Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my insurance?
We work with clients insured by insurance companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare and Cigna. Our licenses, training, and education will allow you to be qualified for out-of-network reimbursement with your insurance plan if this is part of your policy.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Thus, it is important to consider which option you prefer and are most comfortable with prior to beginning treatment. For more insurance and rate information, click here.
How do I verify my benefits?
Call the number on the back of your insurance card. You will be calling about your mental health/behavioral health benefits. Here are some good questions to ask:
Can you tell me the call reference number and name of whom I'm speaking to?
Does my policy cover telehealth services for counseling?
How do you define telehealth services? (What's included, does it have to be live video?)
Is there a specific billing code that should be used?
Are there any specific restrictions around the service, such as coverage is limited to 12 times a year or is it contracted to another company like Teledoc or MDLive?
Does the service require any special documentation from the counselor?
The Empowering Space will verify benefits as a courtesy but it is always the clients responsibility to know and verify their own benefits. The client is responsible for anything that insurance doesn't cover.
How can therapy help me?
Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies that are different from talking to a friend or family member. They can provide a non-biased, educated perspective on a difficult problem you may have or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how much you put into the process and practice what you learn. Some of the benefits of therapy include:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems with your family, partner, or work
Improving your self-esteem and boosting your self-confidence
How does it work? What do I do in sessions?
We adapt our therapeutic approach to your specific needs; therefore, no two sessions are identical. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session or outside of your session. We utilize research, exercises, books, and other resources in our session, and we usually have you work on these skills outside of therapy. By the time our journey is completed, the goal is to empower you to act as your own counselor!
How can I get the most out of therapy?
It is important to understand that you will get quicker, more significant results from therapy if you actively participate in and commit to the process. This includes taking chances, being open, being consistent and timely, doing the homework and exercising patience as you allow the process to work. It takes months to unlearn a bad habit; imagine how many years you’ve spent developing some of the relationship dynamics, insecurities, or negative self-talk that may be keeping you from reaching your goals?
The purpose of therapy is to educate and assist you to incorporate what you learn in therapy into your daily life with the goal of no longer requiring therapy. Beyond the work we do in your therapy sessions, we advocate for implementation of techniques and homework outside of our sessions together. Since our session is only 50 minutes long, the fastest approach to achieving positive results is to implement the newly learned skills into your daily life.
I’m interested, but I’m not 100% about this. How can I learn more?
If you are unsure whether or not online therapy is for you, or you want to make sure your therapist is a good fit, we offer a free 30 minute consultation to experience the online platform. This consultation is an excellent opportunity to meet us and experience the online format without any obligation required from you. In our consultation, we will troubleshoot any technical barriers to working online to ensure your ease with the online platform.
I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help when they need it demonstrate strength. Everyone needs help at some time in his/her life. Undoubtedly, you possess strengths that you’ve tapped into before; however, there are times when there might be areas that require strengthening. Perhaps, this problem feels overwhelming, making your usual problem-solving techniques seem ineffective. In our work together, we will identify your strengths and determine the best strategies for implementation based on your current life events.
What’s the difference between talking to you or my best friend or a trusted family member?
The difference is relative to the choice between receiving advice, sometimes biased, from a friend or trusted family member or receiving unbiased, evidence-based solutions from a trained, experienced mental health professional. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation from a new perspective– impart new skills, gain different perspectives, listen without judgment or expectations, and assist you with becoming more aware of your needs and desires. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. There will be no concern about others “knowing my business.” Finally, sharing a situation that evokes negative emotions with a friend or family member could place a risk on the relationship moving forward, as an association could develop between your reaction to the emotional situation and seeing that friend or family member with whom you discussed that situation, unintentionally reminding you of that difficult time in your life.
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
Medication can be effective, but medication alone does not provide a holistic approach to mental well-being. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths to help you accomplish your personal goals.
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered on the general FAQs page. Each person’s circumstances are unique and the length of time necessary for you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the initial factors driving you to improve your life through therapy.