Starting therapy usually begins with a conversation. You may know what you’d like help with, or you may still be trying to put it into words. Either way, we can start there.
An introductory conversation
When you contact Aspire Counseling, I’ll reply by email or phone to arrange a brief introductory conversation. We’ll usually talk for about 20 minutes, by phone or video.
This gives me a chance to learn a little about you, what’s bringing you to therapy, and what you’d like help with. It’s also a chance for you to get a sense of me—how I work, whether you feel comfortable talking with me, and whether I might be a good fit for what you’re looking for. We can talk through the practical details, and you can ask whatever questions you have.
Meeting online
My practice is fully online, so we’ll meet by video. If you’re wondering what that feels like, my Online Therapy page describes the experience, the benefits, and what helps make it work. We can also talk through any questions or concerns about meeting online during our introductory conversation.
Payment and insurance
Aspire Counseling is a private-pay practice. I don’t bill insurance directly. We’ll discuss fees during our introductory conversation so you can consider the cost before deciding whether to proceed.
At your request, I can provide an itemized receipt, sometimes called a superbill, that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Check with your insurer about your benefits and any requirements; reimbursement isn’t guaranteed.
For more about private payment, out-of-network benefits, and superbills, see Insurance and Private-Pay.
Before our first session
If you decide you’d like to move forward, I’ll send you additional information and the forms needed to begin. Once those are returned, I’ll follow up with you and we can schedule our first session.
After we’ve spoken and agreed to move forward, you can review the documents and complete the intake form below:
- Consent to Treatment — Review this document about consenting to therapy before we begin.
- Notice of Privacy Practices — Read this brief notice about privacy practices for your health information.
- New Client Intake — Please complete this form before our first session so I can prepare for our meeting and we can spend more of our time focusing on you.
For help preparing for and joining your appointment, see Your Online Therapy Session.