SoulSpaPsych@hush.com
FAQ
Virtual Therapy
Which is better? Virtual or in-person?
Can I see you on my cell phone/iPad/desktop?
Who I Work With
Do I need to have OCD or Trauma to work with you?
No. I am skilled in various areas, including anxiety, depression, healing from childhood trauma, hoarding disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), stress, self-esteem issues, parenting, elder care and others. You can discuss your specific needs with me in your consultation, and I can let you know how we can reduce your symptoms and improve your life.
If I cannot treat your specific issue, I can provide you with referrals.
Will I need to be labeled with a diagnosis?
Can you be my therapist if I live outside of California and Illinois?
How do I know if I actually need therapy?
I think everybody needs therapy. It is an important part of a healthy life and relationships.
If you are someone who feels that you just want some extra support, give me a call. We can discuss a series of sessions that will meet your need.
What if I’ve had therapy before that didn’t work?
I know exactly what that is like. Relying on insurance or local in-person therapists can limit the kinds of therapists you can access. This reliance also leaves you with a lack of access to specialists. Using only local-area therapists can lead to many poor-fit therapy experiences that can leave people feeling anxious about starting therapy again.
In fact, if you have OCD and you see a non-specialist, the therapy can worsen your symptoms. The same can be true if you are a BIPOC or LGBTQ+ person working with a therapist who does not share those lived experiences… or any experience of systemic marginalization. You can experience invalidation, loneliness and retraumatization in the process.
Every human being is different, and every therapist is different. Soul Spa Psychotherapy is here to help meet the needs of people looking for a therapist like me.
What ages do you work with?
Investing In Therapy
How much does it cost to work with you?
Do you offer a sliding scale?
I do not want to cut any corners when it comes to helping you meet your goals. For this reason, I do not have a sliding scale.
My commitment is to bring my “A-game” every time we meet. I constantly invest in ongoing education to be at the vanguard of the best treatment and maintain quality supervision to work through your most challenging problems.
I have several options that can help make your therapy more affordable without sacrificing quality:
- We can plan to use a combination of 50-minute and 25-minute sessions throughout your treatment.
- I can provide a discount for committing to a series of 12 or more sessions.
- You can join a series of small-group sessions where I help 2-4 individuals advance together at a lower individual cost.
If you are interested in one of these options, please bring it up during your consultation.
Do you accept insurance?
I accept PPO insurance plans. This means that you will pay out of pocket for services and I will give you a receipt that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
If you are feeling unsure about how to get reimbursement from your insurance company please let me know. We can spend 10-15 minutes walking through the process that your PPO insurance requires. Once we do this together you will be able to do it confidently on your own.
If you want someone to do this for you, I can have a biller submit the forms to your insurance company on your behalf. The cost of this service is usually around $12 to 20 per appointment.
Can I pay from my HSA/FSA account?
What if I want to work with you, but I can’t afford your fee?
Therapy is a temporary expense and an investment in improving your life. Like any major life-changing experience (college, graduate school, vacations, orthodontia, or buying a home), changes in your lifestyle and budget or possibly taking on short-term debt, are necessary. Some people have loved ones who will happily contribute to therapy costs, just as they would contribute to the cost of any other medical visit.
Therapy has a purpose: to improve all areas of your life. Successful therapy improves your ability to function so you can live, love, work and earn more money. You are investing in creating major life changes that will be invaluable to yourself, your loved ones, your clients, your community and the next generation of your family.
If you want to work together but feel financially constrained, bring this up in your consultation. We can schedule a brainstorming session to identify where you might be able to make some changes to afford therapy that is a good fit for you.
As I mentioned in another FAQ response (see: Do you offer a sliding scale?), several other options can help make your therapy more affordable without sacrificing quality:
- We can plan to use a combination of 50-minute and 25-minute sessions throughout the treatment
- I offer a discount for committing to a series of 12 or more sessions
- I offer small-group short-term therapy sessions to help 2-4 individuals advance together for a lower individual cost.
If you are interested in one of these options, please bring it up during your consultation.
How often do we need to meet?
Good Faith Estimate Notice
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.
Scheduling
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
When you agree to therapy with me, I make a commitment to you. This means I reserve space in the practice specifically for you. I also dedicate energy and resources before, after and between sessions to help you meet your goals. Once we decide on a series of sessions, those sessions are uniquely yours. For this reason, I have a “three-day-reschedule” policy.
If you have a sudden schedule change and need to reschedule your appointment, let me know as soon as possible before the session. As long as you let me know at least 24 hours before the appointment (phone, text, e-mail, or voicemail), the fee for that session will be applied to a “make-up” appointment. This make-up appointment must take place within three days of the originally scheduled appointment. I will make every effort to find a time for you but there are no guarantees. You can also reschedule your entire series if your schedule permanently changes.
If you ask to reschedule less than 24 hours before your appointment time begins, this will be considered a “late cancel.” Asking to reschedule an appointment after it has already started is considered a “no show.” There is no make-up appointment option for these two circumstances. You can schedule an additional appointment for that week at your regular session rate.
If medical or physical disabilities require you to have an irregular schedule, let’s discuss that during your consultation. We can agree on modifications in advance that will accommodate your unique needs.
When can I meet with you?
Do you offer weekend appointments?
Can I see you on my lunch break?
OCD Therapy
Do you work with all kinds of OCD thoughts and compulsions?
Do I need to see an OCD treatment specialist?
Can you explain OCD to my loved ones?
Yes. We can have family or couples sessions during your treatment so that your loved ones can learn the best ways to support you.
Often, families react to chronic OCD compulsions with anger, punishment and frustration – especially if they repeatedly reassure you or do things for you to help you avoid triggers. For these reasons, I also give them tools to treat their role in OCD symptoms and improve the relationship between you and your family.
Can you write a letter telling my boss or school that I have OCD?
Trauma Therapy
What kind of trauma do you treat?
I imagine that most people in the world have experienced some form of trauma. I specialise in “complex trauma,” which is the kind of trauma that happens over an extended period of time. This kind of trauma also usually occurs in childhood. Let me know what kind of experiences you have had during your consultation so that I can let you know what my approach is. If your experience is outside of my realm of expertise, I can provide you with referrals to other therapist.
Can you help my spouse/partner/family/friends understand my needs?
At your request, I can provide co-therapy or support sessions to the trusted people in your life. This can give them an opportunity to learn how to support you on your healing journey.
Relationship & Dating Therapy
Do you work with LGBTQ+ couples?
Do you work with interracial couples?
Do you work with non-binary and trans couples?
Can my partner and I work with you even if we aren’t sure about staying together?
Yes! If you want to turn things around, I am here to help you try. Seeking couples therapy can happen at any stage in a relationship. Even if you are ready to end the relationship, seeking therapy can help you do so amicably.
Can you help me navigate online dating?
Yes! The vast majority of dating is happening online. An essential part of dating therapy is navigating online dating.