This page is designed to answer any further questions about Discernment Counseling and my therapy practice. I am also happy to answer any messages if you are still deciding whether to make an appointment for targeted, short-term sessions that can help you through this difficult process.
What do you share with my partner regarding the content of my individual session?
I share with your partner only what you feel comfortable sharing. Some personal things may be discussed during your individual session time, and my job is to respect each person’s privacy to the utmost during this discernment period. If I feel that information has been shared which directly affects the discernment process, we will work on that together in your individual sessions and maintain your confidentiality. However, if the goal is to save the relationship and additional therapy is being considered, then I will encourage working toward disclosing such information so that future work on your relationship can be as successful as possible.
When is Discernment Counseling not an option for couples?
Discernment Counseling is not a viable option for couples experiencing the following:
- One person has already decided on divorce
- One person is coercing the other to participate in the process
- There is a danger of domestic violence
If we decide that we do want additional marriage counseling, are you available to continue with us?
Depending on our mutual schedules and whether all parties feel that the counseling relationship is a good fit, I am available to provide couples/marriage counseling after your Discernment Counseling sessions.
Do you take health insurance? What are your rates?
- No, I do not take health insurance. I accept debit and credit cards for payment.
- I provide you with an invoice for an out-of-network insurance reimbursement. This simply means that you pay upfront and your insurance company pays you after you send in the receipt. I am fully licensed, insured and certified.
- My rates are $130 an hour. Hardship factors and a lower rate can be discussed as needed.
Why don’t you take insurance?
- I have accepted insurance from a majority of healthcare companies and have found it to be quite frustrating with regard to paperwork, billing, and client privacy.
- Health insurance companies require some type of mental health diagnosis in order to bill for therapy. Couples that want Discernment Counseling are often in crisis or losing hope, but don’t want or need to be diagnosed within the discernment process in order to receive clarity and confidence about their situation.
- With most of the insurance companies I have billed in the past, one spouse has to agree to “being diagnosed” in order to access their health insurance. If divorce is being considered, typically neither spouse wants to be put in that position.
- Sometimes a spouse (or yourself) doesn’t want to access their employer-paid health insurance for privacy reasons.
- Discernment counseling is a brief process which reduces the financial commitment; 1-5 sessions is the recommended length of time. For people that have thought of divorce as a possibility, they could potentially save thousands of dollars by engaging in the process, in addition to reducing stress no matter what decision is made.
- My hourly rate is commensurate with reimbursement rates from private insurance companies such as BCBS, HP, and Tufts.
