Modern Change Therapy FAQs

Why should I go to therapy?

Therapy is for everyone. I won’t bore you with statistics, but therapy is a way for people to incorporate more overall wellness into their lives. Your mental health is equally as important as your physical health for overall well-being. Therapists provide a neutral perspective that family and friends simply can’t. Also, we offer confidentiality (aka privacy) and experience helping others with similar concerns. In fact, in North Carolina, a licensed counselor has to complete a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised practice before they can work independently.

How long does it take?

This varies. The time someone spends in counseling depends on the person and their unique situation(s) that bring them to therapy in the first place. There is no set interventions or time frames that work for everyone. Therapy is a unique journey that we will take together. We will discuss when it is appropriate to terminate therapy or take a break from therapy depending on how you are doing with reaching your therapy goals. Some people spend a few short months in therapy while others might spend a couple of years in therapy. Additionally, your goals may change throughout the course of therapy and you may spend more or less time in therapy than you originally intended.

What’s the difference between counseling and therapy?

The difference is, there is no difference! Counseling and therapy are simply two different words that describe the same thing. I use them interchangeably because some people are more familiar with one word over the other. Many people associate the word counseling with guidance or school counselors, but all licensed professional counselors are trained to provide therapeutic services.

What’s a session like?

The first therapy session will be somewhat unique in that the focus will be me getting to know you and your reasons for coming to therapy. Beyond that, I will work with you to help you achieve your identified goals. This may include helping you practice coping tools in session, exploring your past, challenging any faulty thinking patterns I hear in our sessions and offering feedback. If you are coming for couples or family counseling, I will also help you as a system to identify patterns and behaviors that are keeping you stuck so that we can create change in these relationships. Typically, sessions last between 45-55 minutes for couples, families and individuals.

What do I need for online counseling sessions?

Mostly you just need a device that connects to the internet and an internet connection for online counseling sessions. I also recommend that you use wired headphones to limit any noises in the environment. To ensure a good experience, it might be best to use a wired internet connection as opposed to WiFi. It is also recommended that you close down other programs or browser windows that might be using bandwidth because this can slow down your internet connection. In the event of connection issues, I will call you on the phone so that we can continue our session.

Do you take insurance?

I am in network with some insurance companies. I keep an updated list on my Rates & Insurance page. However, insurance companies require that the services provided meet medical necessity. This means that you must have a mental health diagnosis for them to provide payment for therapy services. Many of the reasons people seek counseling do not meet medical necessity. If I'm not in network with your particular insurance company or specific plan, I can provide you with an itemized receipt for your services and you might be able to request reimbursement from your insurance company for out of network benefits. I suggest you contact your insurance company for information on out of network benefits specific to your policy.

How much does therapy cost?

This depends on a couple of factors.  One being if you use your insurance. If your insurance covers our services, you might be responsible for a copay, deductible or co-insurance.  The fee you are responsible for will vary depending on the details of your specific policy.  It is best for you to call the number on the back of your card to obtain the details of your financial responsibility prior to our first session. I will do my best to verify this information as well so that you can know the cost before we meet.  For self-pay, I have a flat fee of $140 per therapy session. The fees for in-person and online counseling sessions are the same.

Do you prescribe medications?

No. Some people may need medications and others do not. Licensed professional counselors cannot prescribe medications, however if you feel you need medications and do not currently have a provider for these services, I am happy to help refer you to someone. 

Modern Change offers psychotherapy in Durham, NC for a variety of concerns.