Tulsa Counseling & Therapy

What To Expect During Counseling

During the first session, the therapist and client will:

review and sign the initial paperwork,
discuss the client's problems and goals for change,
decide together on the frequency of future appointments. (continued below photo)

Our Office is conveniently located off the BA Expressway which cuts down on your travel time to appointments.

Reaching out to counseling is not an easy step, therefore I want to address some of the questions clients have in the beginning.

One of the main aspects of concern for most people is the cost of counseling. My fee for a 50-minute session is $80. My goal is to make sure my clients receive the help that they need, versus turning away from counseling because the price is a deterrent.

A lot of my clients ask if their insurance company will pay for counseling. I am currently a credentialed provider with two insurance companies insurance companies: United Healthcare (UMR and Optum), and HealthChoise. However, my concern about the role of insurance in paying for counseling services is that insurance companies require a diagnosis. Based on this diagnosis, they will grant services and will decide how many sessions will be covered under your insurance policy.

Another concern that I have as a counselor is that once the diagnosis is in your medical records, it will become a label that follows you for the rest of your life. When a diagnosis is made, the insurance company requires access to your session notes and counseling file which may be added to your long-term medical records. The risk of providing such information is that I, as your counselor, have no control over what your insurance company will do with this information.

Another concern regarding the use of insurance to pay for counseling, involves being familiar with your insurance plan. Some plans cover a certain percentage of the session's fee while the client pays the remaining balance. Other plans use the fee towards the plan's deductable while the client is responsible for the fee.

Because of these reasons, I prefer to offer counseling that is affordable to most people so that insurance companies can be bypassed and your treatment remains confidential.

My Approach to Counseling

I work from a non-judgmental, strength based approach so I allow my clients to make decisions regarding their readiness and pace for change. Each client is different and has different needs; therefore there is no set of appointments that will be needed in order to accomplish your goals. It is common for client to come more often to sessions in the beginning and as times passes to set appointment at larger increments of time.

On average, significant results are noticed if appointments are scheduled once a week or bi-monthly. There is little to no progress if appointments are scheduled once a month in the beginning of the counseling process. Once a month sessions can be an option as you advance in the counseling process and you want to maintain the changes made.

Since I believe that the counseling process continues at home and does not stop in the office, in my work with my clients I incorporate homework. The homework refers to assignments where the client will replace new coping mechanisms or skills to replace those habits that decrease the quality of life.

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Page Last Updated: July 24, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does it cost per session?
A. My price is $150 for a 50-minute session.

Q. Who can come to counseling?
A. Anyone who wants guidance to improve their quality of life.

Q. What are the office hours?
A. Monday thru Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Q. How soon can you see us/me?
A. I can usually schedule you the week that you call.

Q. What do I need to do to make an appointment?
A. You can call, text or email me with the day and time you prefer, and we can go from there. PLEASE NOTE: A debit or credit card is required to reserve an appointment. The card has to be provided at the time you schedule your first appointment.

Q. What office policies do I need to be aware of prior to making an appointment?
A. All the clients that schedule appointments with me will be informed about the Making/Cancelling or Rescheduling Appointments Policy. This policy is included in the first appointment forms and is discussed with every client at the beginning of our work together. This policy states that each client will receive a text reminder 2 days (48 hours) prior to their scheduled appointment. The client is required to respond back by confirming, cancelling or rescheduling the appointment the lastet by 8pm the day I send the reminder. If the client fails to respond back, it will be assumed they cancelled the appointment without further notice and they become financially responsible for the booked appointment. Please know that at 8pm the appointment becomes available to other clients, and it is no longer yours.

Q. What is the role of the Making/Cancelling and Rescheduling Appointments Policy?
A. This policy helps me provide equal access to services to all clients (existent or new clients). Each time a client makes an appointment the allocated time is dedicated just to them; therefore, no one else has access to that appointment. This allows me to keep my schedule organized and coordinate the care of each client I have, as well as allocating the rest of the scheduling hours to others that are in need of services. When a client does not respond to my reminder, they directly affect several people. My schedule is affected, and other clients are prevented from having access to appointments. Please understand that mental health services also involve emergency or highly critical situations where clients need to receive services as soon as possible. If you (the client) do not respond to let me know the status of your appointment, I am not able to coordinate the care for other clients and attend to their needs. Clients that need services but cannot be scheduled are put on a waiting list. This is the reason I ask a confirmation by 8pm the day I send the reminder. After 8pm, the clients on the waiting list are contacted and the available appointments are offered to them. Usually the time span between the moment I send the appointment reminder and the latest time I accept confirmations or cancellation is usually 10 to 12 hours. I send the reminders in the first part of the morning (between 8 and 10 am). By not responding to my reminder in that time frame, you (the client) keep an appointment blocked and others will not have access to services. Therefore, you (the client) become financially responsible for making an appointment and not taking responsibility for it or disregarding the needs of others. Please understand that I cannot discriminate against clients. Since this is a policy all the clients abide by when they start counseling with me, I cannot differentiate between clients and make exceptions.