FAQ
WHERE DO I START?
Let’s have a Free Phone Consultation
Contact me at (213) 228-3511 or Mark@sCounseling.com so I can:
Get an overview of your situation and what you would like to accomplish
Give you an idea how I help
Answer any questions you might have
If it appears to be a good fit between us, we will schedule an appointment.
I provide in-person and Telehealth sessions
COST & INSURANCE
My fee is $160 for a 50-minute session.
Insurance - I am a Out of Network provider
If you have PPO Insurance:
I will provide documentation (called a SuperBill) for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Typically, if you have a PPO plan, you will be reimbursed to some degree for Out of Network providers. HMO plans will not reimburse for Out of Network providers.
You should contact your insurance company (the phone # on the back of your insurance card) and speak to them regarding your Outpatient Mental Health Benefits to find out how much you would be reimbursed based on my $160 for a 50 minute session rate. Ask about any co-pay, co-insurance and if if you need to meet your deductible before they reimburse you for a session.
They might ask for a CPT or billing code, common ones used are: 90834 – Individual Therapy Session and 90847 – Couples / Family Therapy Session.
HOW CAN COUNSELING HELP?
A counselor can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem, help you enhance your problem-solving skills and find alternative solutions. In the end though, the benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. And the counselor is there to help with this also.
The benefits include:
Resolution of the issues or concerns that led you to counseling
Developing skills for improved relationships
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your values and goals
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Your emotions, an improved understanding, appreciation and expression of them
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your relationships
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
HOW OFTEN WOULD WE MEET?
My preference is to start with once a week. This provides the best environment to address and resolve what you came in for. But it is something we can discuss, and it would be your choice.
WHY SEE A COUNSELOR?
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra help when you need it.
“I can usually handle my problems, isn’t counseling just a matter of common sense?” Counseling is something that would be helpful if the problem just isn’t getting resolved, if it persists or get worse despite your best efforts.
Counseling can give you tools to avoid difficult past behaviors and situations, work through new ones, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
You might want to consider counseling when you are:
Feeling unsatisfied, stuck, trapped, or lost and would like to address it
Wrestling with life’s meaning and would like help sorting it out
In a significant transition in life
Experiencing difficulties in relationships with your spouse, significant other, parent, child, friend, or co-worker
Behaving in a way that is hurting yourself or others
Dealing with a past experience that isn’t getting resolved
Want more out of life
HOW DO WE CHANGE?
This is a question that has many answers, opinions and perspectives. Here are a few of my brief thoughts on how I believe change happens.
We change:
By talking. This might seem strange, but something does happen when we talk. We are using a different part of the brain and the subject is processed differently. Also, having someone listening and (hopefully) providing useful feedback helps. But even if they just listened and nodded their head, you might be surprised at what it does. Women know this much better than us men. This might be called external processing, vs. internal processing (just being in our head).
Doing more of what works by finding exceptions when the problem is not a problem. Nobody is a complete failure (even if we might feel like it at times). The focus is on what is working, what you are doing right, and doing more of it. It is also about building on your strengths, your resources, and formulating solutions.
By changing our behavior. This is an outside in approach with the goal of establishing new ways of doing things. If the new behavior works, a new habit is established, which will be positively reinforced in your feelings and thoughts. This helps to reinforce and continue the new behavior.
Through awareness of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how it is impacting others and ourselves. Sometimes our intentions (what we meant to do) and how others receive and perceive it can be very different. You are trying to do what seems to be a right and reasonable thing, but you just get grief for it, from other or possibly yourself.
By thinking differently, by developing a different perspective. If we view ourselves to be the problem, it usually is more difficult to change than if you view the problem as the problem. When we consider the problem external to ourselves and work on it from that perspective, it bypasses a lot of self judgement and shame that can get in the way of positive change.
With time, even if we don’t “do” anything to bring about change, things around us change and we change. The problem is that it could go either way, things can get better or get worse. You are just along for the ride. I would encourage you to take an active part in your changing world, to make positive changes in your life.
HOW CAN COUNSELING HELP?
A counselor can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem, help you enhance your problem-solving skills and find alternative solutions. In the end though, the benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. And the counselor is there to help with this also.
The benefits include:
Resolution of the issues or concerns that led you to counseling
Developing skills for improved relationships
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your values and goals
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Your emotions, an improved understanding, appreciation and expression of them
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your relationships (marriage, family, friends, work)
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
IS COUNSELING CONFIDENTIAL?
In general, the answer is yes. The law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and counselor (Marriage & Family Therapist). No information would be disclosed without prior written permission from you the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law, which include:
Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse. The counselor is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The counselor is required to notify the police.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The counselor will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
Let’s talk if you have any questions or concerns about this. It is important that you feel confident that your privacy is protected to the fullest extent that is permitted.