Frequently Asked Questions

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Therapy is a valuable tool where you collaborate with our therapists in a safe and supportive environment to address personal, relational, or family concerns. It provides space to explore and work through beliefs, behaviors, emotions, and relationship challenges that may feel troubling. Taking the step to connect with our team marks a significant stride toward understanding your authentic self and moving toward a healthier, more mindful life.

No matter what obstacles life presents, therapy with us can support you in navigating challenges, breaking unhelpful patterns, healing unresolved trauma, and achieving your personal goals. Together, we’ll foster a deeper understanding of your concerns, enhance mindfulness, and nurture self-awareness.

Our role is not to give quick advice but to walk alongside you in your journey of self-discovery. With your openness and willingness to engage in the process, we can create a path toward growth, clarity, and greater self-compassion as we move forward together.

Therapy serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their well-being and navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. It provides a supportive space to develop practical skills for managing daily stressors while also fostering deeper insight into personal experiences. Whether your goal is to strengthen self-esteem, process and heal from past traumas, or simply gain a renewed perspective on life, therapy offers an empowering pathway for individuals from all walks of life. 

An intake is the first step in beginning your therapeutic journey with R&T. During this initial meeting, your therapist will take time to get to know you—gathering information about your background, current concerns, and goals for therapy. This conversation helps us better understand your unique needs while creating a foundation of trust and collaboration.

In your intake session, you can expect to talk about your personal history, current challenges, and any previous experiences with therapy. Your therapist will also share their approach, explain confidentiality and boundaries, and answer any questions you may have.

By the end of the intake, you’ll have a clearer picture of how therapy with R&T can support you, and together we’ll set the stage for meaningful progress in future sessions.

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

What you work on in therapy depends on the concerns you bring. Your treatment is personalized and focuses on the areas of life most important to you. Whether the focus is on yourself, your relationships, or your children, we’ll work together to identify your goals and create a plan that supports meaningful growth and healing.

Common concerns therapy at R&T can help with include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Self-Esteem, Autonomy, and Confidence
• Emotional Healing and Regulation
• Anger Management
• Trauma and Grief
• Relational Patterns
• Identity Development or Rediscovery
• Boundary Setting
• Communication Skills
• Peer and Family Relationships
• Perfectionism
• Academic and Career Challenges
• 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?

At R&T, we are committed to making high-quality therapy accessible, regardless of financial circumstances. We offer a limited number of sliding scale and reduced-rate sessions to help ensure care is within reach.

If you’re interested in exploring these options, please complete our contact form, and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with more 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 R&T, we believe in prioritizing thorough and intentional care for every client. While we understand the appeal of free 15-minute consultations, we have chosen not to offer them. In our experience, such brief sessions do not provide enough time to fully understand your needs or begin building a meaningful therapeutic relationship.

Instead, we dedicate ample time during intake sessions to comprehensively explore your concerns, goals, and personal history. This approach allows us to lay a strong foundation for effective therapy while ensuring you feel heard and supported from the very beginning.

To help you prepare, we invite you to watch our therapist introduction videos online. These provide a glimpse into our team’s approach and expertise, giving you the opportunity to connect with a therapist who feels like the right fit before your intake.

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

At R&T, intake sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes, while regular therapy sessions are 50 minutes.

During your intake, we’ll work together to identify your unique goals for therapy. These may include reducing symptoms, making positive behavioral changes, improving communication, strengthening relationships, or building new coping skills. From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to guide your therapeutic journey.

As therapy progresses, your goals may shift—and that’s okay. We’ll revisit and refine them along the way through open discussion, ensuring the process stays aligned with your needs. Our therapeutic approach will always be tailored to you, and we welcome your questions and feedback at any stage.

The frequency and duration of therapy is a collaborative decision. Together, we’ll regularly review your progress and determine when your goals have been met. At that point, we’ll schedule final sessions to celebrate your growth, reflect on your journey, and create a plan to maintain your well-being moving forward.

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

At R&T, our therapy services are designed to support individuals aged 16 and older across a wide range of needs and concerns. While this is our primary focus, we also understand the importance of providing care for adolescents who may benefit from specialized support.

Several of our therapists have expertise in working with adolescents and are equipped to address the unique challenges they face. Availability for adolescent therapy may vary depending on scheduling and demand.

If you are seeking therapy for an adolescent, please let us know. We will share up-to-date information on therapist availability and work with you to determine how we can best support their needs.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of therapy and is protected by law to safeguard the privacy of all communications between you and your therapist. Information from your sessions will only be released to others outside the therapeutic relationship with your explicit written permission.

However, there are specific exceptions where your therapist may be legally or ethically required to share information:

1. Safety Concerns – If there is a belief that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or others, your therapist may take steps to ensure safety.
    
2. Abuse or Neglect – If you disclose information that a minor, elderly, or disabled person is being abused or neglected, your therapist is mandated by law to report it.
    
3. Legal Requirements – In the event of a court order, legal proceeding, or investigation by a municipal, state, or federal agency, your therapist may be required to release information.
    
4. Professional Defense – If you file a lawsuit or complaint against your therapist regarding your therapy, confidential information may be used as part of their defense.
    
5. Written Authorization – If you provide written consent, your therapist will comply with your request to share information.
    
6. Electronic Communications – While R&T avoids using unsecured methods like email or cell phone calls for clinical information, please be aware that if you choose these forms of communication, your privacy may be compromised.
    

At R&T, we take confidentiality seriously and are committed to protecting your privacy throughout the therapeutic process. If you have questions or concerns about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with your therapist.

Yes, we provide virtual therapy sessions, offering convenience and accessibility through secure online platforms. With encrypted video conferencing technology, you can engage in therapy from the comfort of your home—or anywhere with reliable internet—while maintaining the same level of confidentiality and effectiveness as in-person sessions.

Since the pandemic, R&T has transitioned to a fully virtual private practice. For the comfort and safety of both our clients and clinicians, we will continue to operate virtually until further notice.

While virtual therapy provides the same therapeutic interventions and insights as in-person sessions, the overall experience may feel different—and often offers unique advantages.

With a stable internet connection and the use of privacy-enhancing headphones, you can join sessions from a setting that feels most comfortable to you—whether that’s at home, while traveling, or even during a walk with your dog. This flexibility removes the need for commuting and makes therapy more accessible in the flow of your daily life.

Virtual therapy also expands your options. You can work with any R&T therapist licensed in your home state, giving you continuity of care even if your schedule changes or you relocate.

Though the format may feel different at first, telehealth often enhances the therapy experience by combining effectiveness with convenience. To learn more, we invite you to explore our article on the benefits of virtual therapy.

At R&T, our team is composed of culturally competent therapists who carefully consider the biological, psychological, and environmental factors that shape each client’s experience. We approach every individual with sensitivity and respect, fully aware of the profound impact that racism, systemic inequities, and historical trauma can have on mental health. We also recognize the importance of choosing a therapist who can genuinely understand and relate to your lived experiences.

Therapy at R&T is not only about addressing immediate challenges—it’s about cultivating empowerment, confidence, and a deeper sense of purpose. Our goal is to help you embrace your worth and live with greater intentionality. Many of our clients share that through therapy with us, they’ve discovered a lasting sense of peace and clarity that extends into every area of their lives.

At R&T, we understand that life can be unpredictable and that situations may arise requiring you to change or cancel an appointment. To ensure that we can best serve all of our clients and respect everyone’s time, we ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice for any rescheduling or cancellations.

If notice is not provided within 24 hours, or if you do not attend your scheduled session, a $75 cancellation fee will apply.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this policy, as it allows us to continue offering consistent, quality care to all of our clients.

At R&T, we are more than a mental health and wellness practice—we are a supportive sanctuary dedicated to holistic healing. Our approach is rooted in understanding the unique experiences of women of color and creating a nurturing environment where they can navigate and overcome emotional challenges. Through individual counseling, workshops, and integrative wellness offerings, our clients gain access to resources that support both mind and body healing.

We recognize the distinct hurdles women of color face and the importance of working with a therapist who truly understands those experiences. For example, research shows that postpartum depression affects mothers of color at significantly higher rates, yet Hispanic and Black women continue to access mental health care at much lower rates than their White counterparts. At R&T, we are committed to helping shift these statistics by providing compassionate, culturally responsive care that empowers women of color to embrace their strength, honor their stories, and rise boldly.

R&T has a 24/7 call-forwarding system at 267-323-4713 where you can reach a representative for scheduling, billing, or general concerns. Please note that these representatives are not therapists, and this line is not an emergency or crisis service.

If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room right away. You may also contact your local hospital or police department for immediate assistance.

For additional support and crisis resources, visit: PA Care Partnership – Crisis and Hotlines, or dial the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate nationwide help.

Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. Please do not wait to seek emergency support if you are in crisis.