Fees and Policies

Payment is expected at the time of the session in the form of checks, cash, and credit cards.

Some sliding scale session hours are offered, based on need and scheduling availability. Adjustments or payment arrangements can be discussed with your therapist.

Insurance

Therapy is sometimes covered by insurance, in which case a copay is commonly required. Depending on your plan, you may have to meet a deductible before your insurance will pay any portion of your treatment.

If your therapist is not an in-network provider for your plan, therapy will be considered “out-of-network.” In this case, you will be required to pay the full cost of your appointment. Your therapist will give you a receipt at the end of each session, which you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.

We are considered in-network for each of these major health insurance plans:

  • BCBS of North Carolina (including NC State Health Plan, Blue Options and Blue Advantage, NOT including Blue Local or Blue Value),
  • Most BCBS Plans from other states
  • Federal Employee BCBS Plans
  • Duke University Student Health Plan
Client Forms

Please download, review, complete, and bring each of these forms to your first session.

What to Expect
Psychotherapy is based on numerous factors which, in dynamic balance, can help participants achieve:
  • Insight
  • Increased clarity
  • Resolution of issues (both current and past)
  • Greater confidence
  • Increased self-esteem
  • Decreased anxiety and/or depression
  • Cessation of troublesome symptoms
  • Improved relationships
  • Greater health and vitality
  • A fuller life experience
In your initial sessions, you will experience some combination of the following:
  • Comprehensive discussion of the reason(s) you are seeking treatment
  • Assessment of safety – such as risks for self-harm, relationship harm, family violence, etc.
  • Review of your history – including but not limited to: developmental, family, relationships, education, career, health, prior treatment(s), etc.
  • Exploration of your dreams and goals
  • Exploration of your strengths and resources
  • Specific assessment and identification of acute symptoms for issues such as eating disorders, PTSD, dissociation, ADD/ADHD, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.
The frequency of sessions is an individual choice, although experience has taught us some reasonable expectations:
  • Especially in the early stage of therapy, a minimum of weekly sessions are useful for building rapport and comfort and establishing a solid sense of continuity in the therapeutic process.
  • When symptoms are acute (and that means different things for each person), more frequent sessions can be helpful. Intensified frequency (such as twice weekly or more) can result in a greater sense of goal directedness, feeling more supported, more ease in interrupting unhealthy patterns of behavior, and a deeper involvement in one’s therapy process.
  • Over time, decreased frequency may feel like a natural transition once therapy goals are clearly established and/or initial concerns have been resolved. Sometimes every-other-week appointments may also be preferable due to scheduling needs.