Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy
Who Goes to Therapy?
Anyone struggling with an issue that acts as a barrier to being successful and reaching their goals
Anyone who has something difficult to discuss or process
Anyone who needs help learning skills to deal with conflicts in relationships
A resource that can help you see if you would benefit from counseling are our self-assessments.
What Can Therapy Do For Me?
Therapy is about helping you become the person you were created to be. A trained therapist is someone who can come alongside you in a therapeutic alliance and help you to achieve the things you have been struggling to achieve on your own. Practically speaking, therapy can help you to:
Decrease feelings of sadness or anxiety
Increase coping strategies
Increase communication and negotiation skills
Increase self-awareness
Increase awareness of strengths
Process difficult situations like grief and loss or the experience of a traumatic event
Deal with family and childhood issues
Manage anger
Learn to be assertive
Learn to recover from eating disorders, eat intuitively or deal with a poor body image
Does therapy work?
Studies indicate that people treated through therapy are better off than 80% of people with similar levels of problems who do not receive therapy. Consumer Reports reviewed the effectiveness of therapy by analyzing surveys from 2,125 respondents who visited a mental health professional for depression or anxiety. Respondents reported a 70% improvement in emotional functioning after 1-6 sessions and almost an 80% improvement after 13 or more sessions.
How can I pay for my counseling sessions?
Wilson Counseling accepts all major credit cards including HSA & FSA cards.
How much does counseling cost?
The fees depend on which counselor you are meeting with and their level of experience. We do offer a free consultation to determine if counseling is right for you.
To meet with Lisa Smith the fee for the initial intake session is $160, a 45-minute individual session is $130, and $160 for an EMDR session.
To meet with Sarah Bradshaw the fee for a 45-minute individual session is $150, $160 for the initial intake session, $280 for the initial couples counseling intake and $215 for couples follow-up session. The couples intensives is $350 for a 3-hour session.
To meet with Nancy Wilson, the fee for a 90-minute intake session is $280, a 45-minute session for individuals and EMDR is $190, $225 for a 60-minute session, $250 for 90-minute individual sessions, and $280 for 90-minute couples sessions.
Will my insurance company cover your services?
If you have out-of-network benefits with your insurance, I can provide you with a receipt called a superbill which can be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement. This superbill has the information the insurance company needs to pay for services such as a CPT code and diagnosis information.
Many insurance plans do cover what are called out-of-network benefits. That is, the insurance will often reimburse you a percentage for mental health services. You pay out of pocket and then submit a receipt to your insurance company directly for reimbursement. For our Houston clients with out-of-network benefits, some have reported having most of the services covered through this reimbursement, while others have said their insurance companies do not have out-of-network benefits. Some clients have reported having 60 or 75% covered once they met their deductible.
Please contact your insurance company directly to confirm what their coverage is. We recommend you find this out before your first appointment so you are not surprised by anything. We have found coverage varies greatly.
If you call your insurance company to ask about your coverage, you may want to ask them the following questions:
Does my health insurance company include out-of-network coverage for mental health services?
Is there a deductible? If yes, what is it?
What percentage or amount of care is covered once I meet my deductible?
Do you reimburse all diagnoses?
Where do I submit the superbill (receipt for services), how often does it need to be submitted, and how long does it take to be reimbursed?
How long does counseling last?
The counseling session lasts 50 minutes, or 90 minutes for a double session. Double sessions are especially helpful for couples at the beginning of therapy to reduce stress and tension quickly. Most clients prefer to come in weekly when their concerns are acute. However, appointments may be scheduled less frequently as needed. At Wilson Counseling, we believe in having solutions-oriented therapy sessions that are focused on your goals. It is important to realize that therapy can take some work on your part, plus a bit of patience, but it does not have to be a process that takes a long time. It is a myth that therapy must last several months or years to be effective. Therapy does work, and clients often see some improvement within the first few sessions.
What if I can’t make my counseling appointment or if I need to cancel?
We have a limited number of sessions available each day. When you schedule, we reserve that spot for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice. If you fail to give 24 hours’ notice, you are responsible for the full session fee. If you do give at least 24 hours’ notice, we would be happy to reschedule or cancel your appointment.
Is Counseling Worth It?
As Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby said, "People often ask, ‘How much does this cost?’ When I hear this I think to myself, ‘They’re focusing on the wrong thing.’ I’d like you to ask yourself a different question:
What’s the opportunity cost of NOT getting expert help at the right time?
The fact is that the future of your family, your career and your personal wellbeing could be hanging in the balance. Deciding to get expert help during a “fork in the road” moment can be a life-changing investment in yourself, your marriage, your family, and your future.
The value of what we can bring to your life transcends money. Having love, happiness and success is worth far more than what money can buy, like a couch or a vacation…
Your Love, Happiness and Success needs to be the first priority.
The wellbeing of your family, your emotional wellness, and your ability to function well in your career are simply more important than numbers in an account somewhere.
Investing in your family, your emotional health, and your career will reap dividends that are far more precious than anything money can buy. This is an investment in your life. "
– Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
How does virtual counseling work?
You will receive a link before your session which allows you to easily connect with your therapist. All you have to do is to copy that link into a browser on your computer. If you have a computer and the internet, you can do online therapy with Wilson Counseling. It's really easy!
All video sessions are conducted on a private and secure HIPPA compliant website. Video-based counseling outcomes have been shown to be as good as face-to-face counseling sessions, and some clients find they are more comfortable opening up in this setting.
If you don't like technology or prefer to speak on the phone, that is a great option, too. You can still speak from the privacy and security of your home and get the help you need to start feeling better today.
Are you ready to stop feeling anxious about your life and start feeling good again?
If so, please contact Wilson Counseling to schedule an appointment. Not sure if she can help you? Call Wilson Counseling at 713-565-0922 and you can get a free, confidential 15-minute phone consultation to discuss how our Houston, Texas therapists might help you with your concerns.