How long will I be in therapy?
I find that this is in large part up to you. Some people come to therapy seeking help for a very specific issue and find that within 3-6 months they’ve gotten what they need. Others come seeking short-term therapy and find the supportive environment of weekly therapy extremely beneficial to their overall mental health — and thus choose to continue therapy much longer than they anticipated. I’ve treated people for as short as a few months and as long as a few years.
How frequently will I be attending sessions?
I ask that you commit to weekly therapy sessions in order to gain and maintain therapeutic “traction.” Weekly therapy not only gives me the continuity I need to make an accurate clinical assessment, but also fosters a safe and predictable therapeutic relationship — which research shows is the single most critical component of the healing process.
How much will it cost?
My fee for a 45-minute psychotherapy session is $185 for individuals and $200 for couples and families. If you pay by credit card there will be a $5 processing fee. I know that this level of commitment to your wellbeing requires enormous sacrifice of your time and money, among other things. I consider psychotherapy to be one of the greatest investments you will ever make, and I say this from personal as well as professional experience. The ability to live more freely and more authentically is well worth the cost.
Can I use my health insurance?
Not in the traditional sense. I am not an in-network provider for any insurance companies. That means that I do not collect co-pays nor do I bill insurance companies for reimbursement of services provided. However, you can always file for “out-of-network” with me. The next question addresses this topic.
What are “out-of-network” benefits and how do they work?
Most insurance plans come with what is called out-of-network behavioral health benefits. Refer to your benefits package or call your insurance provider to ask if you have these benefits. Payments for psychotherapy sessions are collected in full at the end of each session and these payments go towards your deductible. Once you have met your deductible, your insurance company will reimburse you a certain percentage of my fee.
What do I need to do to obtain my out-of-network benefits for therapy?
First, bring your insurance card to your first appointment, and I will make a copy. At the end of each session you will pay the fee for that session. Monthly, I will give you a statement reflecting that month’s sessions and your payments. Mail your statement off to your insurance provider each time you receive one from me, and your insurance provider will begin to send you reimbursement checks after your deductible is met. Please note, a mental health diagnosis is necessary to receive benefits and will be permanently attached to your medical file. Please discuss this with me if you have any questions or concerns.
Are you a pastor or pastoral counselor?
Neither. I am a licensed professional counselor. I received a master’s degree in Theological Studies several years after I was established as a practicing psychotherapist.
Can you tell me more about your theology degree?
My studies in theology were rooted in the historical-critical method of literary criticism. This method seeks to understand the sacred texts of the world through the historical lens in which they were written in search of their original meaning and purpose. Ultimately, this degree was about questions, not answers. More specifically, it was about learning how to ask the right questions to facilitate religious and spiritual growth and understanding. For that, it made me a better therapist.
Holliman Psychotherapy Services 