Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, I do not have support staff available. However, you can reach me by phone at (920) 882-9877 or by email at beth @ counseling-specialists.com. I will respond to you within a few days to discuss your concerns and goals to ensure that we are a good fit and then schedule an intake appointment. Follow-up appointments are scheduled during visits. 

Appointment times are reserved especially for you. If you miss an appointment and fail to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance of your scheduled visit, you will be charged the normal fee (illness or emergencies are excused).

I have both telehealth and in-person sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays. Thursday appointments are telehealth only.

The first therapy appointment is an intake. During this visit, we will discuss your family, work or school, physical and mental health history, current concerns, and what you’d like to accomplish in therapy. Sometimes clients are just looking for support for life stressors, and other times they have things they want to change or achieve. Over the course of the first few sessions, we will work together to identify your concerns and tailor a treatment plan to your individual needs.

For in-person appointments, you may take a seat in the reception area, and I will be with you shortly.

For telehealth sessions, you will require a quiet, confidential space with stable internet access. I will send you a link to a HIPAA-compliant Google Meet, and you can click on it to enter telehealth at the scheduled time. 

You can expect your intake session and follow-up sessions to last about 53-55 minutes. We will work together to determine the best frequency of appointments to best meet your needs and goals. You are free to discontinue counseling at any time. However, it is important to tell your counselor that you wish to terminate services.

Your therapist, and any staff member within this clinic, has a legal, ethical, and professional responsibility to abide by state and federal regulations designed to prevent disclosure of any information that could identify you, unless:

1. You sign a consent to release or obtain information.

2. A court order mandates the release of information.

3. In an emergency situation, medical personnel may be informed of pertinent information or qualified personnel for program evaluation and supervision.

4. You commit or threaten to commit a crime that could cause harm to yourself or another individual.

5. If there is suspicion of physical, sexual, or extreme emotional abuse of a minor, the law mandates a report to local authorities.

6. Professional review of your case with Counseling Specialists/Supervisors staff as required by state regulations.

7. Biological parents have access to information regarding their children (under the age of 14)

That’s okay! If I am not an in-network provider with your insurance and you would like to see me, we can arrange for self-pay, and I am happy to provide you with a specialized receipt, called a superbill, that you can submit to your insurance provider. If your insurance accepts the services, they will reimburse you at their out-of-network rate. 

Research suggests that we value things most and get the most benefit from them when we have a personal financial investment in them. Paying out of pocket can mean a greater personal investment in your therapy, which often translates to getting more out of it. For some, this investment may not be feasible, and I am happy to submit claims for your insurance company if I am in-network or to provide a superbill if I am out of network.

However, there are also some advantages to consider if you do not opt to use your insurance.

For example, paying out of pocket means that your therapy experience is more private – none of your records, diagnostic information, or authorization for services must go through insurance. The insurance company does not dictate how often you can be seen, what diagnoses they will reimburse for, or how long your sessions are. When you opt to use insurance, they require that you consent for them to request all of your therapy records to assist them in claims.

If you are in crisis or are experiencing an emergency outside of scheduled office hours, please seek help through your local hospital emergency department or call 911.