Out-of-pocket costs vary depending upon whether services are paid for privately or whether health insurance coverage is available. Health insurance plan particulars, such as deductibles, co-pays and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) benefits also help determine the fees paid for services. Current fees are listed elsewhere on this web page in the Client Information Sheet under the Forms and Questionnaires heading. Please contact me with any questions about fees or insurance coverage.

In many cases counseling fees will be partially or entirely covered by insurance although benefits vary significantly amongst policies. If requested, I can also provide assistance with your insurance benefit inquiry. I am an in-network provider for the following insurance plans:

Aetna
Auxiant
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Bright Health
Medica (group plans only)
Medicaid
Medicare
Midlands Choice
Qual Choice
Tricare
UMR
United HealthCare

I am not an in-network provider for Medica CHI.

Many plans also offer out-of-network benefits, and I can submit claims on your behalf to access these. In addition, employer HSA accounts can often be used as a financial resource.

The typical counseling session is about an hour (53-60 minutes) although different sessions lengths may be scheduled according to client preference.

An initial phone consultation is offered without charge to introduce potential clients and explain my services and the benefits of counseling. In addition, I offer telehealth counseling through a secure online audiovisual platform. This service is available for patients in select circumstances, in particular, for those who are outside Nebraska, who live in remote locations or who have major physical limitations. I hold an Interjurisdictional license in psychology that authorizes me to practice telehealth therapy across state lines.

At the time of this writing, all major insurance plans cover telehealth. Before scheduling telehealth, clients are advised to confirm whether it continues to be a covered benefit under their plan.

1) It is important to understand that marriage and family therapy starts with an assessment of both the relationships amongst family members and the mental health of each participating person. In order to accomplish this, I usually meet separately with each family member before conducting a session involving everyone.

2) Marriage and family therapy is about changing the dynamics created over time. Therefore, I collect family history through written questionnaires as well as from face-to-face sessions.

3) Working towards change may involve experiencing difficult and intense feelings, some of which may at times be painful, in order to reach therapeutic goals.

4) Marriage and family therapy will almost always involve change on the part of everyone and will not be the exclusive responsibility of one individual.

5) It will be helpful to discuss and evaluate both the benefits and costs of changes before they are undertaken.

6) Therapy sessions should not be used as a time for dumping all the gripes of the past week.

7) It is best if each person seeks to be succinct in presenting thoughts and feelings so as to give everyone a chance to participate.

8) There will be times when I may appear to play favorites by challenging one person to make changes. When this happens, remember that everyone will be asked to make changes eventually, even if only one person is being asked to make a change at any given moment.

9)  At times it may be helpful for me to see one individual or to alternate between individual or group sessions as part of counseling.

10) I will not keep secrets. If a secret is shared, I will work with the secret holder to share information with the family that is needed to further therapeutic goals.

11) Please remember that I am providing counseling and not legal services, legal advice being outside my scope of practice. If professional evaluation or testimony is requested for matters such as disability claims, divorce proceedings, or child custody recommendations, I will make an appropriate referral.