Frequently Asked Questions

Mental health and substance use counseling. This includes:
- couples, relationship, and family counseling 
- adolescent counseling
- EMDR and trauma processing
- Other specialties (check with our list of providers to view specialties)
We offer tele-health and we are able to offer in-person sessions in some cases.

Each of our clinicians has their own unique specialties and training. All of our clinicians can offer a consultation in order to explore "fit," as well as your needs for modality, style, time / day, and so on.

All of our therapists are able to help clients with anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders.

View our Teams page to explore each counselor's unique specialties and experience.

Our clinicians charge $150-200 per session depending on the nature of the service.

All of our clinicians are private pay, meaning you have the security and privacy of working directly with your clinician to develop a treatment plan that works for you. This allows you to keep all diagnosis, assessments, and other health information fully confidential. In addition to this, we do support clients who want to work through insurance companies. If you prefer to engage with your insurance company, some of our clinicians may offer a super bill for reimbursement.

Most of our team has 10-20 years of experience -- we are very comfortable with who we are and how we help others heal.  Our clinicians work with the following:
- Families / couples
- Youth / adolescents
- Trauma work
- Addictions work
- EMDR
- Adults and individual counseling

All of our clinicians are under supervision, and some are independently licensed

Yes. Some of our clinicians are in-network or able to bill Aetna. Licensed providers can bill out-of-network for which clients can receive a super bill (see more details below). Our office can check what services are reimbursable under your insurance coverage.

Generally, we believe private pay gives clients full autonomy and choice over their mental health services. Paying out of pocket lets our clinicians spend their time focused on you instead of insurance companies, and it means full privacy -- private pay means, diagnosis is optional, and any diagnosis is kept strictly in the records kept by the practice (instead of being in an insurance company's records, and worse being sold to third parties or released to third parties for background checks, etc). 

Some clinicians may offer a "super bill" where a client's insurance allows. A "super bill" is a detailed invoice, which includes the provider's NPI, license number, client diagnosis, billing code, and other necessary information. If a client's insurance coverage includes "out of network" billing, a client may be reimbursed by using the superbill provided by the clinician.

Unfortunately, insurance billing can be confusing, but our clinicians will try to make the process as easy as possible so that you can focus on your healing journey. 

Private pay counseling has some significant advantages. Progress Counseling values the autonomy of clinicians (and clients), and privacy. Aside from the autonomy and privacy, private pay gives some of the following advantages:

• Sliding scale rates can be offered to clients paying private pay. This means that privately paying clients can actually pay less than those who pay with insurance.
• You or your child won’t be labeled with a mental health diagnosis unless you request this type of assessment.
• Insurance premiums and life insurance policies will not increase based of mental health diagnosis and treatments.
• You won’t have to worry that your health records will be included in the MIB and create problems for you or your child in the future.
• You will be able to stay with your therapist even if your insurance plan coverage changes.
• Mental health diagnosis is not mandatory and not submitted to your private health records.
• More services are allowed without restrictions such as online counseling and tele-counseling.
• No limit on amount of sessions or time of your session.
• You are guaranteed privacy and confidentiality.
• Stigma of some diagnoses can often be avoided.
• Private pay clients are able to choose the focus, duration, and frequency of therapy. You are even allowed to choose the length of sessions.
• You choose the therapist best suited to your needs rather than the insurance company telling you who to see.
• Expansion of mental health providers in your area that specialize in the services you need.
• Flexible scheduling and availability

Yes, online therapy has been shown to be as effective as in-person counseling. The advantage of telehealth include:

Convenience - How long does it take to open up your laptop, or click an app on your phone? A few seconds? A minute tops? This leads to no gas costs and limited time off work needed to accommodate a therapy session. For those who have precious few minutes to "get away" and do therapy, doing it online can be a lifeline. 

Comfort - In-person can be comfortable, but for many, lounging in bed or on their favorite couch can't be topped. 

Connection - An essential part of the healing is the safety. Some clients, particularly adolescents, have told us that they feel safer in "my room," or at home, instead of going to an office. And for those who are more mobile throughout the day, there's something wonderful about being to connect wherever you happen to be at the time of therapy.

Confidentiality - Discretion is important for many clients, especially for those who are working on sensitive issues. Therapy online removes this barrier for people - it’s fully up to you to disclose to others that you are in therapy. Of note, all of the platforms that Progress Counseling uses are HIPAA compliant, meaning that all health records and information are encrypted and secure.

There is no one "most effective" form of therapy, as different types of therapy can be effective for different people and conditions. What works best for one person may not work as well for another. More likely than not, your progress in your therapeutic journey will depend on the "fit" you have with your counselor. The best form of therapy will be the one that you and your therapist create together -- your shared language, understanding, the trust you build, your therapist's care and compassion in the space you share.

Some of the most commonly used and well-researched forms of therapy include:

1. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to mental health problems.

2. Psychodynamic therapy: This type of therapy aims to help individuals explore their unconscious thoughts and feelings to gain insight into their emotions, behaviors, and relationships.

3. Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal therapy focuses on improving communication and relationship skills, especially in the context of interpersonal conflicts.

4. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): ACT helps individuals learn to accept and manage difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to values-based action.

5. Mindfulness-based therapy: This type of therapy focuses on developing mindfulness skills, such as paying attention to the present moment without judgment, to help individuals cope with stress and improve their mental health.

Ultimately, the most effective form of therapy for you will depend on your individual needs, preferences, and the specific issues you are experiencing. Please reach out to one of our caring professionals who can help you identify the best treatment approach for you.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is a US federal law that was passed in 1996 and has since been updated several times. The purpose of HIPAA is to protect the privacy and security of individuals' health information.

HIPAA sets standards for the electronic transmission of health information, and it also requires healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities that handle health information to implement certain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect that information. The law also gives individuals certain rights with respect to their health information, such as the right to access and amend their records.

HIPAA has become increasingly important with the growth of electronic health records and other digital health technologies. Violations of HIPAA can result in significant fines and other penalties, so it is important for healthcare organizations and their business associates to understand and comply with the law.

As a general rule, therapists are required to keep all information disclosed during therapy sessions confidential. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule where therapists may be required or permitted to break confidentiality in order to protect the client or others. Some common exceptions to confidentiality include:

1. Suspected child abuse or neglect: Therapists are required to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.

2. Danger to self or others: If a client poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, therapists may be required to take action to prevent harm. This may include notifying emergency services or contacting family members or other support systems.

3. Court orders or subpoenas: In some cases, therapists may be required to disclose information about a client if they receive a court order or subpoena.

4. Suspected elder abuse or neglect: Therapists may be required to report suspected cases of elder abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.

5. Threats of harm to national security: If a client discloses information that suggests a threat to national security, therapists may be required to report this to the appropriate authorities.

It's important to note that the specific exceptions to confidentiality can vary by jurisdiction and may depend on the therapist's specific professional obligations and ethical guidelines. Therapists should make clients aware of the limits of confidentiality at the beginning of therapy and discuss any exceptions to confidentiality that may apply in their specific case.

All of our therapists are trained in the latest ethics and standards of care, including patient privacy, as required by the licensing board. If you have any questions about our record keeping, and anything particular to your individual records, please reach out to your therapist.