Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! You can click here for a link to schedule your free consultation. 

An initial consultation, before starting therapy sessions, is a great way to ensure that we are a “good fit”.  This will provide you an opportunity to ask questions and know how comfortable you are talking with me. It provides me the opportunity to hear about what your child is struggling with, so I can feel confident I will be able to help them.  If, at the end of the session, we decide that it isn’t the right fit, I will provide you with referrals that may better suit your needs. Please click on this link to the What To Expect page for more information.

•  A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) completes a Master's program in therapy, case management and mental health advocacy.
• After completion of their graduate degree, LCSW's must complete an additional 2-4 years of supervised clinical therapy and pass a clinical exam to be eligible for full licensure as a therapist.

There has been a stigma attached to psychotherapy that has dissipated over the years. You do not need a mental illness or have a huge life crisis to benefit from therapy.  In fact, therapy is beneficial for everyone.  It provides a safe, supporting, and confidential place to talk to a professional about personal experiences, thoughts, feelings, or problems.  

Therapy is a process of self-exploration, identification of values and beliefs, emotional awareness, and growth. Your child may make changes in their attitudes, perceptions, and behavior as they progress.  Therapy is for those that would like to optimize their lives.  It is okay to ask for help and you and your child deserve someone who will listen. 

The role of the psychotherapist is to help the client understand his/her situation, teach strategies to express him/herself, and cope with potentially difficult or stressful situations. The therapist can also teach the individual or family tools to help them manage difficult feelings, and/or negative thoughts and behaviors.

The goal of therapy is to talk, play and work through mental health concerns so your child can become healthier and reach their full potential.  Sessions and goals are tailored to your unique child and their needs.

Most initial therapy sessions last between 45 and 55 minutes and are scheduled on a weekly basis with a set day and time.  The last 10 to 15 minutes of the session are for completing paperwork and bill processing.  Some clients may need two appointments a week and some may come in every other week.  Therapy can be short-term in six to twelve sessions or long term six months to years depending on the concerns and rate of progress.  Sessions will begin to taper with skill building and growth and vary for each individual.  They include a variety of treatment modalities based on your child’s needs.  Even after your child’s goals are achieved, therapy can continue for new concerns or overall mental health.

Please see the What To Expect page for more information on the scope and sequence of therapy sessions.

Psychotherapy provides a wide array of benefits.  

Some of these benefits include:

• Non-judgemental support in a safe and nurturing environment 
• Identification of feelings, body sensations, and coping skills
• Stress relief and reduction of anxiety
• Improvement of  mood
• Education
• Skill-building-communication, problem-solving, social, etc.
• Improving self-esteem and self-confidence
• Increasing self-awareness
• Improving relationship skills and connection to others
• Increased self-advocacy
• Cultivation of empathy
• Development of strategies and tools for challenges
• Identification of negative thinking patterns and development of positive patterns
• Identification of negative behavior patterns and development of positive patterns
• Development of responsibility for behaviors
• Development of healthy boundaries
• Development of healthy body image and love for the body.
• Personal Growth
• Decrease of symptoms
• Overall increased wellness and health

People have various reasons for coming to psychotherapy.  It could be for ongoing issues or there may have been a life transition that has been difficult.  There is a large range of issues listed on the Home page that might bring someone in. A typical client does not exist.  Everyone faces challenging situations and can require help from time to time.  It is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of courage and strength.  People begin the therapeutic process when they are ready to make changes in their lives and live life to the fullest extent.

A therapist is trained to listen without judgment, provide support, teach new skills, educate, identify and build on strengths, build self-awareness, identify negative thought and behavior patterns, facilitate growth, and much more.  

When should you bring your child in for therapy?

• Your child’s challenges are interfering with daily life.
• You feel overwhelmed with or worried about your child.
• You find it difficult to help your child make positive changes.
• Complaints of illness (such as headache, upset stomach, or not feeling well) even though a doctor finds nothing wrong.
• If you are wondering if your child could benefit from therapy, it is time.  Mental health is just like physical health.  If you have a symptom, you go to a physical health provider to learn what changes need to be made or receive treatment.  It is the same thing with a mental health provider.

*Regardless of what your child is going through, it’s not your fault.  You have NOT failed as a parent. In fact, just by reading what you are right now, you have demonstrated that you care about your child and want to help in any way you can. 

During the initial consultation and parent intake, we will discuss your child’s needs and my treatment modalities.  You can ask questions, discuss your concerns, and get to know my style.  You should feel safe, heard and understood.  If you feel this way, then we are the right fit! If you feel that we are not a “good fit”, I will be more than happy to refer you to another therapist who might be a better fit.

While privacy in psychotherapy is crucial to successful progress, parental/guardian involvement can also be essential.  In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a therapist. However, I do not provide treatment to a child under 13 unless she or he agrees that I can share information I consider necessary for therapeutic progress or safety with a parent or guardian.

For adolescents 13 and older, I request an agreement between the client and the parents/guardians allowing me to share general information about treatment progress and attendance, as well as a treatment summary upon completion of therapy. All other communication will require the adolescent’s agreement. 

Please see Restore Therapy and Wellness, PLLC’s Confidentiality Statement for more information and exceptions.

The word terminate does mean to bring to an end, but that does not mean it needs to end forever.  If things come up, it may be a one time session "check-in" or you could come in for monthly “check ups”.  You can also always return to regular therapy if needed too. 

Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a group of children or adolescents typically meet on a weekly basis. Sessions focus on a specific mental health issue like anxiety or a transition like divorce. They involve group members speaking openly about their feelings and talking directly to one another about their personal problems.  Group therapy has a very laid back atmosphere and no one is forced to say anything they do not want to just like during individual therapy.  The goals of group therapy can include feeling a sense of belonging, connection, instillation of hope, education, skill building, restructuring of thought patterns for positive behavior, and improving overall wellbeing.   

For your child to participate in psychotherapy, I will need the portion of your divorce decree that details both parents' rights and duties. It is a Texas State Board of Social Workers ethical requirement that a copy of this portion of the decree be kept in your child's file. Depending on the actual wording of your rights in the document, both parents may be required to consent (in writing) before therapy can begin.The decree must state that you are legally authorized to seek out and consent to treatment (therapy or testing) for your child or that both parents are aware. Based on the decree, I may need to contact the other parent and receive authorization for services. I am legally unable to treat your child or discuss your concerns without this legal documentation.

No, they do not have to attend the intake or sessions with you unless you prefer.  Both parents need to consent for your child’s treatment. This allows for transparency within the therapeutic process and helps provide overall positive support for your child.  I do wish to establish a healthy working relationship with both parents or guardians and have them involved in the therapeutic process.  However, I do realize this may not always be possible for a variety of reasons.

It can be scary to do something you have not done before.  Preparing your child can make the transition to psychotherapy easier.

• Find a relaxing, joyful time to explain to your child what they can expect from therapy sessions since therapy is a good thing to help them and is not a punishment. For more information click on the What To Expect page.  Be honest with your child.  It may be as simple as that they will be safe and the therapist is there to help them feel better.  With an older child, you can explain that the therapist is there to listen, help work through problems, and make them feel happier.
• You can show your child the website and picture of me to get to know me.
• Listen to your child’s concerns.
• Give your child a sense of control.  For example, picking a therapy time out of a few given.
• Let your child know there is no “test”.  They can’t fail or do wrong.
• Let your child know you are on their side and support them.
• The day of the appointment, make your child as comfortable as possible.  Let them wear what they enjoy and bring a comfort item.
• If your child does not want to go to therapy, it is important that you bring them anyway.  They will soon learn that therapy is a fun place to try new things and feel better.
  • Clear up any misconceptions about therapy
  • Make sure that therapy does not sound like a punishment for unexpected behavior
  • Normalize therapy.  It is not a secret or shameful experience.
  • Talk to your child about confidentiality (addressed in a prior FAQ)

I strive to minimize the amount of school time missed as a result of psychotherapy sessions.  However, all appointments may not be able to be held outside school hours.  Therapy appointments are considered excused absences, and a school excuse note will be provided as needed. Please be mindful of school holidays, tests/quizzes, state testing, etc., when scheduling your appointment. Also, please make sure to cancel 24 hours in advance of an appointment if your appointment coincides with a mandatory school event.

I accept self-pay and am an out-of-network provider for most insurance companies. 

I am in-network with the following insurance companies:

• ComPsych
• OPTUM
• BCBS

Please call your insurance company to check your mental health coverage.  Some helpful questions you ask them:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?
• What is my deductible and has it been met?
• Do you require pre-approval of services before you will reimburse
• What mental health services (codes) do you cover/not cover
• What is the allowable amount *If they say they can’t tell you this, that’s not true. It is against the law for them to withhold this information from you. 
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
• What is my copay or coinsurance I will need to pay each visit?
• What is my max out of pocket?
• How much of my Max out of pocket has been met?
• Is the provider I want to see in-network?

Out-of-network benefits vary from plan to plan. For details, contact your insurance provider and ask about "out-of-network" benefits for "outpatient mental health."

Additional questions for out-of-network insurance:

• What are my out-of-network mental health benefits?
• How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
• How do I obtain reimbursement for therapy with an out-of-network provider?

Payment:

   Cash, check, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and most major credit cards are accepted as forms of payment. Checks should be made payable to Restore Therapy and Wellness, PLLC.  All copays, coinsurance, out-of-network, payment and self-payments are due at the end of each session.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am not legally allowed to prescribe medication.  Most mental health issues can’t be fully addressed by medication solely.  Research shows that in some cases medication can be valuable in combination with psychotherapy for long-term wellbeing. If your child could benefit from meeting with a psychiatrist, I can assist you by referring you to someone I trust in my network of referrals.   Then, he or she can determine the best course of action. Please keep me informed of any medication you are taking, any changes, and do not discontinue any medications without consulting with your doctor first.

In our current climate, life can be full and overwhelming.  We are programmed to take time to go to the doctor when we are not feeling well physically, so why do we not take care of ourselves and our families mental health?  Seeking psychotherapy is a major step towards creating a healthier life for your child and your family.  Therapy can help your child increase self-awareness, express themselves, cope with big feelings, and take control of their lives.  When these things increase, life for the whole family can run in a more efficient way.

 Yes, I use a secure HIPAA compliant platform to offer video psychotherapy. Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services through electronic and telecommunication technologies (telephone, laptop or desktop computers). It allows therapy to be conducted at a distance.  I offer online therapy to anyone who lives in Texas with high-speed internet. Stable internet is necessary for effective therapy sessions.

Research shows that there is no difference between traditional and online therapy.  Telehealth has been found to be safe, convenient and cost-effective.  Accessing the technology is easy with just a link.

Coverage for telehealth services varies by insurance plan.  During this pandemic, most insurance companies are allowing telehealth, but it is suggested that you should contact your provider to confirm.     

If your child is scheduled for a telehealth session, please consider these suggestions:

• Try to schedule a time that is good for your child
• Plan as if it was an in-person session
• Find a quiet location without distraction that your child feels safe in 
• Plan adequate lighting for the location
• Have headphones available
• Explain what is going to happen

*It is preferred to meet in-person for intake appointments, but not necessary. 

I have a waitlist when my caseload is full and I am unable to accommodate another client.  I have to limit my caseload in order to provide the best and most effective therapy and have availability for those clients.  A waitlist has been created to provide an estimation of the time frame to schedule for an initial appointment.  If you are on the waitlist, you will be in line for the next available intake appointment. 

When there are too many people on the list to give a fair estimation, I close my waitlist.  I assess my waitlist at the end of each month.  If my waitlist is closed and you still would like an appointment, please check restoretherapyandwellness.com for an update.  I do my best to estimate the time frame, but can’t guarantee it.

When there is an opening, I will call or email you, but the scheduling options will be limited.  Therefore, individuals who are available to come during the options will schedule an appointment quicker than those who are not.  This may change your position on the waitlist and the amount of time until your first appointment.  When you are added to the waitlist, I will note your availability. If you receive a message from me about an opening, you have 48 hours to return my phone call and secure the time slot.  If I do not hear from you, unfortunately, I will have to move to the next person on the waitlist.

I know it is not ideal to be added to the waitlist and it can cause frustration.  Please understand I am trying to deliver the best treatment to my clients.