Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common counseling questions about therapy, appointments, insurance, confidentiality, online sessions, and getting started in Oklahoma.
Generally speaking someone should engage in therapy when there is mental pain or stress that’s stopping you from feeling as happy as you can be or getting what you want out of life.Q: How do I know if I should start counseling?
We serve all the suburbs in and around the greater Tulsa area as well as many cities and towns in northeastern Oklahoma and some locations in northwest Oklahoma. We are unique in that you don’t have to come to our office for counseling; we come to you and plan to meet where it’s most convenient for you. A lot of our clients meet us at recreational centers, their workplace, parks, schools, community centers, etc.Q: What areas do you serve? Where are you located?
Yes, we can set online video appointments for times you cannot meet a therapist face to face.Q: If I can’t meet in person can we do online video meetings with a therapist?
Yes, it will. Meeting with a counselor helps because sometimes you need an outside perspective to guide and motivate you to achieve your goals. Secondly, we plan out directed paths to help you get where you need to be quickly and effectively. We work together as a team to help you reach your goals. Moreover, we have access to a great wealth of resources that have been studied and shown to work, which means we can give you tools that you may have never thought about to help you get to where you want to be.Q: Will counseling help me feel happier or get what I want out of life?
Counselors are trained to analyze you in a very specific manner. We are looking for patterns and trends that have kept you from achieving your goals and help unblock those pathways to help you find success.
Our agency is based on short-term solution-based counseling. In the first few sessions we set goals and therapy is directed towards getting you where you need to be as quickly as possible. This is a team effort, and we implement new strategies and tools in every session to teach you new skills to manage life more effectively. Our goal is to have you reach your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible.Q: What method or approach do you take towards working with clients?
Finding the right fit for you is important when seeking a new counselor. It is always a good idea to shop around and find a therapist with whom you can feel comfortable and safe. Then after the initial session, you will know if you can work with a counselor or not. Please review the information on the Staff Profile page.Q: How will I know that you’re the right therapist for me?
Absolutely. Every therapist is trained to be multiculturally sensitive. Understanding the fabric of a person is more important than any sort of judgments to be made.Q: Will the therapist respect my culture, race, and religion?
No, a counselor cannot prescribe medication. If you need medication we can provide you with an appropriate referral to a psychiatrist.Q: Will you prescribe me pharmaceutical drugs?
Thinking About Counseling?
The initial appointment is generally a bit longer than an hour. You will complete some initial paperwork which takes about 10 minutes. We will then meet for about an hour to review the paperwork and have our initial session.Q: What happens at the initial meeting?
Generally an appointment for an individual is between 45 minutes up to 90 minutes long. An appointment for a family session can last up to 2 hours.Q: How long is an appointment?
Generally we meet once or twice per week. Depending on the specific issue, we can adjust the frequency of meetings as needed. How long we meet all depends on the issues and goals we have set. Some goals can be achieved faster than others. Each session is directed to help you get where you want to be. Remember we take a short-term approach which means we will try to have you reach your goals as quickly and effectively as possible.Q: How often and for how long will I have to see you?
Yes, goal setting is a very important part of therapy. Within the first few sessions we will have set clear goals to directly address the issues presented.Q: Do we set goals in counseling?
We will set goals and expectations in the first few sessions. You will clearly know what goals/results we are striving for in each session. The actual outcome of therapy will largely depend upon your dedication and engagement with the process. The more you work, the better the results.Q: What results should I expect?
Yes, we can clinically diagnose you if you meet the specific criteria for the diagnosis.Q: Can you clinically diagnose me? Will you tell me what it is?
Any diagnosis, without question, will be shared with you directly.
Absolutely. Conferencing with other professionals treating you is always a good idea. In order to do so, we would need to complete a Release of Information for that professional. Confidentiality and Release of Information will be discussed in further detail later in the FAQ.Q: Will you work with my psychiatrist or family doctor if needed?
The goals we set in therapy are always realistic and attainable. We only act as a guide to help you get where you want to be. Sessions are collaborative and directed to teaching you new skills to help yourself think, feel, and behave differently on a long term time frame. We give you the tools you need to be self-reliant.Q: I don’t want to be dependent on seeing a therapist. How can I avoid this?
Absolutely. Having follow-up appointments is encouraged so we can review and practice the skill sets previously taught in session.Q: Can I have some follow up appointments after we have concluded?
Appointment Questions
We accept Medicaid and SoonerCare, some private insurances (depending upon the therapist), and private pay.Q: What insurance do you accept?
It is always a good idea to contact your specific insurance provider for benefits and eligibility. Prior to the initial session, we will gather your insurance information and provide you with a detailed breakdown of covered services.Q: Do I need to check my insurance benefits and eligibility prior to seeing you?
Yes, we will bill the insurance directly.Q: Will you bill the insurance company directly?
We currently accept:
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
Yes, a sliding scale will be considered under specific circumstances.Q: Do you offer a sliding scale fee?
Generally, the rule of thumb is 24 hours in advance. Sometimes emergencies come up, just let us know as soon as possible.Q: How long in advance do I need to contact you to change or cancel an appointment to avoid being charged?
Insurance and Payment Options
Confidentiality is a legally protected cornerstone of counseling. In session, nearly everything discussed is protected under the rules of confidentiality. This means we can talk about nearly anything without worry that your personal information will be compromised.Q: What is confidentiality in counseling?
The only time a counselor can break confidentiality is if a client is planning on hurting themselves or others, child or elder abuse is witnessed or reported, if a client takes us to court (we have a right to defend ourselves), and if a judge orders it (not a lawyer). We are legally obligated to act in those cases to protect the wellbeing of the client or other.Q: What are the limits of confidentiality?
In order to release any information about you, even that you are a client with us, you would need to provide a Release of Information which clearly states to whom and what information is being released.Q: What information can you release about me?
No, past behavior or harm/ abuse will not constitute a necessary breach of confidentiality. If the harm/abuse is ongoing or possible in the future, a counselor must, by law, act to protect the well-being of those involved. This rule generally extends to those who cannot help themselves, such as children or the elderly. In some specific cases, this can be applied towards adults.Q: Are you obligated to report to the police if I share information about illegal activity or about harm/abuse done to me or members of my family?
Absolutely. Any information released will be discussed at the time of completing the Release of Information.Q: Will I know if you release information about me?
In cases where the well-being of self or others is concerned, if appropriate, there will be an effort to discuss release prior to it happening.
All paper files are kept on site and do not leave the office under any circumstances. The extent of the paper file is your initial paperwork and possible insurance payment paperwork. All other information will be kept on a secure computer in the office. No information is stored in a “cloud” or otherwise possibly compromised online settings.Q: Where do you keep my personal information? Is it secure?
They will only know if you will be using your insurance to pay for services. If not, no third party will know of your engagement in services.Q: Will my insurance company know I am seeing you?
The insurance company will need a clinical diagnosis and the date and duration of our meeting. Any specific information about the meeting, such as what was specifically discussed, will not be released without a Release of Information.Q: What information will the insurance company receive from you?
If you choose to utilize your insurance, diagnosis information will be shared with them. If you have questions about what information your employer has access to, contact your specific insurance provider to find out. The insurance company has to tell you the level of access your employer has to your information. This is protected information under HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).Q: Will knowledge of engaging in therapy negatively affect my career?