Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Therapy For Me?
- What can I Expect From Therapy?
- What Are Your Hours?
- How do I schedule an appointment with you?
- How Much Does Therapy Cost?
- What is the “Pay What You Can” Model?
- Do You Accept the Counseling Voucher Program?
- Do You Take Insurance?
- Are There Other Ways to Pay For Therapy?
- I have insurance. Why should I do private pay?
- What are your payment policies?
- What are your cancellation policies?
Is Therapy For Me?
Maybe I’m biased, but I think therapy can be for everybody and anybody. Therapy is not only an investment in yourself, but it’s an act of self-compassion and self-care that can have profound & far-reaching effects.
Therapy offers a space to confront and process through our challenges and difficult emotions, and it can give us the tools to better manage our feelings of distress. Therapy can also help us improve our ability to cope with life’s curveballs, build insight into ourselves, and create meaningful, lasting changes that help us feel connected to our most authentic selves.
That being said, therapy can be a longer-term investment, and it works best when you, the client, are invested in the process. That’s why it’s so important to find the therapist & type of therapy that works best for you.
What can I Expect From Therapy?
Our first appointment together will include a review of your history, your primary concerns, and what brings you to therapy at this time. We’ll talk about your goals for therapy, which will be reviewed regularly throughout treatment. We will review informed consent, including your rights to confidentiality, and I will answer any initial questions you may have.
Ongoing therapy sessions will be a unique experience tailored to your needs and the goals we identified together during your first session. Our sessions will likely include a blend of talk therapy (like what you see on TV), education on why your brain does what it does, learning and practicing new skills, and mindfulness work.
The length of time you’re in therapy with me will depend on a variety of things, including:
– Your financial needs
– The severity of your symptoms
– Whether you’re looking to solve a single issue or work on deeper issues
– How much time you’re able to dedicate to working on skills between sessions
When we work together, we’ll talk about your progress in therapy periodically and can adjust our plans according to your needs. If there is a specific style of treatment you’d like to engage in, let me know. If I don’t offer the type of therapy you’re looking for, I’ll work with you to find someone who does.
What Are Your Hours?
I offer teletherapy appointments at the following times:
Tuesdays: 11:30 am with the last appointment starting at 7:00 pm
Wednesdays: 8:30 am with the last appointment starting at 4:30 pm
Thursdays: 9:00 am with the last appointment starting at 4:30 pm
Fridays: 9:00 am with the last appointment starting at 4:30 pm
Please note, these times may change in the future. If you do not see a time that works for you, please contact me at carissa@thejoyfulmind.org to discuss other appointment time options.
How do I schedule an appointment with you?
I have created a client portal to assist you in scheduling an appointment with me.
For new clients, there will be some paperwork to complete prior to your appointment.
How Much Does Therapy Cost?
My scheduled fees are as follows:
– $175 for an initial intake session that is 55 minutes long
– $125 for a 55-minute individual session after the initial intake
– $200 for a 90-minute intensive individual session
– $50 for 1 hour of substance use education class for OWIs
Payments are due at the time of the appointment. Payments are accepted through the Client Portal. This is a HIPAA-approved payment system that keeps your identification information safe and private. It also allows me to keep your information on file for quick and easy payment.
What is the “Pay What You Can” Model?
The “Pay What You Can” Model (PWYC) is an amazing way to help people get the help they need from the service provider they want, without breaking the bank. For Cash-Pay (otherwise known as private-pay) clients, you have the option to CHOOSE how much you pay.
The PWYC rate is set by a simple human-to-human conversation during the initial consultation after someone reaches out about therapy. This rate offers individual therapy sessions for as low at $75 up to my full fee of $125.
Why do I do this? Simply because people need this. Some people can afford a full-fee session, while others simply cannot. Your ability to afford therapy should not stop you from helping you improve your mental health.
Do You Accept the Counseling Voucher Program?
The state of Wisconsin offers a counseling voucher program to eligible farmers and their families to receive mental health services at no cost to them. I am proud to be a participating mental health professional accepting this voucher program. To determine if you qualify for this program, please call:
1-888-901-2558
Learn more about the Farmer’s Wellness Program
Do You Take Insurance?
I do accept private pay and also can create a bill to send to your insurance company if I am out of network. I am in-network for the following insurances:
- United Health Care and UMR
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Optum
In order to use these insurances, please check out my biller, Alma
I am also in-network with the following insurances:
- Forward Health
- Security Health Plan
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
If you are planning to use any of these insurances, please email a copy of the back and front of insurance card to carissa@thejoyfulmind.org
I have insurance. Why should I do private pay?
It may be scary, but paying for therapy outside of your insurance has several benefits to you, including:
– You get to choose to work with a therapist that aligns with you, not with someone your insurance chooses
– Any mental health diagnoses made when you pay privately stay out of your medical history
– You can see a therapist as many times as you need, not just the amount your insurance company will pay for
– You get to decide if your therapy is needed versus your insurance company denying care if it isn’t “medically necessary”
– There is no fear of your insurance company denying your visit with me
I do have the ability to create a superbill you can submit to your insurance company if you would like them to reimburse you directly for your services, which still keeps your information and diagnoses between you and me.
What are your payment policies?
Payment is expected at the time of service.
I use Stripe to process payments. We will get you set up together on Stripe during your intake session. Your card information will be securely kept on file with Stripe (I will not have access to your card information). This will allow me to instantly process your payment after each session.
More on Stripe
If you are using insurance, you will be expected to provide accurate and up-to-date insurance information. If you do not, you will be responsible for the balance of your appointment.
What are your cancellation policies?
I understand life gets in the way. As people who wear multiple hats in life, animals break through fences. Hay has to get made. Vet emergencies happen. Kids get sick.
I have a 24-hour cancellation policy that allows me to meet the needs of other clients. If you need to cancel within that 24-hour window, please do so as soon as possible. If I am able to fill your original appointment time, there will be no fee charged to you. If I am unable to, there will be a $50 fee. If you do not cancel your session and do not show up to your session at the scheduled time, you will be charged the full session fee of $125.