FAQs
Which client ages and mental health concerns do you specialize in?
I specialize in counseling children, adolescents, and adults, who are experiencing anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and life transitions, as well as career and substance use concerns.
What is your professional training and experience?
I have lived in the Hill Country area of Texas most of my life. I attended and graduated with honors from Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas. After high school, I graduated with a Bachelor of Art's degree from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em Horns!). During my junior year at UT Austin, I studied abroad in Germany. After I graduated from UT Austin, I attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I graduated with my Master's degree in counseling. While I attended UTSA, I worked as a substitute teacher for elementary, middle, and high school students. After I graduated from UTSA, I worked as a high school social studies teacher and counseled children, adolescent, and adult clients in a few group private practice settings. I held several leadership positions in one of these group private practice settings, including being promoted to clinical director and the intern and hiring coordinator. In 2023, I founded Solution-Focused Counseling and Play Therapy Services, PLLC.
Which counseling theories and approaches do you use to counsel clients?
I counsel clients in Texas using a holistic and individualized approach, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, reality therapy, play therapy, sandtray therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, and other evidenced-based interventions. I help clients identify their goals and form strategies to reach them. My belief is that clients can reach their goals when they are willing to make small changes in their life, process their feelings, set healthy boundaries, and live authentically.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a counseling intervention, during which children and adolescents express their feelings, thoughts, and needs using toys, board games, expressive arts, sand tray therapy, and other creative interventions. Please watch the play therapy videos under the, "Resources" (mental health links) section of my website, in order to learn more about play therapy.
What are potential benefits of attending counseling?
Potential benefits of attending counseling include improved communication and relationships, and increased coping skills and boundaries to manage your emotions and meet your needs in healthy ways. Other benefits of therapy include increased concentration, awareness, and insight, as well as improved sleep and productivity.
Are you in-network with insurances? If so, which insurances?
Yes! I am in-network with the insurances listed below. Your insurance plan, policy, and mental health benefits will be verified (checked) before your first counseling session, in order to assess whether I am in-network with your specific insurance plan and policy. I can also provide you with a counseling service receipt, which is called a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance, if you have out-of-network insurance benefits.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
United Health Care (UHC)/Optum, including UHC's/Optum's Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
TRICARE
Oscar Health
Depending on your current health insurance provider or employee benefit plan, it is possible for mental health services to be covered in full or in part. Please contact your insurance provider to check your mental health benefits, such as whether you are responsible for paying co-pays to receive mental health services and whether there are any limitations to your mental health services. Clients are fully responsible for paying fees for mental health services, which their insurance and EAP providers might fail to pay the contracted allowable rate or deny any services as a non-covered benefit. Fees clients are responsible for, including co-payments (co-pays), deductibles, coinsurance payments, self-pay/private pay fees, and other payments, are due in-full and before the start of each counseling session. Clients are fully responsible for paying fees for mental health services, which their insurance might fail to pay the contracted allowable rate or deny any services as a non-covered benefit.
How much do counseling sessions cost, if I do not have insurance, have an out-of-network insurance policy, or do not want to use my insurance to pay for mental health services?
Counseling sessions, which usually are between 45 and 55 minutes long, are $150 per counseling session. If you have out-of-network insurance benefits, I can provide you with a counseling service receipt, which is called a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement.
What is the No Surprises Act and what is a Good Faith Estimate?
Under the No Surprises Act, clients, who do not have or use health insurance to pay for their health care, have rights to receive an estimate of how much health care items and services will cost before those items and services are provided. This estimate is called a, "Good Faith Estimate." Please let me know whether you would like to receive a, "Good Faith Estimate" for your mental health services.
Which types of payments are accepted and when are payments due?
I accept cash, checks, and all major debit cards and credit cards as forms of payment. You can choose to pay for counseling sessions using private pay (cash pay), and/or using your insurance and/or selected Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits. Fees clients are responsible for, including co-payments (co-pays), deductibles, coinsurance payments, self-pay/private pay fees, and other payments, are due in-full and before the start of each counseling session. Clients are fully responsible for paying fees for mental health services, which their insurance and EAP providers might fail to pay the contracted allowable rate or deny any services as a non-covered benefit. Fees clients are responsible for, including co-payments (co-pays), deductibles, coinsurance payments, self-pay/private pay fees, and other payments, are due in-full and before the start of each counseling session. Clients are fully responsible for paying fees for mental health services, which their insurance might fail to pay the contracted allowable rate or deny any services as a non-covered benefit.
Do you have a physical office building? Where is your office located?
Yes, I have a physical office building, where I counsel clients. My office is located at 2115 Stephens Place Suite 400 H, which is inside of the Professional Office Suites Building in New Braunfels, Texas. This building is located approximately five minutes from Buc-ees. There is a waiting room when you enter the building. Please wait in the waiting room or in your vehicle until your counseling appointment time. I will meet you in the waiting room when your appointment time starts.
Do you offer telehealth counseling sessions? Do I have to be physically located in Texas during my counseling sessions, including during my telehealth counseling sessions?
Yes, I counsel clients via telehealth and in-office in New Braunfels, Texas. Yes, you legally must be physically located in Texas during your counseling sessions. This requirement to be physically located in Texas applies to both clients, who are counseled in-office and via telehealth.
When are your counseling appointment hours?
I counsel clients during the daytime, evenings, and weekends. I will work with you to schedule counseling appointment times, which work for your schedule.
How long are counseling sessions?
Most counseling sessions are approximately 45 to 55 minutes long.
How long will I need to attend therapy?
This is a great question and a difficult question to answer. The short answer is that the length of therapy depends on several factors, including your counseling goals and how willing you are to participate in the therapeutic process. I will check-in with you during your counseling sessions to determine to what extent implemented counseling interventions are meeting your mental health goals.
How do I schedule a counseling appointment?
Please call me at 210-265-3010 to schedule a counseling appointment. Please note that this phone number is a landline phone, meaning that clients cannot text this phone number.
What paperwork do I need to complete before my first counseling session (intake session)?
After you call me to schedule a counseling appointment, I will email you a counseling informed consent form to electronically sign via DocuSign. This informed consent form must be signed before your or your child's first counseling appointment. Please note that you legally need to be physically present in Texas during all of your counseling sessions, including during your telehealth and in-office counseling sessions.
I also require clients to email me proof of their identity before I begin counseling them, in order to ensure that I am in legal compliance and to ensure the accuracy of my counseling documentation. Please email me proof of the client's identity, such as a driver's license, passport, school identification, or other legal documents to the following email address before your first counseling appointment: information@solutionfocusedcounselingtexas.com
Also, please note that I am legally required to obtain, review, and follow custody agreements, divorce decrees, court orders, power of attorney, parental termination of rights, and other legal documents (if applicable) before I begin counseling your child or adult, who you have legal guardianship of. Please email these legal documents to the following email address before your child's or adult, who you have legal guardianship of's, first counseling appointment: information@solutionfocusedcounselingtexas.com
I also can email you a counseling authorization to release information form to electronically sign via DocuSign, in order for me to coordinate care and consult with other professionals about your or your child's mental health treatment. Also, sometimes clients are concurrently (at the same time) receiving mental health treatment from more than one mental health counseling professional. Please note that you will need to sign an authorization to release information form, if you are currently receiving mental health treatment from more than one mental health counseling professional, per therapist's counseling board rules. This is beneficial to clients, as it allows both mental health counseling professionals to consul with each other and coordinate care, which can lead to improved therapy outcomes for clients.
What happens during the first counseling session (intake session)?
I will talk with you about counseling procedures and board rules, including limits of confidentiality and HIPAA privacy and security rules, at the beginning of your first counseling session with me, which is called the intake session. After I discuss these counseling procedures and board rules with you, I will ask you questions, in order to assess your mental health goals and needs. We will work together to create treatment plan goals, which are based on your mental health goals and needs.
What happens during counseling sessions, which occur after the first counseling session?
After the first counseling session with me (intake session), I work with clients to help them meet their mental health goals and needs. During clients' counseling sessions, I integrate several evidenced-based, individualized, and creative counseling interventions, including cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, reality, acceptance and commitment, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, sand tray, play therapy, and other interventions, which are determined by clients' mental health goals and needs.
What is your cancellation, no-show, and late arrival policy?
If you are unable to attend a counseling session, please make sure you cancel your counseling session by calling 210-265-3010 at least 24 hours before your scheduled counseling session begins. Please note that clients, who do not cancel their counseling sessions at least 24 hours in advance, will be charged a $100 fee. Clients, who do not show up to their counseling sessions, and clients, who are more than 15 minutes late to their counseling sessions, similarly, will be charged a $100 fee. This $100 fee must be paid in-full before clients' next counseling appointments are scheduled. Please be aware that therapist might cancel clients' appointments, if clients are more than 15 minutes late to their counseling sessions.
Am I able to receive counseling services from more than one mental health counseling provider at the same time?
Occasionally, clients are concurrently (at the same time) receiving mental health treatment from more than one mental health counseling professional. Please note that you will need to sign an authorization to release information form, if you are currently receiving mental health treatment from more than one mental health counseling professional, per therapist's counseling board rules. This is beneficial to clients, as it allows both mental health counseling professionals to consult with each other and coordinate care, which can lead to improved therapy outcomes for clients.
I and/or my child currently are experiencing an emergency, such as suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts and/or plans? Can I schedule a counseling session with you?
No. I do no provide a 24-hour crisis counseling service to clients. Therapy services I provide are not intended for crisis and urgent needs. If you and/or your child currently is experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, such as suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts and/or plans, do NOT schedule a counseling session with me, as it would be inappropriate to do so. Instead, IMMEDIATELY call 911, 988 (the national suicide and crisis phone number), and/or the police, and IMMEDIATELY check yourself and/or your child into an inpatient facility or hospital to ensure your and/or your child's safety.
What is your counseling approach regarding children and adolescents, whose parents are separated from each other, in the process of separating from each other, and/or divorced? How do I send therapist applicable legal documents, such as custody agreements, court orders, and other legal documents, in order for my child to receive counseling services?
My counseling approach is to communicate with and involve both of the child's/adolescents' parents in the client's/adolescent's mental health treatment, in order to improve therapy outcomes, facilitate communication, and remain unbiased. Please note that I am legally required to obtain, review, and follow custody agreements, divorce decrees, court orders, power of attorney, parental termination of rights, and other legal documents (if applicable) before I begin counseling your child or adult, who you have legal guardianship of. Please email these legal documents to the following email address before your child's or adult, who you have legal guardianship of's, first counseling appointment: information@solutionfocusedcounselingtexas.com
Is therapy confidential? Are there limits of confidentiality?
There are mandatory and permissive exceptions to confidentiality, per therapist's Texas Licensed Professional Counselor board rules. These limits of confidentiality apply to clients in Texas, who are counseled via telehealth, as well as in-person:
A. Therapist is required by law to report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
B. Therapist may take reasonable action to inform medical or law enforcement personnel if therapist determines there is a probability of imminent physical injury by the client to the client or others, or there is a probability of immediate mental or emotional injury to the client.
C. Therapist may be required to release clients' counseling notes to attorneys and/or to other professionals and/or to testify in court on behalf of clients, if therapist is served valid subpoenas and/or is involved in other court or legal proceedings.
D. Therapist may break confidentiality, including, but not limited to, contacting and informing medical or law enforcement personnel and clients’ emergency contacts, if client and/or other people/others are experiencing a mental health, medical, and/or other emergency, including, but not limited to, client suicidal and/or homicidal ideations and plans.
E. Therapist may break confidentiality, if client signs a release of information form directing therapist to release/disclose client’s protected health information, such as client’s counseling notes and/or client’s counseling progress, to third parties or other people (example: Client signs an authorization to release information form directing therapist to release client’s counseling notes to client’s primary care physician).
F. Therapist must report sexual misconduct per therapist's counseling board rules, if therapist has reasonable cause to suspect a client, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, or student has been the victim of sexual exploitation, sexual contact, or therapeutic deception by another licensee or a mental health provider, or if a client, Licensed Professional Associate, or student alleges sexual exploitation, sexual contact, or therapeutic deception by another licensee or a mental health services provider.
G. Occasionally, therapist may need to consult with other professionals about clients’ mental health needs and concerns, such as other mental health professionals or lawyers, in their areas of expertise, in order to provide the best treatment for clients.
Do you write Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters for clients?
I am unable to write Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters for clients, as I do not have training in animal behavior and human-animal interactions.
Do you prescribe medications for clients?
I am unable to prescribe medications for clients, as I am not a physician. You can consider making an appointment with a physician, such as a primary care doctor or a psychiatrist, if you are interested in being prescribed medication.