Frequently Asked Questions

---

Therapy is a valuable tool where you collaborate with a therapist in a safe environment to address personal, relational, or family issues. It offers a space to explore and tackle beliefs, behaviors, feelings, and relationship challenges that have been troubling. Taking the step to find a therapist marks a significant stride toward understanding your authentic self and striving for a healthier, more mindful life.

Regardless of life's obstacles, therapy can assist in navigating challenges, breaking undesirable habits, processing and healing unresolved trauma, or achieving personal goals. It fosters a deeper comprehension of concerns, enhances mindfulness, and promotes self-awareness. My role is not to provide advice but to accompany you on your journey of self-discovery.

Your openness and willingness to engage in the process will pave the way for growth, understanding, and increased self-compassion as we journey together.

Therapy serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to enhance their well-being and navigate life's challenges more effectively. It offers an opportunity to develop essential skills for managing daily stressors while also providing valuable insights into personal experiences. Whether you're looking to improve self-esteem, address past traumas, or simply gain a fresh perspective on life, therapy is a supportive and empowering option for individuals from all walks of life.

An intake is the initial meeting between a client and their therapist. During this session, the therapist gathers comprehensive information about the client's background, current concerns, and therapeutic goals. It's a crucial step in establishing a therapeutic relationship and understanding the client's needs. The intake session typically involves discussing the client's personal history, current symptoms or challenges, and any previous experiences with therapy. Additionally, the therapist may explain their approach to therapy, discuss confidentiality and boundaries, and address any questions or concerns the client may have. Overall, the intake session sets the stage for the therapeutic journey ahead by laying the foundation for future sessions and treatment planning.

Please email Alesia at billing@randtcounseling.com with any concerns about your insurance or bill.

This answer depends on the concerns you bring to therapy. Your unique treatment will focus on the areas of your life you'd like to work on. Whether we are focusing on yourself, your relationship, or your children, we will identify your concerns and create a plan to address your concerns. Common concerns therapy can help with: - Depression- Anxiety- Self-Esteem / Autonomy / Confidence- Emotional Healing and Regulation  - Anger Management- Trauma / Grief- Adaptive Relational Patterns- Developing, or Redeveloping Identity Concerns- Boundary Concerns- Communication- Peer and Family Relational Concerns- Concerns with Perfectionism- Academic and Career Issues- Life Transitions and Adjustments- Perinatal Mental Health

Yes.

Insurance Accepted:

• Aetna
• Independence Blue Cross
• Highmark
• Cigna
• Magellan
• Optum
• United Health Care
• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield 
• Geisinger Health Plan
• Quest Behavioral Health

(You will be responsible for your co-pay)

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan.

To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• If not one of the insurances listed above, ask: What is my coverage for an out-of-network provider
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions per year does my plan cover?
• What is my deductible, and has it been met?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

We are dedicated to making high-quality therapeutic services accessible to everyone, irrespective of financial constraints. We do offer a limited number of sliding scale and reduced-rate sessions. To learn more about our sliding scale options, please fill out our contact form, and we'll be happy to provide further details.

Full payment is charged the morning of your appointment. 

We accept the following forms of payments: 

Most major credit cards, HSA, and Health Care FSA. 

At RTC, we believe in prioritizing thorough care for our clients. While we understand the appeal of free 15-minute consultations, we have opted not to offer them. Our experience has shown that such brief sessions do not allow sufficient time to truly understand your needs or establish a meaningful therapeutic relationship.

Instead, we allocate ample time for intake sessions to ensure we can comprehensively address your concerns and goals. We believe in taking the time to listen and understand your unique situation, laying the groundwork for effective therapy.

To help you prepare for your intake session, we encourage you to watch our therapist videos online. This will provide you with insights into our approach and expertise, allowing you to come to the session with any questions or topics you'd like to discuss.

Your well-being is our priority, and we are committed to providing you with the support and care you deserve throughout your therapeutic journey.

Intake sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes, while regular therapy sessions are 50 minutes in duration.

During our time together, we will collaboratively establish specific therapy goals tailored to your needs, which may include symptom reduction, behavioral modifications, enhanced communication, and interpersonal skills development. Together, we will devise a treatment plan to guide our therapeutic journey. As therapy progresses, these goals may evolve, and we will adjust them accordingly through ongoing discussion and renegotiation.

The therapeutic approach employed will be tailored to your individual needs, and we encourage you to voice any questions or concerns you may have.

Determining the duration and frequency of therapy sessions is a collaborative decision made as we work towards achieving your goals. As we progress, we will jointly assess your progress and determine when your treatment goals have been met. At this point, we will schedule final sessions to review your progress and develop a plan to help safeguard your well-being and relationships from future distress.

Your journey towards healing and growth is our priority, and we are here to support you every step of the way.

Our therapy services are designed to support individuals aged 16 and above, encompassing a diverse range of needs and concerns. While our primary focus is on this age group, we also recognize the importance of catering to adolescents who may require specialized care. We have therapists within our team who specialize in working with adolescents, understanding the unique challenges they face and providing tailored support.

However, it's important to note that therapist availability for adolescent therapy may vary based on demand and scheduling. If you are interested in therapy for adolescents, please don't hesitate to inform us. We will make every effort to promptly update you on therapist availability and discuss how we can best support the needs of the adolescent in question.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of therapy and is upheld by law to protect the privacy of all communications between you and your therapist. Your therapist can only release information about your therapy sessions to others outside the therapeutic relationship with your explicit written permission.

However, there are a few exceptions to this rule:

1. If there is a belief that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others, your therapist may be required to take action to ensure safety.

2. If you disclose information indicating that a minor, elderly, or disabled person is being abused or neglected, your therapist is obligated by law to report this information to the appropriate authorities.

3. In cases where a court order, legal proceeding, or investigation by a municipal, state, or federal agency requires disclosure of your information, your therapist is obligated to comply with the law.

4. If you file a lawsuit or complaint against your therapist related to your therapy, your therapist may use confidential information to defend themselves.

5. If you waive your rights to confidentiality or provide written authorization to disclose information, your therapist will comply with your request.

6. It's important to note that communications via computers with limited security/control, such as email or telephone conversations via cell phone, may compromise your privacy. While your therapist will not use these methods of communication for clinical information, if you choose to do so, privacy could be compromised.

At RTCC, we take confidentiality seriously and prioritize protecting your privacy throughout the therapeutic process. If you have any questions or concerns about confidentiality, please don't hesitate to discuss them with your therapist.

Yes, we provide virtual therapy sessions for clients, offering convenience and accessibility through secure online platforms. With secure video conferencing technology, clients can engage in therapy from any location with internet access, ensuring confidentiality and effectiveness similar to in-person sessions.

Since the pandemic RTCC has transitioned to a virtual private practice. For the comfort & safety of our clinicians, RTCC will remain a virtual practice until further notice.

When considering virtual therapy, it's important to understand that while you'll receive the same therapeutic interventions and insights, the overall experience may differ. Telehealth offers unique advantages that traditional in-person therapy may not provide.

With a stable internet connection and privacy-enhancing headphones, you can engage in sessions from various comfortable settings – whether it's walking your dog, relaxing at home, or even while traveling. This flexibility is a significant benefit of virtual therapy, as it allows you to access therapy sessions conveniently without the need for commuting.

Furthermore, virtual therapy expands your options by enabling you to see any therapist licensed to practice in your home state. This flexibility means you can continue working with the same therapist if you relocate or experience changes in your work schedule.

While the process of Telehealth may feel different, it offers several benefits that enhance the therapy experience. For more information on the advantages of virtual therapy, check out our article on the subject.

Absolutely. Our team comprises culturally competent therapists who meticulously consider the interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors in every therapeutic encounter. We approach each client with sensitivity, recognizing the pervasive impact of racism and historical trauma on mental health. We understand that choosing a therapist who can relate to your unique experiences is crucial.

At our practice, therapy goes beyond addressing immediate concerns. It’s about fostering a sense of purpose and empowerment, enabling you to embrace newfound confidence and worthiness. Many of our clients report experiencing a profound sense of peace and learning to live with greater intentionality through our therapeutic interventions.”

Our Cancellation Policy:

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, requiring changes to scheduled appointments. To ensure efficient appointment scheduling and respect for everyone's time, we kindly request a minimum of 24-hour notice for any rescheduling or cancellations.

Should you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, we ask that you notify us at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to provide sufficient notice or non-attendance may result in a cancellation fee of $75. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to our cancellation policy.

At RTCC, we're more than just a mental health and wellness community – we're a supportive sanctuary dedicated to holistic healing. Our approach centers on understanding the unique experiences of women of color and providing a nurturing environment where they can navigate and overcome emotional challenges. Through individual counseling, workshops, and massage therapy, our clients access comprehensive mind and body healing resources.

We recognize the distinct hurdles faced by women of color and the importance of finding a therapist who truly understands those challenges. For instance, postpartum depression affects new mothers of color at significantly higher rates compared to other groups. However, the disparity in mental health treatment access persists, with Hispanic and Black women receiving care at much lower rates than their White counterparts. At RTCC, we aim to shift these statistics and empower women of color to embrace their strength and beauty as they rise boldly.

While we strive to check our voicemail regularly, there may be times when we are unavailable during moments of crisis. If you find yourself in a medical or psychiatric emergency, we urge you to seek immediate assistance by contacting your local hospital, police department, or dialing 9-1-1.

For additional support and resources, we recommend visiting the following website: https://www.pacarepartnership.org/resources/crisis-and-hotlines. Alternatively, you can always reach out to emergency services by dialing 911. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we encourage you to seek help promptly in times of crisis.