Frequently Asked Questions:

 We are considered an out-of-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield. This means you can submit a claim for partial fee reimbursement from your insurance company. Although many insurance companies reimburse a percentage of the fee, when you factor in not having to pay a co-pay, the difference is oftentimes similar. The benefit of not receiving counseling services provided through your insurance provider is that you can choose any counselor rather than being limited to only the providers on the insurance company’s list. Another advantage is that everything we discuss truly remains confidential, is not shared with a third-party, and does not appear on other medical records.

What does out-of-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield mean? Because we are considered out-of-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), this means you will have to pay for the counseling session upfront and then file with your insurance company to receive compensation. For example, if your first counseling session costs $120.00 (rate depends in individual counselor and their business model). You will be required to pay that amount the day of your appointment. Afterward and upon request, you will receive a form called a “Superbill” from your counselor that you will mail to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Your insurance provider will either (A) pay you back a percent of the $120.00 or (B) require that you meet a deductible before they repay you a percentage. Checks from BCBS will be mailed directly to you. It is important that you check with BCBS to confirm your policy allows out-of-network privileges for counseling.

What is the Cost of Counseling?
To inquire about payment scheduling and fees, contact Dr. M. Paige Comer. Most major credit cards are accepted. All sessions are 50 minutes to one hour long.

What is Your Counseling Services Cancellation Policy?

You will be expected to pay for your session time unless you provide a minimum 24-hours advance notice of cancellation. You will also be expected to pay for your session time if you cancel two or more times in a row regardless of advance notice of cancellation. Some exceptions are made for circumstances outside of your control.

How Long is Each Counseling Session?
Each session runs about 50 minutes to one hour in length. This allows for documentation and scheduling at the end of each session. Fifty minutes is considered the standard length of most counseling sessions in the United States. However, it is possible to book two sessions back-to-back if you would prefer to have a longer single session. This is especially helpful early-on as you share your background and history, or for couples counseling.

What is the Difference Between a Counselor, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, or Social Worker?
A psychiatrist (MD, DO) is a medical doctor who went through medical school. A nurse practitioner (NP, DNP) is usually either a masters or doctoral level trained nurse. Both of these designations have the training to prescribe medication and often work in tandem with counselors, psychologists, and social workers in supplementing therapy with medication. Medication alone is not a solution for most individual’s challenges and research has shown that a combination of therapy and medication is more effective than medication alone. In many states a psychologist and counselor educator both have doctoral level training such as a PhD, PsyD, or EdD. Both have significant training in counseling, although counselor educators may have more training specifically in mental health counseling. In some states a psychologist could also have a masters degree, similar to a licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Some social workers have a bachelors degree, although an LCSW requires a masters degree. A licensed clinical professional counselor, licensed clinical social worker, and licensed psychologist are all in the family referred to as psychotherapists and will all have a minimum of a masters degree, with significant training and exam-required proficiency to counsel the majority of mental health challenges.

What is Your Theoretical Approach to Counseling?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (A.C.T.)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is an approach based on acceptance to, or diffusion from thoughts and feelings in order to make sense of a problem. This is done by being aware of each experience and then to become an observer to mechanisms that were built to avoid or entangle the self with problems in life. S. Hayes, the primary researcher behind ACT, developed clinical guidelines based on the model called Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS), where clients are asked to take a new perspective on their own personal thinking habits using the client’s value system as a guide to establish goals for change.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (E.F.T.)

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is helpful for improving your relationship with others (couples, family members, co-workers, friends). It is based on the idea that each individual develops emotional patterns that could contribute to potentially distressing cycles of interaction. Exploring emotions together in therapy can help reveal particular patterns, their triggers, and the dynamic of how those emotions interlock or play off of one another. Developing emotional intelligence and emotional awareness begins in a safe therapeutic environment where each individual is allowed to express their experiences and feelings without judgment. The goal is to eventually learn how to release stressful feelings or anxieties and move into a place of validation (feeling heard and understood by others). Learning how to feel secure in releasing and validating these feelings around others lays a foundation for developing deeper healthier relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (C.B.T.), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (D.B.T.), Mindfulness Training, Psychoanalytic Counseling, Gestalt Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (R.E.B.T.), and Existential Therapy

Part of our toolbox of therapeutic techniques involves incorporating the use of number of additional mental health theoretical approaches.  One such approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  CBT is well known for helping individuals identify and change unhealthy or distorted thought patterns.  These thought patterns can then trigger emotional responses that form a chain of emotional events.  This process happens so quickly that it is often outside of the awareness of an individual and therefore requires a significant process of unraveling over time.  Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is behavioral in nature and helps individuals develop new skills for coping with emotions and interacting with others.  This involves developing mindful awareness based on living in the present moment and accepting each moment as it is without influence from past preconceived beliefs or emotions.  DBT helps a client accept the present moment with a non-judgmental stance and works towards developing new models of interacting with self and others.  Psychoanalysis or psychodynamic approaches focus on analyzing past events and how those events shape our present and future.  This often involves looking at your attachment to your surroundings, care providers, role-models, and peers.  It also strives to help an individual develop awareness and coping skills for dealing with past unresolved issues.  Gestalt and Existential therapy focus on pulling everything together by contextualizing the whole person or whole experience with the feelings, thoughts, or behaviors that an individual is struggling with. 

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

This treatment approach, which targets experiences, current triggers, and future potential challenges, is an evidence-based, clinician led, psychotherapy and results in the alleviation of presenting symptoms, a decrease or elimination of distress from the disturbing memory, improved view of the self, relief from bodily disturbance, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers In the broadest sense, EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach intended to treat psychological disorders, to alleviate human suffering and to assist individuals to fulfill their potential for development, while minimizing risks of harm in its application.

For more information on EMDR therapy, click below.