Frequently Asked Questions

Common Elemental Counseling Questions & Answers

  • Private pay fees are $175 for your first session and $150 for sessions after that.

    Insurance fees vary greatly, but I value us both having a good idea what the fee is ahead of time. So, when you set a first appointment, I get your insurance information and run your benefits before your first appointment

  • I accept United Healthcare/ UMR/ Optum/ Surest, Aetna, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield commercial plans in Arizona.

  • I have created a process to make the most of our time from the very beginning.

    First, I will send you a link for you to complete your intake paperwork virtually. This includes:

    • Your contact, demographic, insurance and billing information.

    • Consents and releases for counseling

    • A brief and a longer questionnaire.

    One business day before your session, I will run your benefits and inform you of the rate your insurance company gives me.

    At your first session, we review a couple of key policies, we complete your assessment     together, and you leave with a coping skill to use.

    The next session we complete your treatment plan together and we set goals that are specific to your definition of progress. During that second session and in every session after that we discuss what is relevant to you. You may attend weekly, or less often, depending on what agree is best for you. You may complete counseling in a few weeks, or it may last a few months. You may also return to work on new goals.

  • It is a dialogue. I ask a lot of questions. I give you validation for your feelings and experiences. I provide a lot of education and tools. We will discuss how you find these tools. We review what is new in your life every session and so treatment is continuously relevant.

  • My style of counseling is Cognitive Behavioral, Depth and Systems Oriented. Our time is spent dialoguing and processing together. My deep desire is for you to have the insight and tools you need to improve coping, find meaning, and improve your quality of life.

    My style of counseling IS Integrative. I use A LOT of counseling interventions and blend them seamlessly into every session to make it relevant to your needs each time. Therapy may last weeks or months, depending on what we agree is best for your needs.

  • My style of counseling IS NOT Person Centered. This type of counseling is where you talk for about 50-55 minutes of the hour and the counselor gives you a brief summary or question at the end but does not provide a lot of education. This type of counseling may be good for people who do a lot of ‘external processing’ and who don’t need information. I am happy to refer you to this type of counselor!

    My style of counseling IS NOT specific to one intervention. This type of counseling may be called fidelity to an intervention. This is where you are focused on the condition and use worksheets or other tools and a specific number of sessions, usually for only a few weeks.