FAQs

Counseling has great benefits but also risks. It often involves discussing events and aspects of your life that make you feel uncomfortable, angry, lonely, sad, guilty and even helpless. That all seems like the downside. But when you persist, you can experience a life enhanced by better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant stress reduction. Each person’s experience in counseling is unique to his own circumstances. And you will find that working on the things we talk about both during sessions and at home will produce the best results. I will be there to help you explore your needs throughout the process.

That is up to you and your circumstances. A few sessions may give you the tools to move out on your own. Or you may find it helpful to continue meeting with me over several months or years. The number of sessions will be determined as we address specific needs and desires through our ongoing discussions. Sessions typically run 50 minutes each, although longer sessions can be scheduled in advance. If you have any questions, you are always free to bring them to me during your scheduled appointment.

Paperwork. Just like seeing any health professional, we will be going over intake forms and your personal information. And we will use this time and information for getting acquainted and answering your questions. At your pace, we’ll review what you’re going through and where you’re coming from, and together we will begin to set goals and a devise a treatment plan.

Client Agreement/HIPAA
Client Information Form

There are several reasons I do not accept insurance. Among them, the most important is that I want you to have the freedom to choose your own therapist and the freedom to determine the course of your counseling with my help. If you would like to pursue compensation from your insurance carrier, be aware that I always provide my clients with a monthly statement.

Because I want to work with you, please don’t hesitate to call me for current fee information. You’ll find my fees comparable to others in the St. Louis area. Presently, I accept payment in cash, by check or VENMO, paid at the beginning of each session. I offer a 20% discount to qualifying clergy, seminarians, ministry staff, U.S. military, veterans, and first responders.

Please change or cancel any scheduled appointment by 2pm the day before to avoid full payment. If you do not show up to your scheduled appointment, you will be charged in full, unless otherwise agreed upon prior to the appointment. Please be aware that non-payment at time of service may result in cessation of future service.

Confidentiality is crucial to providing effective counseling, building a solid working alliance. It is vital for the information you freely discuss with me be held safely and securely. To that end, I keep all my notes only on paper in a locked file in my locked office. Under the code of ethics for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Psychologists, Protected Health Information (PHI), particularly information shared in the therapy session, is strictly confidential and will not be disclosed without your written authorization. There are reasonable circumstances of exception, but we will go over these before we get started.

For those who want to experience a richer presence with God, I offer a service commonly called Spiritual Direction. It’s simply one person helping another prayerfully pay attention to God, His voice, and His sanctifying work in our lives. It is Trinitarian, Christocentric, and grace-based. Our sessions will include conversations about all the “stuff of life”, seeking to notice God’s providential invitation to abide with Him in the midst of it all.