Please contact us at admin@willowandsagecounseling.com with additional questions.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
At this time, we don’t offer appointments in the evening or on weekends. Please check back with us, as this may change.
What services do you offer?
We offer both in-office and Telehealth counseling sessions. Brainspotting is now available for both in-person and Telehealth. Walk & Talk Sessions are available Wednesdays at 8 am from October through December.
How does Telehealth work?
Most insurance companies are now covering Telehealth for all their policies, but this will be verified prior to your first session. To ensure privacy and confidentiality, we utilize a platform that was specifically designed for therapists’ and doctors’ offices. Therefore, it is HIPAA compliant and cyber safe.
Before your appointment, you will receive an email and/or text message with a link to your appointment. At the time of your appointment, you simply click on the link and a browser will open up, connecting you to your session.
We recommend being connected to WiFi and using a laptop or desktop, as this typically is the most reliable and least glitchy way to connect to your session. However, if you need to use a phone or tablet, we recommend attempting to sign into your first session early, as the link will require you to download the app Telehealth by Simple Practice. This will aid you in ensuring that you are properly connected to your session.
How does Walk & Talk Therapy work?
Walk & Talk Therapy is a service that is provided Wednesdays at 8 am and is offered during the cooler months of the year. Walk & Talk Therapy is a type of therapy that involves walking while discussing personal issues with a therapist. It is a relatively new form of therapy that has gained popularity due to its effectiveness and convenience. It is an alternative to traditional talk therapy, where the therapist and the client sit in a room and talk. The goal of Walk and Talk Therapy is to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior, which is linked to various mental health problems.
After signing an Informed Consent and Release of Liability Form specific to Walk & Talk Therapy, you and your therapist will meet at TC Jester Park and will walk at your pace for the length of the session (45-50 minutes). If there is inclement weather (excessive heat or rain) or forecasted for inclement weather, the session will need to be rescheduled with no penalty to you. Attendance Policy applies for No Shows or Late Cancellations. This service is not covered by insurance and only provided on an out-of-pocket basis.
The benefits of Walk & Talk Therapy include, but are not limited to, the following: reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, improved emotional regulation, an improved ability to cope with life transitions or feelings of being stuck, and a reduction of anger, intrusive thoughts, and rumination.
What is Brainspotting and how will it help me process trauma?
Brainspotting is a type of therapy that uses spots in a person’s visual field to access trauma trapped in their subcortical brain, which is the area of the brain responsible for motion, consciousness, emotions, and learning.
Brainspotting works on the theory that feelings from trauma can become stuck in the body, leading to physical and mental health concerns. This stuckness is described as “frozen maladaptive homeostasis” which our bodies and minds continually attempt to maintain. Though homeostasis is desired, this particular type of homeostasis isn’t helpful and can lead to dysfunctional thought and behavioral patterns. The aim of Brainspotting is to release the physical stress in the body, thereby leading to the release of emotional stress.
Though mainly used as a way to access and to process trauma, Brainspotting can help with anxiety, attachment issues, PTSD, and major depression.
The YouTube video link below provides an excellent explanation of Brainspotting, how it works, and how it can help.
Do you do psychological/psychiatric testing?
Though we offer a mental status exam, we do not do psychological/psychiatric testing. A mental status exam is similar to a physical exam in that it collects information that will help the therapist better understand the client’s current state and their therapeutic needs. We recommend that you reach out to your insurance company for referrals for psychologists in your network should you require specific psychological/psychiatric testing.
Do you prescribe medication?
As Masters Level Clinicians, we are not trained to prescribe medication. We recommend seeking assistance from a psychiatrist who is a medical doctor specifically trained in psychiatry. We suggest contacting your insurance company for referrals in order to ensure that you are selecting someone in your network.
Do you offer Group Counseling?
Unfortunately, we do not currently offer group counseling.
What’s the difference between an LPC and an LPC-Associate?
LPC-Associate stands for Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate and is someone who holds a provisional license with the State of Texas. This means that they have completed all the educational and competency requirements to be an LPC but that, according to the State licensing board, they must accrue more hours of counseling experience and training. LPC-Associates must be supervised by a trained and State approved, fully licensed LPC while they accrue these hours. A fully licensed LPC has completed all requirements of the State licensing board and no longer requires supervision.
Does an LPC-Associate have enough experience to help me?
Yes! Graduate programs and the State Board have determined that LPC-Associates are equipped with enough knowledge and experience to provide meaningful and productive counseling services. LPC-Associates have studied and practiced their counseling skills for years before they engage in counseling with you. Additionally, because they are supervised, it’s almost like receiving services from two different therapists with different skill sets and knowledge!
How much does therapy cost?
If you are not using insurance, and seeking counseling with a fully licensed clinician, individual sessions are $175, while couples and family sessions are $200.
If you are using insurance, we will need to verify that we are in network and what your financial responsibility per session will be. This will be communicated to you prior to your first session.
Does insurance cover my treatment?
Most insurance plans do cover mental health treatment. We are currently in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Aetna. Prior to your first session, we will verify that we are in your specific network and what services your insurance will cover. This information will be emailed to you prior to your first appointment so that you will know up front any financial obligations you may have.
How long does each session last?
Sessions that are covered by insurance are typically between 52-55 minutes. EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and out of pocket sessions are typically between 45 and 50 minutes long.
How many sessions will I need?
The short answer is: it depends. There are a lot of variables to consider, including the treatment method used, the therapeutic goals, current symptoms, and how frequently you attend sessions. Some therapeutic goals can be achieved in a few sessions, while other therapeutic goals can take significantly more. This is something that can be further discussed in your first session with your therapist.
For those utilizing EAP sessions, the number of sessions are dictated by the EAP program and frequently have an expiration date.
Do you provide Couples counseling or Family therapy?
Unfortunately, we no longer offer therapy for couples or families.
Do you provide services for Children and Adolescents?
Unfortunately, we do not offer services for children or adolscents.
Do you write letters for Emotional Support Animals?
Because of certain liabilities regarding Emotional Support Animals, we do not provide letters or fill out forms for Emotional Support Animals for new clients. We reserve the right to consider writing such a letter, or filling out such a form, for a client we have seen on a continual basis for at least six months, and with documentation that the animal in question has undergone required training to render such services.
Can you help me with disability or FMLA paperwork?
We do not offer psychiatric evaluations for disability claims and we do not complete FMLA paperwork for new clients. Though we understand that this is an inconvenience, our policy requires that a client be seen on a continual basis for at least six months before such documentation will be considered, though there is no guarantee that the paperwork will be completed.
What if I have a legal issue at the time I am seeking services?
We recommend seeking assistance from a forensic psychologist or psychiatrist if you are involved in a legal matter that requires involvement of a therapist or clinical documentation.
If a legal situation arises during the course of your treatment, all documentation will be kept confidential unless otherwise dictated by a signed release of information form, or a subpoena of documentation by the court. Any court appearances required by the therapist will be billed as outlined in the Client Agreement.
Willow & Sage Counseling 