How does online care work?

“Telehealth” or “telepsychology” is a mode of care that uses technology, such as a confidential and HIPAA-compliant (secure) video platform or over the phone. Online care has gained popularity recently, as clients can access the “therapy room” from the comfort of their home, office, or any private space that has a secure Internet connection.

Are there in-person sessions available?

We are currently offering both virtual through a HIPAA secure platform and in-person. We find that with busy schedules, online care works the best. We are so happy to reach clients who might not otherwise be able to attend an in-person session through telehealth. Note that not all of our providers offer in-person sessions.

Are these sessions confidential?

Absolutely. Confidentiality is a hallmark of the patient-provider relationship and something we take very seriously. It is essential to our work together that you have a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings. There are certain legal and ethical limits to confidentiality, and they include: 

• You give us your written permission (i.e., sign a release of information) to share specific information with another health provider.

• You choose to use your insurance’s out-of-network benefits to get reimbursed for services. In this case, we will be required to share a diagnosis, dates of sessions you attended, a CPT code for services, and, sometimes, a treatment summary.

• You tell your provider that you want to seriously hurt or injure yourself.

• You tell your provider about known or suspected abuse or neglect of a legal minor (child) or vulnerable adult.

• You tell your provider that you plan to physically hurt or injure someone else.

​In all of these cases, your provider will only disclose the minimum amount of information necessary and will always attempt to talk with you about the disclosure before releasing any information.

How frequent are the appointments?

Most clients we see weekly, depending on the nature of their problem and the treatment plan. As you experience improvement and progress toward your goals, sessions can be spaced out to every other week or less frequently. There is also the option for “maintenance” sessions, where we can check in with you/your progress monthly or can provide services on an as-needed basis. This can be particularly helpful when coping with difficult transitions or acute stressors.

​We prefer to set a weekly appointment time; however, if you cannot schedule regularly at the same time each week due to an irregular schedule, we will do our best to accommodate your schedule.

How long are the sessions? 

Sessions typically range from 55 to 90 minutes. Additional time can be requested before the session for an additional cost. If the session exceeds the allocated time, there is an additional cost. Sessions are generally 53 minutes for individual sessions and 60-90 minutes for couple sessions.

How long does treatment last? 

The length of treatment depends on a number of factors, such as treatment goals, the nature of the problems or concerns that led you to seek care, and engagement in treatment. For many presenting problems, a short-term course of care (10-20 sessions) is appropriate. In some cases, particularly if a problem has an extensive history or is long-standing, a longer course of treatment may be necessary to provide lasting gains. Typically, benefits are experienced more quickly when clients are able to maintain weekly appointments and practice skills outside of sessions.

Do you accept insurance? 

Select Hearth Counseling and Consulting clinicians are part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Health Care network. For all other insurance providers, we are out-of-network. This means we do not bill your insurance directly. Your session can be at least partially covered by your insurance as part of your “out-of-network” benefits. Insurance companies will typically reimburse you for a portion of your session expenses. Suppose you would like to use your insurance for your counseling sessions. In that case, we will provide a monthly Statement for Reimbursement form (a Superbill) for you to submit directly to your insurance company for reimbursement. For more questions and information about insurance, see our insurance page.

How do I get started? 

We are looking forward to talking with you further about our practices and the multiple services we offer. The first step is to complete our Contact form, and we will follow up with you within 48 hours to schedule a complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation. During this consultation, we will discuss your needs and determine if our services would be a good fit for you or your family.