Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in therapy?

Our initial session will involve us delving into what is bringing you into therapy, so I will be asking you questions to gain a better understanding of what the problem is, how long this has been going on, how it has impacted your life, and what you’ve been doing to manage it.

I typically try to end each session, if applicable, with a concrete action step you can take to make a meaningful change in your life. This step will be directly related to what we’ve been exploring together that session and we will work together to come up with something that is realistic for you to attempt.

Therapy will be a collaborative process between the two of us. I will be there to help you achieve your goals with my knowledge and experience, but you are the expert on yourself. I will provide guidance on how to address your anxiety, but ultimately you are the one who has to implement the changes.

How often will we meet?

Typically, we will start by meeting either weekly or every other week and as therapy progresses we will monitor whether or not we need to meet more or less often. The exact frequency will be determined together during our initial consultation based on your clinical need and our joint availability.

Ultimately, I will give a recommendation but I will always do what I can to accommodate the frequency of therapy you are looking for.

How long do I need to be in therapy?

Every client has different clinical needs and goals that they are trying to accomplish, so there is no set timeframe, but the frequency of sessions will lessen over time as we notice that there are less areas that need attention and your are feeling more confident in your ability to manage your anxiety between sessions.

This will be an ongoing conversation we will have throughout the course of therapy, but at the end of the day, you always have the right to terminate therapy at any point and for any reason. I just ask that you tell me, either during session or through a message, that you want to end or pause therapy treatment.

Do you take insurance?

No, I am not a provider for any insurance company, but you can use an HSA or FSA card, if your insurance plan has one, to pay for sessions.

You should know that I did not make this decision lightly and it is motivated by various factors including, but not limited to, my desire to protect your confidentiality and my ability to do what is best for you clinically.

Insurance companies require clinicians to assign every client with a diagnosis from the first session in order to cover treatment. This restricts who I’m able to work with since not all of my clients meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, plus there are some mental health disorders that they won’t cover therapy for.

Insurance companies are also privy to your diagnostic information. They can request record reviews and obtain access to my private session notes and given the sensitive nature of what we discuss in sessions, this is not something I feel comfortable doing.

In addition to confidentiality concerns, insurance companies can dictate the length and frequency of our sessions based on what they will cover. This often hinders recovery and can place unneeded pressures and constraints on our therapeutic work together.

Do you offer Superbills?

Yes, I am happy to provide you with a Superbill so you can seek reimbursement from your insurance company if you have out-of-network benefits. Now that being said, I can’t guarantee you will actually be reimbursed for our sessions though because that decision is up to the discretion of your insurance company.

Other than providing you with the Superbill, I will not work with or provide additional information to your insurance company.

How much will therapy cost?

Here are my standard rates per session: $180 for a 60-minute session, $135 for a 45-minute session, and $90 for a 30-minute session. My standard rates are set they way they are to ensure that I can continue to offer sliding scale rates for those clients who are struggling financially.

I space my sessions out so there is always at least 30 minutes in between clients, so for the hour long sessions, you will actually get a full 60 minutes. I do this so you never feel rushed in session and we have more time to go over any logistical concerns, such as scheduling, without it using up our therapeutic time.

Now I recognize that not everyone will be able to afford my standard rate, which is why I offer a sliding scale because I never want money to be an obstacle for anyone seeking out therapy.

I also have a late cancellation/no show policy that asks you to let me know at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. If you cancel late or don’t show up there will be a fee that is half of our agreed upon rate per session (i.e. $90 for a $180 session). If it’s an emergency, just let me know and the fee will be waived.

How does your sliding scale work?

In order to accommodate a variety of budgets, I offer a pay-what-you-can type of sliding scale. This allows me to customize my rate for those who need financial assistance, so therapy is available for everyone regardless of their financial situation.

During our consultation we will discuss logistical concerns including determining the frequency of treatment and the standard cost per session, which is $180 for a 60-minute session. If this is not in your budget, then I will ask you to consider how much you would be able to afford per session if we meet at the frequency we’ve just discussed (weekly, every other week, etc.).

I always encourage clients to go over their budget at home and discern how much they can allocate to therapy at this time. However much you can afford will be your rate. It’s as simple as that. No hoops to jump through or proof you need to give me.

I set my standard rates the way I do to support my clients who are financially strained right now. Starting therapy is difficult enough, so the last thing I want to do is add to your stress.

How do I pay for therapy?

I accept credit cards, debit cards, HSA/FSA cards, cash, or checks made out to Compassionate Heart Therapy. I do all my billing myself, so I will work with you if you need to switch payment methods, pay using multiple methods, move the date of payment, or need to adjust the rate per session due to a change in your financial situation.

If you are using a card, I will charge the card you have on file immediately after our session, unless you ask me to wait. Otherwise, if you pay with cash or a check, it will need to be provided by the end of our session. I try to deposit any checks by the end of the week, unless you ask me to wait.

Where is your office located?

If you would like to meet with me in person my office is located in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Elm Grove is east of Brookfield, north of New Berlin, west of Wauwatosa, and south of Butler.

My office is located in a building that looks like a residential home before it was turned into professional offices. There is a mailbox and a sign on the front lawn stating the address to help you locate it and there is a small parking lot there you can park in.

Once you enter the building you will see a staircase on your right and my office is on the top floor. Once you are at the top of the stairs my office will be straight ahead.

If my door is open, feel free to walk right in, but if for some reason the door is closed please go down to the waiting area and message me.

Do you offer virtual sessions?

Yes, I do. My electronic health record (EHR) system Simple Practice offers a secure, HIPPA-compliant video platform that we can conduct therapy through. All it requires is a stable internet connection and either a computer with a webcam or a phone with a front-facing camera.

If you choose to meet this way, you will receive an email with a link to the virtual session from Simple Practice. It will prompt you to download the app the first time you use it but after that, all you will have to do is click the link.

If there’s every any connection issues we can use Simple Practice’s secure messaging feature to try resolving the issue or reschedule, if necessary.