Are you taking new clients?
When my caseload is full, and I am unable to accept new clients, there will be a black notification bar posted at the top of this website, and my contact form will also mention that there are no appointments available. Please note that I do not keep a wait-list when my caseload is full.
If I am accepting new clients, and you would like to know my availability, please visit the Contact page and open the contact form to see what appointment slots I have available.
Unfortunately, I am only able to offer telehealth at this time because the demand for remote therapy has increased to such a degree over the years that it became unfeasible to keep a physical office space and continue offering in-person as well.
Is therapy in-person or VIRTUAL?
I am not accepting insurance at this time; however, if you have insurance and would still like to work with me, I can provide you with a superbill, so you can seek reimbursement from your insurance provider. Please keep in mind that the extent of reimbursement will depend on whether or not I am credentialed with your insurance provider, and it will be subject to the terms and conditions of your specific insurance plan.
Do you accept insurance?
There are different levels of mental health care, ranging from residential treatment (inpatient) to private practice (outpatient), and what type of care you need is based upon your level of functioning. Private practice is for people who are able to meet the requirements of this level of care: attending appointments regularly, a willingness to change and apply what you learn outside of therapy, and the ability to maintain safety around yourself and others.
Is private practice the right level of care for me?
This depends on what type of therapy experience you are looking for; how open, honest, and engaged you are in sessions; how consistent you are with attending therapy; how much you apply outside of therapy; the severity and complexity of your issues; and the amount of areas you would like to work on. Generally speaking, clients tend to work with me for six months to one year. Although, some clients choose to work with me for longer, if they are looking for ongoing maintenance, support, and growth throughout life’s ups and downs or looking to keep a comfortable space to continue expressing and processing their lives.
How long will i need therapy?
Why is therapy so expensive?
This is considered a taboo question to ask or answer, but, as someone who has been on both sides of therapy, I believe it is important to know the value of the service you are paying for, especially when you are entrusting someone with your health.
Becoming a clinical mental health counselor and maintaining licensure requires an ongoing investment of money and time. Below is a breakdown estimate of what that might look like.
Licensed professional Counselor Expenses
(Independent Contractor)
Bachelor’s Degree
$20,000+ (+student loan interest)
Master’s Degree
$30,000+ (+student loan interest)
Supervision (4 years of supervision required in order to obtain full licensure)
$9,000
Liability Insurance
$360+ per year
Ethical and Legal Consultation
$500 - $1,500 per year
Continuing Education (required in order to maintain licensure)
$500+ per year
Credentials
$200 (+renewal fees)
Certifications/Specialty Training
$500 - $1,500+ each
Professional Memberships
$300+ per year
Insurance Panels (if accepting insurance)
$250+ per insurance provider
Medical Biller (if accepting insurance)
$6,000+ per year
Business Start-Up Costs
$15,000+
Annual Business Expenses
$1,000 or $20,000+
(This depends on whether the therapist has their own private practice or works under a clinical director.)
Unpredictable and Inconsistent Income
Therapists get paid by the session and are not hourly or salaried employees, so a therapist’s paycheck fluctuates as a result of the seasons, holidays, cancellations, online visibility, client’s lives, etc.
No Benefits
None of the following: health insurance, sick time, paid time off, holidays, 401K, etc.
Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Ethical Limits
For this reason, it is unhealthy and unethical for a therapist to overload their caseload in order to make more money.
Taxes
12% or 22% of earnings per year
If a therapist makes $45,000/year, they keep $39,600. (12% tax bracket)
If a therapist makes $81,000/year, they keep $63,180. (22% tax bracket)
(These examples of income are without any of the expenses listed above taken out.)
Licensed Professional Counselor Income
(Independent Contractor)
If a therapist works under a clinical director…
The average split offered by a company is 60/40, which means the therapist receives 60% of what the client and/or insurance company pays.
If a therapist does not work under a clinical director…
A therapist earns the entire self-pay or insurance rate.
For most of my life, I struggled with chronic and severe mental/physical illness. I sought help from many health professionals, but I was met with either skepticism and invalidation, or they just did not know how to help me. It seemed as though I had tried everything to find relief or a cure--every medicine under the sun, supplements, therapy, surgery, herbs, acupuncture, energy healing, salt baths, infrared sauna, etc.—but nothing worked. Finally, I decided to take charge of my own health by educating and experimenting on myself, and, through my own journey, I gained the knowledge I needed to empower myself and live a healthier, happier life. This also gave me the ability to delve deeper into the internal, psychological work that I desperately needed, and my world began to open up. Needless to say, I chose this career path, so I could provide others with the help I could not find, and I continue to commit to my own personal and professional learning, growth, and transformation for both myself and my clients.
What made you decide to become a therapist?
Since I am only licensed in the state of Georgia, I can only work with Georgia residents, and I cannot work with clients when they are physically outside of state lines; however, this will change as a result of the Counseling Compact. This is an interstate compact estimated to go into effect in 2025 that will allow counselors to practice in other compact member states without needing multiple licenses. To check on the progress of the compact, please visit the Counseling Compact website.
Since last checking, these are the states that have legislation pending:
Pennsylvania
And these are the states that have no active legislation:
Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Texas
All other states have enacted legislation and will be participating.