FAQ's
Making the initial call to a counseling practice can be extremely intimidating, especially if it’s your first time pursuing counseling. What do you ask? How do you know if a counselor will be a good fit? How do you determine if a counseling practice values the same things you do? Do you need to talk to the counselor beforehand, or can you determine the information you need from speaking with the office administrator? The whole process can be overwhelming. We have compiled some information that may help you feel more comfortable when making the initial contact. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. All you need to do is give us a call at 678-534-3824 or email us.
The therapist rates range between $100 and $175, depending upon which therapist you meet with. The first session will be an additional $10-$20. Our intake coordinator is available to help you choose the therapist who will be the best fit for you. Rates for each therapist are at the bottom of their bio pages.
The first session includes building rapport, collecting historical information, and setting goals for the process of therapy. Clients vary in their ability to know what is bothering them and in their ability to articulate clear goals for therapy. It is the therapist’s job to help them gain clarity and set goals. Clients can expect the therapist’s help and expertise in this area.
Each session is 50 minutes long unless other specific arrangements have been made in advance. Clients should budget an hour of time at the office for each visit to include the amount of time it takes to pay for the session and reschedule the next appointment.
Clients usually meet weekly in the beginning, particularly if the problem is very urgent or distressing, then they work to meet every other week and then monthly until they no longer need therapeutic help.
The average amount of time most issues can be covered in therapy is six to eight weeks. The notable exceptions are marriage therapy, adoption/foster care treatment, severe depression/mood disorders, eating disorders, and abuse issues. These all have a longer treatment cycle.
Restoration Counseling of Atlanta does not file insurance, but we can provide you with a monthly detailed billing statement, commonly referred to as a superbill. This will have all the information that most insurance companies require, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. On the right side of this webpage, the Insurance Information section has some helpful tips to consider. Therapists who are LPC’s are usually reimbursed as out of network providers. LAPC’s or LAMFT’s may not be reimbursable depending on the terms of your insurance coverage.
Each client is in control of the level of spiritual discussions permitted in their session. If you do not desire to discuss spiritual matters please inform your therapist of your position in the first session and your request will be honored unless you bring spiritual issues forward at a later date.
That being said, a person can never separate themselves from their world and life view, and those who work in this office hold a Christian world and life view. You may have encountered other therapists who were not transparent about their view of the world. This does not mean they do not have one, just that they are either unaware or that they are purposefully not disclosing it.
Current appointment availability is dependent on the individual counselor’s schedule. Feel free to email them directly to inquire about availability.
Email list:
andrea@restorationcounselingatl.com x 154
ashley@restorationcounselingatl.com x 119
ashleylewis@restorationcounselingatl.com, x 123
becca@restorationcounselingatl.com x 156
carrie@restorationcounselingatl.com x 126
coleen@restorationcounselingatl.com x 124
haley@restorationcounselingatl.com x 121
hannah@restorationcounselingatl.com x122
heidi@restorationcounselingatl.com x 116
james@restorationcounselingatl.com x 118
jennifer@restorationcounselingatl.com x 111
josh@restorationcounselingatl.com, x 125
kyle@restorationcounselingatl.com x 117
lauren@restorationcounselingatl.com x127 mead@restorationcounselingatl.com x 115
micah@restorationcounselingatl.com x 158
nancy@restorationcounselingatl.com, x 130
paige@restorationcounselingatl.com x 157
pat@restorationcounselingatl.com x 114
rebeca@restorationcounselingatl.com x 120
samantha@restorationcounselingatl.com x 112
sarah@restorationcounselingatl.com x 128
troy@restorationcounselingatl.com x 113
Counseling fees range between $100 and $175 per session, with the first being $10-$20 more.
If you have difficulty paying the fees for counseling you have several options. You can request assistance from family members or from your church. You can see if your therapist will allow you to come less often based on the nature of your counseling needs. However, each client is responsible to pay their full fee or have a definite payment plan arranged by an additional party at an agreed amount. If a third party is paying for all or some of the counseling fees, this person or entity would need to communicate this in writing prior to starting counseling services.
Each therapist has different approaches to therapy. You are welcome to ask more detailed questions of your therapist or read their personal bio for more details about how they practice.
A Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over three years experience post licensure and specialized training in supervision, counselor evaluation and ethical dilemmas in supervision. They offer supervision services for hire for students in graduate programs or those pursuing their Professional Counseling License.
An Approved Counselor Supervisor (ACS) is a nationally recognized certification that a Licensed Professional Counselor can obtain that validates their skills and training in the areas of supervision, counselor evaluation and ethical dilemmas in supervision. They offer supervision services for hire for students in graduate programs and those pursuing their Professional Counseling License. It is credentialed through the Center for Credentialing and Education a branch of the National Board of Certified Counselors.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) is a trained, mental health professional who has met educational and training requirements, including at least a Master’s degree, years of supervised professional clinical experience and successful completion of a state examination for licensure as LPC or LCPC.
A Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) is a mental health professional who has met the educational requirements, including at least a Master’s degree, and successful completion of the state examination for licensure, and is completing the directed experience and supervision hours as required for the LPC.
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is a mental health professional who has met the educational requirements, including a Master’s degree, and successful completion of the state examination for licensure and the required supervision and direction in the specialized area of relationship counseling for couple’s and families.
A Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) is a mental health professional who has met the educational requirements, including a Master’s degree, and in the progress of completing the state examination for licensure and the required supervision and direction in the specialized area of relationship counseling for couple’s and families.
Information
Restoration Counseling of Atlanta, LLC
102 Macy Drive, Roswell, GA
3380 Trickum Rd., Bldg. 1400, Ste. 200, Woodstock, GA
1740 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta, GA
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
Our Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are Jennifer, Troy, Hannah, Pat, Heidi, Ashley, Becca, Lauren, Mead, Paige, Micah, Josh and James. They are out-of-network providers for most insurance companies.
Our licensed Associate Professional Counselors (APCs) are Andrea, Nancy, and Samantha. They are out-of-network providers for those companies that accept APCs.
Our Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Kyle and Mead, are also out-of-network providers for those companies that accept LMFTs.
Our Graduate Student Interns provide services at a reduced rate, which are not reimbursable by insurance companies.
We do not file insurance, but your therapist can provide you with a detailed billing statement that will enable you to file with your insurance company for reimbursement.
Should your insurance company require treatment plans or treatment updates, your therapist will be glad to provide these. You may bring the form or have your insurance company mail it to us.
Questions to ask your insurance company
- Do I have out-of-network mental health or counseling benefits?
- Do I have an out-of-network deductible, and if so, how much is it? What would be my copay or percentage after I meet the deductible?
- Have I met any of this deductible yet this year? Are my medical and mental health deductibles together or separate?
- What mental health services are covered? Are V codes covered or only claims with a mental health diagnosis?
- Is marriage counseling covered? If so, is it actual marital therapy, or is one partner considered the patient and the other considered an extra person in the room that is just there to support the patient? (This would create an unhealthy balance in actual marriage therapy, especially if a mental health diagnosis is required.)
- Do I have a limited number of sessions I can attend a year?
- How much information is required for reimbursement?
- Is there a usual and customary rate that the insurance company will pay for therapy per session? If so, how much is that?
- Do I need pre-approval to pursue therapy with the provider of my choice? Remember, this would be pre-approval for an out-of-network provider. (United Behavioral Health always requires a pre-approval code.)
- Where do I get the forms to submit my claims?
- Are the conditions any different if I choose an in-network provider?
- For therapists on an in-network list, know that an MFT has trusted training in handling couple or family issues. Even though an LPC might say he/she does this type of counseling, the training is not the same.
Most issues can be covered in therapy in six to eight weeks. The notable exceptions are marriage therapy, adoption/foster care treatment, severe depression/mood disorders, eating disorders, and abuse issues, all having a longer treatment cycle.
Other Considerations: How confidential would my record of a mental health diagnosis be with an insurance company? Can I get a level of care that better matches my needs and desire for confidentiality by using my FSA or HSA account?
We welcome your donations to a specific individual’s counseling treatment or to a client in need. We will also receive anonymous donations for those who are coming for counseling services. Please contact our office administrator to work out those details, <a href=”mailto:admin@restorationcounselingatl.com”>admin@restorationcounselingatl.com</a> x 153.