FAQ

We'll only ask a few questions to get to know you a bit, provide any information about our services and answer any questions that you have for us. If you want, we can schedule an appointment right away or we can wait. We'll follow up with an email outlining next steps, including your own access to our secure Client Portal where you can sign paperwork, schedule appointments and download payment invoices.

We try to answer as many questions on the phone as possible to ease any nerves or resolve any uncertainty about your first session. Most sessions are 50 minutes long (couples and family sessions will be 90-minutes), but can be increased if discussed prior. Based on your level of comfort, we will simply spend time exploring the concerns that led you to counseling. Before the session, you will complete intake paperwork online (consent form, HIPAA, etc.) with your convenient, HIPPA-compliant online client portal. It's also important to know that you are not obligated to stay with your counselor after one session. Your success in therapy depends highly on your level of comfort and ability to trust your therapist and we are always happy to help you find the best-fit person.

Counseling is an ongoing, collaborative, confidential relationship between client and therapist that, when working well, allows clients to gain new insights on problems in their life. We work together with our clients to establish and agree upon specific goals in order to track progress and stay focused. If clients are committed and engaged in therapy, it can provide new tools to cope with difficult emotions and new skills to navigate difficult relationships. While it isn't always easy or comfortable, it's an often necessary journey for clients to experience true restoration and healing.

Rivertown Wellness is a self-pay practice which means we are out-of-network for insurance companies. There are a number of benefits by not working directly with insurance companies, which you can find here. However, some insurance companies will reimburse a certain percentage for counseling services and we are happy to provide the necessary paperwork for you to submit.

You can check to see if your specific insurance plan reimburses for out-of-network services by using the tool on our Fees + Insurance page.

Additionally, you can use your HSA or FSA card for payment. If you're unsure of what options you have, give your insurance company a quick call and ask about "out-of-network" mental health providers.

We are counselors and we're Christians. We understand that many people have been hurt by organized religion and spiritual practices in their life. With that understanding, we meet our clients exactly where they are spiritually. We see clients who want to pray every week and we see clients who prefer not discussing religion at all. While we refrain from imposing our personal beliefs in session, we have the background and experience to integrate faith for clients who request it. At Rivertown Wellness, we believe fostering true restoration and healing in your life requires soul care. But Christian counseling will look different depending on who you are. Feel free to ask us more about it - we're happy to talk. We also adhere to a Statement of Faith that can be shared upon request.

For adolescent clients, we typically have a slightly different intake process in order to ensure adolescent care and to foster a collaborative relationship with parents or guardians of adolescents. For the first session, we ask that only the parent(s) or guardian(s) meet with their adolescent’s counselor. The second session will be between only the adolescent and their counselor. Then the third session will have a short time for parent(s) or guardian(s) to meet with the counselor to discuss treatment goals, followed by a longer time of only the adolescent meeting with the counselor. The adolescent will then be the only person meeting with the counselor for treatment sessions. Parent(s) or guardian(s) can contact their adolescent’s counselor at any time for updates and questions, as well as set up appropriate times to discuss treatment with their adolescent’s counselor with proper notice. Finally, parent(s) or guardian(s) and adolescents are encouraged to have a session toward the end of treatment to give an overview of the adolescent’s progress, goals, and next-steps.

You can cancel your appointment on your client portal or by calling our office. Please remember to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance. Cancellations and rescheduled appointments will be subject to a full charge if not received at least 24 hours in advance. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and held exclusively for you. If you are late for an appointment, you may lose some of that appointment time.