What services do you provide?

                              I provide clinical mental health counseling services and coaching services. 

Do I see minors? 

                              I do NOT see children under twelve years of age. 

What adolescents 12 and over?

                              Yes… AND when parents request my services for their minor children, I typically encourage them to instead consider receiving counseling or coaching themselves instead. It is my clinical opinion and experience that in most circumstances confident parenting is exceedingly more effective in getting the desired results than treating kids directly and without their parents’ participation.  It can be difficult to suggest to parents that they, not their child get counseling or coaching – but it is not meant as a criticism, on the contrary, it’s my fervent belief that a loving parent’s influence is infinitely more helpful than an hour a week with yours truly.

What is the difference between counseling and coaching?

                              The practice of counseling is a behavioral mental health activity, it is regulated and requires a license to practice.  As with any medical activity, treatment requires a diagnosis.  For treatment to be covered by insurance, there must be a billable diagnosis and concomitant functional impairment.    

                              Coaching is unregulated and does not require a license, however many practitioners including me, have elected to receive formal education, test, and receive a certification.  Coaching is appropriate for people who are not suffering from clinical levels of mental disturbance and/or impairment but would like to receive the challenging support of a coach.  Coaching is typically topical, around career, family, parenting, or achieving financial or health goals.  In my practice, coaching and counseling are bound by the same code of ethics.

Privacy?

                              All communications with me are confidential with a few predictable exceptions that you can read about here. I keep all client records for both coaching and counseling within a HIPPA compliant electronic health record.  I require a signed release of information to share information with designated organizations or persons.  To bill insurance, diagnosis codes are required.  Insurance companies may from time to time also request additional records such as session notes.  The VA and Workman’s Comp reliably request all client files including notes.  Many people choose to self-pay instead of using insurance in order to preserve their privacy. 

Will seeing a counselor impact my security clearance? 

                              If you have concerns about this, I recommend that youinquire with your security manager and or your chain of command.

How do I pay?

                              Payment for service (or applicable copay) is due at the time of service.  In person clients may pay by cash, check, or card; online clients are limited to cards only.  Debit, credit and Health Savings Account (HSA) cards may all be used.