Question 1

Rates & Payment

Accepted Answer

We provide affordable counseling, including telehealth, at Florida Residents. Rates vary depending on the service and provider requested.  Our rates range from $50 to $177 per session. If you would like more information regarding rates, please contact us directly at 772.361.8448 or email: hello@travelinglightcounseling.com.   OUT-OF-NETWORK REIMBURSEMENTS Depending on your specific plan, you may be able to file a claim for reimbursement with your insurance company.   Payment for services may be made by cash, debit or check to Traveling Light Counseling. A receipt will be provided upon request only.  You may also use your HSA to pay for counseling services and Bringing Home Baby Workshops.   GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE NOTICE Under the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133 - effective January 1, 2022), you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill at least $400 more than your GFE, you may dispute or appeal the bill.  You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the GFE. You may ask them to update the bill to match the GFE, negotiate the bill, or ask if financial assistance is available.  You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about four months) of the date on the original bill.  There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this GFE. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.    Note: A Good Faith Estimate is for your awareness only and does not require immediate financial commitment or payment.  To learn more, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059. Keep a copy of this Good Faith Estimate in a safe place or take pictures of it. You may need it if you receive a bill in a higher amount. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out.

Question 2

Do you take my Insurance?

Accepted Answer

We are a private practice that is considered an out-of-network provider. What that means is that you will pay for sessions and seek reimbursement from your insurance. Depending on your plan you may receive full, partial, or no reimbursement, so we recommend you contact your insurance about your plan.  Also, if we can participate with your insurance, we'd love to, just let us know how to best help you! ​ What to ask them: Ask them about your out-of-network benefits?   What is my deductible?  Why is this important?  Because if your deductible is $2,500 that means that if you see a counselor in-network from the limited list your insurance approves, you will pay the first $2,500 and that person will have to give you a diagnosis that will stay on your permanent record. Or you can choose your therapist and pay out of pocket. Does that make sense? ​ What to expect from us: Assistance in any way possible sorting through the in and out's of insurance. Assistance in contacting your insurance. Submitting bills to insurance (when possible) Giving you receipts to submit for reimbursement.   We DO NOT accept Medicare, Medicaid, Florida KidCare, MediKids, Florida Health Kids or Children's Medical Services (CMS)

Question 3

Should I use my health insurance to pay for therapy/counseling?

Accepted Answer

This is a very personal choice that only you can make, however one effective way to making choices is examining the pros and cons regarding that decision.  Below are a few pros and cons to using your health insurance for therapy.     Pros: Depending on your coverage, you will either pay for a portion of your sessions, the entire amount, or will at least apply the amount towards a deductible you currently have.   Whether you are self-employed or work for an employer, you effectively pay a lot of money to have health insurance and it may make sense to get the most out of your benefit package by using insurance for therapy.   Allows you access to mental health services you otherwise could not afford. Cons: There are many circumstances in which you might want to keep the fact that you are in treatment, as well as any information about that treatment, completely private between you and your therapist. In order to qualify for benefits you must surrender a level of confidentiality to the insurance company that would otherwise remain between you and your therapist. Since the insurance company pays, they have a right to audit clinical records on you and have access to all of your information.  They do this to ensure that a therapist is not committing insurance fraud, providing appropriate services to the given diagnosis and for quality assurance.  However, what they do with that information is unknown, and a therapist has no control over how they use it once it is in their hands. In order for insurance to reimburse your treatment you will receive a mental health diagnosis that goes in your permanent medical record.  There is some level of concern that mental health diagnoses can be used to deny life insurance, jobs or viewed as pre-existing conditions allowing a future insurer to deny coverage.  Insurance policies often limit the number of sessions you are allowed to attend each year.  They may or may not authorize more sessions based on what they determine is a “medical necessity”.  Your therapist will have little say in this decision and making your case may involve a lot of paperwork and footwork on your part. Employers often change insurance companies to save money.  You may form a bond with your therapist only to find out that he or she is not a provider on your new plan. They determine modality of therapy.  i.e. if your interested in Telemental Health(phone, video therapy) you will not be able to utilize that service if your insurance does not authorize or deem necessary.

Question 4

What is your Cancellation Policy?

Accepted Answer

Please familiarize yourself with are late cancel/no show policy.   We prioritize our clients by holding space for each person we see. When clients cancel an appointment, our clinicians offer that space to other clients who need an appointment that week.    When clients cancel within 24-hours or no show, other clients miss out on an opportunity to be seen. If you would like to cancel an appointment, we ask that you do so with your therapist with at least 24-hour notice via the the client portal or phone.    Anyone canceling an appointment with less than a 24-hour notice will be charged the full session fee ($125 for individuals,  $165-185 for couples and families).  Insurance does not cover no shows and late cancellations, so is the client’s responsibility to pay. We will charge the credit card on file for no shows and cancellations within 24-hours of scheduled session. Thank you!

Question 5

What if multiple members of my family need to be seen?

Accepted Answer

We are an advocate of strong and connected families and offer a 20% discount to help off set the cost of therapy when more than one family memeber is seen within the same household.

Question 6

Do you offer a sliding scale?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some of the therpist offer discount pricing based off of annual income.  Proof of income may by requested (including pay stubs or tax returns) to determine if you qualify.  These slots are avialable to clients who are experiencing financial hardship and are HIGHLY committed to therapy. Reduced fees will be re-assessed every 3 months.  These rates are fully out-of-pocket and not eligible for insurance reimbursement.

Question 7

Do you recommend Medication?

Accepted Answer

We DO NOT prescribe medications, however we will work on dietary and lifestyle choices.  More than ever, we understand the strong link between the quality of our diet and the health of our families and as you are well aware this includes both physical and mental health.  The food mind connection is becoming more and more evident and indisputable as children and adults alike demonstrate negative psychological reactions.  There's no denying that what we eat effects us, though we may not be fully aware of it's effect.  We can become more aware through purposeful and intentional effort.  This is especially true for kids and adults alike with the mix of symptoms (ADHD, Anxiety Disorder, OCD, ODD, etc.)   According to Sandy Newmark, M.D., the author of ADHD Without Drugs and the medical director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, "Dietary changes have not only improved symptoms of hyperactivity, concentration, and impulsivity in many cases, but also have calmed oppositional behavior."   Does that mean no sugar?  No gluten?  No diary?  With so much information out there your probably thinking "it's hard to know what information to trust and where to begin".  Together we will walk through healthy lifestyle choices with purposeful and intentional effort in order to make the journey of life lighter.

Question 8

What to do if my child/teen doesn't want to come?

Accepted Answer

If your child refused to go to school, attend a visit to their pediatrician or another doctor, what would you do?  Especially if they were sick?  You would naturally bring them anyways as you know what's best and want only what's best for your child.  And that's exactly the way we see it as well.     A child's/teens refusal is normal and is usually due to fear of the unknow and once rapport is estabilished the initial reluctance will disappear.  With teens though they might require addional prompting in which we recommend that you require him/her to come to at least 3-5 sessions before deciding they don't want to come anymore.

Question 9

Will I get to be involved with the process with my child?

Accepted Answer

We approach every family as unique, but we always seek input from parents.  Parents are an integral part of the work we do with the child/adolescent and at least one parent will need to be involved in the therapeutic process.  Sometimes a child/teen will tell me that they really want the counseling time to themselves; other chrildre/teens really want their parents in the counseling process with them.  We will adapt our services to your family's needs creating a personalized treatment plan and work side by side with you in order to as Yvette like's to put it "work myself out of a job".  We may suggest behavioral interventions, parenting books or different ways you can help your child.  At the very least, we ask for parent feedback before or after sessions.  Ultimately, your involvement though, will be integral in the progress of your son or daughter.       In addition you may feel that the therapy process/parent coaching sessions become a little personal in nature and bring up some of your own struggles and sometimes individual therapy for you or the family will be recommended as part of the treatment plan.  Why?  Your well being has a direct effect on your child's well being as the saying goes the spiket flows down.     Family Secrets.  It's important that you are open about what's going on in the child's life.  Even if either your child doesn't know or you feel it's no big deal.  As family secrets are often the greatest hinderance to the therapeutic process and growth.  When the whole picture is in view it helps with the proper planning of treatment.   Coordinating with others: No man is an island.  We coordinate care with not only their school but also with their school counselor, teachers, doctors, psychiatrist, grandparents and any other professionals or family members who are involved in helping your child succeed.  All you need to do is provide me with a release of information.

Question 10

Do you guys complete custody evaluations.

Accepted Answer

In some cases, one or both parents may decide to take legal action regarding custody of the child. Therapy and legal testimony are very different services and the therapist’s goal first and foremost is to create a supportive, safe relationship with the child for the purpose of achieving therapy goals. The therapist CANNOT and WILL NOT provide a recommendation regarding custody of the child when acting as the therapist for the child and family. The therapist will communicate with legal professionals as required by law, but all professionals and parents should know that the therapist’s responsibility is for confidentiality and protection of the counseling relationship, not to assist one parent in “winning” their case.   The therapist CANNOT speak to one parent’s attorney without the consent of the other parent. In most cases, this is not a productive idea and the therapist recommends that there not be any communication between the therapist and attorney(s). When required by law, the therapist will communicate with legal professionals.   *Learn more in our Policy for Working with Child of Separated/Divorced Parents when securing services.

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