Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the type of therapy that is provided and the nature of the presenting problems clients come to therapy with, Golden Hour Counseling requires that clients be seen weekly in order to gain the most benefit from therapy and make progress towards their goals. Once a client accomplishes their goals, if they choose to meet biweekly, they may do so.

CANCELLATION/RESCHEDULING POLICY: You are responsible for attending each appointment and keeping track of when your appointments are. By signing up for a regular time slot you are agreeing to pay for your appointment, for the duration of our therapeutic arrangement, regardless of whether you choose to attend your session.

If you cannot keep the scheduled appointment, you can “make up” for canceled appointments by rescheduling within the week before, during, or after the date of your absence, if our schedules align. Every effort will be made to find a time for you. This may mean that you have two sessions in one week. If you would like to reschedule your session, you MUST notify your therapist 24 business hours in advance, otherwise you are responsible for your full session fee and you will not be able to reschedule the canceled appointment.If you would like to cancel without rescheduling your session, you will be responsible for the full session fee.

Weekly clients are allotted four free cancellations per year which includes vacation, illness, emergencies, etc. You are not required to pay for sessions that your therapist cancels. Your therapist will make every effort to alert you of their planned time off in advance.

NO SHOW POLICY AND FEES: If you fail to show up for your appointment and do not contact your therapist, this is considered a “no show.” You will be charged the full rate for your scheduled appointment which is $225/hour unless otherwise specified. If you are 15 minutes late to a session and do not contact your therapist to let them know that you will be late, this will also be considered a no show and you will be charged the full rate of $225/hour for your scheduled appointment.

LATE ARRIVAL POLICY: Your therapist likely has another appointment following yours and may be unable to extend your session time. Your full session fee is still owed even if you are late. If your therapist is running late, they will prorate your session fee or extend your scheduled time.

If 3 appointments are missed without notice, it will be assumed that the counseling relationship has been terminated. Habitual cancellations and missed appointments will be discussed in session to re-evaluate your needs, desires, and motivations for treatment at this time. Golden Hour Counseling reserves the right to discharge you for habitual cancellations, no-shows, or late arrivals.

Yes! If you feel like we might be a good fit, please reach out for a consultation here.

We absolutely can! Faith can be incorporated in session as much or as little as a client likes. So if you do not wish to incorporate faith, there is no judgment and there are other ways that I can support you. I recommend checking the services and methods tabs for more information. You can also schedule a free consultation call here to see if we would be a good fit!

Yes! Many faiths have overlapping core values. I will also work with you to learn how your faith plays a role in your life to understand the teachings and rituals that benefit you. We can then tailor treatment including ways of coping to best suit you. You can learn more about what that would look like here.

We also do not have to incorporate faith into our sessions. It is entirely up to you and your needs! Check out my other approaches to therapy here.

Please reach out here to see if we would be a good fit!

At this time, I am only offering online therapy services. Due to state licensing regulations, online therapy sessions can only be conducted with clients who are physically located in Maryland or Virginia at the time of our session.

Our first session will consist of completing an intake. We will discuss what you’re seeking therapy for and how it has been impacting you and your goals for therapy. We will explore how your values, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and identities influence your experiences. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about therapy. This is also a time for you to gauge whether or not you think my style of therapy works for you!

There are many factors that contribute to how long therapy can take. As people, we're dynamic and it takes time to fully understand the presenting problems you're struggling with, how they impact your life, how your experiences have contributed to the problems, and working to undo ingrained negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with healthier ones. You didn't come to this point overnight. Similarly, it will take time to heal.

For those just starting I recommend meeting weekly or bi-weekly. Depending on the struggles you face, it can take time to see major changes. We will collaboratively work together to find the best fit for you, monitoring progress along the way to make sure we are on track to accomplish your goals. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have about progress and timing throughout therapy.

You have the right to end therapy at any time for any reason. I am always open to feedback as the therapy process with me is highly collaborative. I don’t take feedback personally because my priority is you. I encourage clients to communicate their needs and we can work together to find solutions. If you would like to end therapy because you don’t feel that we’re a good fit, I am more than happy to help you find someone who is. If you’re ending therapy because you aren’t sure it’s working, I’d like to talk with you about it to determine what we can do to address your concerns even if that means changing our course of action. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and discuss your thoughts! I am here to support you.

• Most plans require “preauthorization” before you can receive services. This means calling the company and justifying why you are seeking therapy in order to receive reimbursement. The insurance representative, who may or may not be a mental health professional, will decide whether services will be allowed and for how long.

• Confidentiality cannot be assured or guaranteed when an insurance company requires information to approve continued services. Personal information might be added to national medical information data banks regarding treatment.

• Insurance companies require clinicians to give a mental health diagnosis for reimbursement. Psychiatric diagnoses may negatively impact you in the following ways:

  • Denial of insurance when applying for disability or life insurance

  • Company (mis)control of information when claims are processed

  • Loss of confidentiality due to the increased number of persons handling claims

  • Loss of employment and/or repercussions of a diagnosis in situations where you may be required to reveal a mental health disorder diagnosis on your record.  This includes but is not limited to: applying for a job, financial aid, and/or concealed weapons permits.

  • A psychiatric diagnosis can be brought into a court case (i.e.: divorce court, family law, criminal, etc.).

  • Some psychiatric diagnoses are not eligible for reimbursement.

For more information, you can read more here.

You will receive an enhanced quality of care and other advantages:

• You are in control of your care, including choosing your therapist, length of treatment, etc.

• Increased privacy and confidentiality (except for limits of confidentiality). 

• Not having a mental health disorder diagnosis on your medical record. 

• Ability to work on non-psychiatric issues that are important to you that aren’t billable by insurance, such as learning how to cope with life changes, gaining more effective communication techniques for your relationships, increasing personal insight, and developing healthy new skills.