Insights

Getting started with Ballard Compass Counseling

  • Head over to the “Connect” page to complete the consultation form, where you will provide your contact information and a brief description of what you’re seeking. From there, I will reach out to you via email to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation. This phone consultation will help us determine if we’re a good fit and provide space to explore any questions.

  • The time we spend together in therapy varies based on your goals and what makes the most sense for you (financially, symptomatically, emotionally, etc.).

    I recommend initially meeting with clients weekly to ensure that we have consistent contact to support you most effectively and to provide a high standard of evidence-based care. For some clients, weekly sessions for 8-12 weeks feels sufficient for addressing their concerns and they see me for follow-up sessions as stressors arise. For other clients, we start with weekly sessions and then taper down to biweekly and/or monthly sessions as things feel more stabilized. For others, we see each other weekly for stable and consistent points of contact and support.

    My goal is to collaborate with you to find the best fit to accomplish what you’re seeking from therapy and to provide high-quality clinical care.

  • Absolutely. Confidentiality is one of the most important parts of building a strong relationship between client and therapist. Please know that what we talk about in therapy is private and kept confidential. The only exceptions to confidentiality are if a client is actively suicidal, homicidal, and/or if a child, elder, or dependent person is suspected of being abused or neglected.

  • It is a top priority for me that we are a good fit for working together. “Fit” can be difficult to assess, so I encourage you to speak with me in addition to other providers if possible to see how you feel with each person. A “good fit” can include many things: how my areas of expertise overlap with what you’re seeking from therapy, our sense of safety in our work together, seeing progress towards your goals, and an intuitive sense that this is a relationship you can invest in and trust.

    My ideal client is someone who feels ready for a change and is open to experiencing the spectrum of human emotion associated with change. They are willing to dive deep into understanding what might be getting in the way of the life they want to live. They are committed to investing in themselves by showing up fully to therapy and by practicing new ways of being outside of therapy.

  • Therapy is founded on mutual trust, respect, and connection. In my experience, a fulfilling therapeutic relationship can be nurtured in both virtual and in-person spaces - I have practiced telehealth since 2013 and seen amazing results. Further, research has indicated that both settings have comparably favorable therapy outcomes. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5723163/)

    Teletherapy is an excellent option in terms of convenience and accessibility. Without a commute to worry about, you can engage in sessions in the comfort of your own space and more easily create intentional time for sessions.

    In-person therapy is a great fit for people who are able to make the time to commute and prefer the feeling of meeting face-to-face versus via a computer or phone screen.

    Ultimately, the choice to engage in virtual or in-person therapy is up to personal preference and important to consider in assessing if we are a good fit in working together. At this time, I offer all therapy services virtually to maximize accessibility and reduce barriers to engaging in therapy.

Fees and payment

  • Individual Therapy: $200 per 45- to 50-minute session

    Organization Consultation, Workshops: Fee determined per project

    Individual Supervision, Clinical Consultation: Generally $200 per hour, though fee will be determined per case, supervisee and supervisor collaboration

    All payments are due at the start of the session and I accept most major credit cards and zelle.

  • My rates are similar to other masters-level mental health providers with specialty training in New York City and Seattle. These fees enable me to receive compensation commensurate to my level of training and expertise, to cover the costs of owning a cross-state small business, to offer sliding-scale services, to engage in advanced specialty trainings, and to donate financial resources to activist organizations such as the Minority Veterans of America, the American Red Cross, and other charities.

  • I dedicate 20-25% of my caseload for sliding-scale slots for individuals without access to financial resources as well as college or graduate students of color and/or LGBTQIA+-identified with access to limited financial resources. Please inquire about these services when you contact me. Sliding-scale fees are reassessed periodically regarding your financial circumstances and the needs of my practice.

  • I qualify as an out-of-network provider for most insurance plans that provide such coverage. This means that I do not contract with insurance companies and that you are responsible for paying the full agreed-upon fee at the time of service as well as determining if your plan provides reimbursement for out-of-network telehealth psychotherapy sessions. I can provide a monthly statement of services (also referred to as a “superbill”) to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

    If you may be interested in using out-of-network benefits, some useful questions to ask your health insurance company are:

    Do I have out-of-network benefits?

    If yes, do I have an out-of-network deductible?

    After I meet the deductible (if applicable), what percentage do you reimburse for an outpatient mental health psychotherapy session?

    What is your maximum allowed amount for a telehealth outpatient mental health psychotherapy session?

    Do I have an out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum?

    Your insurance may ask for commonly used CPT codes. These include: 90791 (Evaluation) and 90834 (Individual Psychotherapy, 45 mins). I also include a 95 code qualifier to indicate telehealth services. (https://www.apaservices.org/practice/reimbursement/health-codes/psychotherapy)

  • For individual therapy sessions, I have a 24-hour late/cancellation policy. If you need to cancel a session, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. For any cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment, I will charge you the full rate of the session. This policy is in place as a time commitment is made to you and your appointment is held exclusively for you. Individual therapy sessions will end 50 minutes after the scheduled appointment time, even if you are late.

    For consultation, I have a 48-hour late/cancellation policy due to the additional preparation necessary prior to our session. If you need to cancel a session, please notify me at least 48 hours in advance. For any cancellation within 48 hours of your appointment, I will charge you the full rate of the session.

    If you are concerned about these policies, please discuss them with me.

  • I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) to uphold your confidentiality, to protect our respective privacy, and to respect the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. Should any questions arise related to this, we can address them in session.

    Please do not message me via any social networking sites. These sites are not secure and can compromise your confidentiality. If you need to contact me between sessions, the best way to do so is by phone or email.

Practice Policies

Sources and Resources I’ve found useful