Frequently Asked Questions

---

This is a question that only you can answer for yourself. Consider the fact that you are already here and asking this question as an indicator that you are desiring to take a step toward positive change. Counseling is for anybody and everybody. As a 'rule', if an issue is interfering with the ability to enjoy life, feel whole, complete tasks, reach goals, or thrive at work, school or home, it is worth exploring the option of therapy. If you are questioning whether "things have gotten bad enough" to warrant therapy, know that many clients reflect that in hindsight they wish they had not waited so long to begin counseling. That being said, the choice is always yours. If you still feel unsure, we offer free 15-minute phone consultations. 

The short answer is: it depends! We look at you or your family member as a whole person, not a diagnosis or problem.  What therapy will look like for a client depends upon their needs and goals (As you can imagine, an eight-year old child's needs in therapy will not be the same as an adult couple's). 

However, some factors are universal. The first session will be an intake session, and will run about 70 minutes-- longer than subsequent sessions. The intake session focuses on gathering information, answering your questions, reviewing confidentiality, and completing initial paperwork. It's also a chance for you to consider if we might be a good fit for you and your needs. All sessions are in-office, and typically 50 minutes in length, although this can be tailored to the be shorter for younger clients as needed. 

A last note... Unfortunately, so much of what is portrayed of counseling on TV and in movies gives an inaccurate portrayal of what you should see in an ethically sound, legitimate therapy session.  We encourage you to always feel free to ask questions, not only in the intake session, but throughout the therapy process. We always wish to empower our clients and their families.

Our therapists work with clients ages six and up, but have special expertise in working with children and adolescents, and adults with a history of adverse childhood experiences. In terms of diagnoses, the most common issues we see for individual counseling include: anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and trauma-related disorders such as PTSD, dissociative disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder.

Wells Family Counseling accepts Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, AETNA, and Cigna insurance, and private pay clients. We also have some ability to work with EAPs. For clients without insurance, we have a sliding scale for our fees to ensure greater accessibility to quality care. 

There are several benefits to private pay therapy, including:

•You choose the therapist best suited to your needs rather than the insurance company telling you who to see.

•You have flexibility in the type of therapy, who to include in the therapy session, and the length of services.

•You or your child won’t be required to be labeled with a mental health diagnosis unless you request this type of assessment.  

•You will have complete confidentiality.  Your records will not be shared with anyone without your permission.  In fact, no one else will know you are in therapy unless you choose to tell them. 

•You won’t have to worry that your health records will be included in the MIB and create problems for you or your child in the future.

•You will be able to stay with your therapist even if your insurance plan coverage changes. 

We do have a waiting list right now for most of our therapists. We are working on hiring additional therapists, but in the meantime, we appreciate your patience.

We often get asked for updates and estimates of how long it will take to get an appointment. Unfortunately, this is challenging to predict -- there's no real formula for client turnover. We will never push our clients out the door or rush them to discharge us before they're ready to conclude therapy, and everyone's journey is unique. We will always hold dedicated space in our calendars for our current clients until they're ready to step away or see us less frequently, and we don't always know when that will be. The upside of this is that once you are scheduled for your first appointment with us, you will never find yourself in a situation where you have to wait for weeks or months for your second appointment.

The other challenge is that not all of our therapists serve the same populations. There's some crossover, and if you are in a population that multiple therapists serve, you may get in more quickly than someone who's waiting for a specialization that's offered by only one therapist. Being on the waiting list may actually mean you're on several waiting lists for each of our therapists, but you might only be on the list for one member of our staff who offers what you're looking for. We will always try to make it clear if our availability for your needs is limited.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been empirically shown to be highly effective in treating a wide range of symptoms and disorders through teaching clients skills designed to increase mindfulness, regulate emotions more effectively, handle distress, and improve relationships.
Although it is not the exclusive treatment modality used at Wells Family Counseling, we believe DBT can be an extremely powerful tool, and we can provide continuity of care to clients who have received DBT in the past and would like to continue with a DBT-trained therapist. Erin has received certified training through the Linehan Institute, and has experience working within an exclusively DBT agency setting. 

Yes!  We offer telehealth counseling through Doxy.me, a HIPAA-compliant online platform for health practitioners.