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Your privacy is valuable to me as a counselor. As long as you are safe – from harm to self, harm from others, or from harming someone else – I am legally obligated to keep your information as private as possible. I will legally inform you if your privacy has been compromised, but that hasn’t happened in all my years of counseling. You may give me written permission to share the information we discuss on a case by case basis in order to facilitate assistance for you (E.g. my communication with doctors/psychiatrists/partners, requests for school or health accommodations, etc).

Contrary to the stigma, or popular beliefs within our culture, mental health counseling works for all people. The truth is that we all go through, and/or have gone through, struggles that get in the way of our day-to-day lives. Whether you have faced significant trauma in your life, have been living with negative ways of thinking/acting, need to clear your head, or just vent about what you’re going through – counseling can be helpful to point out more efficient ways to see and experience things. The term “crazy” itself is a very shaming label that we need to get rid of anyway.

In counseling you will be respected just like the growing adult that you are. That means that the only time I am obligated to share anything you say with your parent(s)/guardian is if I feel you are unsafe (from harm to self or others). If we need to share anything with your adult we will discuss it first. An adult must help enroll you into counseling services. They must also ensure that you have any accommodations that you need to speak with me and to confirm that you are in a safe place while you are in session.

This is something that can be discussed with your counselor. However, the amount of sessions are completely up to you. Some people feel okay after 4 sessions, while others enjoy long term mental health check-ups with their counselor. Please note that health insurance providers may pre-determine the amount of sessions you can take part in.

Paying for counseling on your own through self-pay/cash guarantees full confidentiality. Your provider will never have to give up any information to third parties (insurance providers, third party billing entities, etc) to work together. You will also have final say on how long you would like to take part in counseling if you pay cash.

Happy Thoughts Mental Health works with third party agencies to bill for insurance claims (Alma or Headway). Your counselor will explain the process of submitting your insurance information once you have scheduled your first counseling session. You will submit your insurance information electronically to the counselor during your first consultation, or you may enter your own insurance information directly through the third party system. Your potential insurance eligibility – copayment or deductible obligations – will be sent to you before you meet for your first session.