regular approach to make you feel as comfortable as possible during this difficult and strange time.

Also, as discussed above, video visits are always available as well!