FAQs

What happens when I schedule my free initial phone consultation with you online?

We will chat for about 15-20 min about your concerns, what you are hoping to achieve in therapy, and whether and how I will be able to help you with that. It will be a very brief discussion just to make sure we are a good fit. At the end of the conversation, if we both feel we are good fit, we will schedule our first session called assessment/intake.

If you are looking for marriage counseling Wake Forest NC, ideally I would like to have both of you on the phone during the intake call. If your partner is unavailable, they will have to give me a call so that we have a similar conversation with them to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Please note that the best way to schedule your intake call is through booking it on my website here.

What happens during the first session and after that?

During the first session we will be discussing many different topics (e.g. how you grew up, your relationship history etc.) and you will probably feel that we are all over the map, jumping from one place to another. It’s very normal and I will do my best to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Often times, I am deliberately more quite during the first session in order to allow you the space to tell your story.

I ask my individual clients and couples to commit to an at least 12-month program with me where we jump in and work hard to help you move from a place of uncertainty and disconnect to a place of confidence and security.

If you are looking for a short term therapist who will fix your problems in 5 sessions, I am not your therapist. Do not expect to walk into a forest in 10 minutes and get out in 5. 

What happens if I have to cancel my session?

If you need to cancel your session, you need to do so within 48-hour window. This will allow other clients to use the canceled time slot when needed. If you cancel in less than 48 hours, you will be charged a full session fee.

 If I am ready to make an appointment, how do I get started?

The best way to schedule your free 15 min consult with me is though my website here.

 Can you guarantee that I will benefit from therapy?

It would be unethical for me to promise you will fully recover from whatever you are struggling with. However, what I can promise you is to listen carefully with an open mind, reflect back honestly what I hear, be a sounding board for you without a hidden agenda, stand behind your goals when possible, and stay constructive and practical throughout our time together. And we will probably laugh and curse too. A lot.

 Who do you work with?

I work with adults (over 21) and couples throughout all stages of life. I do not work with children. I have a sweet spot for helping distant couples and anxious adults build more meaningful relationships with themselves and their partners. This is my passion!

My specialties include marriage counseling Wake Forest NC, marriage counseling intensives, online therapy North Carolina, and individual counseling.

 Do you do online therapy in North Carolina?

Yes, and my clients love the convenience of it. I am also licensed in VA (I used to live there) and work with many couples who reside in VA.

 What if I don’t like you?

If you do not like me or my style, that’s perfectly okay. I believe that the relationship between the therapist and the client is very important and is one of the major predictors of successful treatment. I will probably ask you for some feedback if you are open to it at all, but I will not take it personally. There are a lot of amazing therapists out there, and I would be happy to refer you to some of them.

Your name sounds Russian….Are you Russian?

Yes! Learn more about me here

 How long and how frequent are the sessions?

It depends on your individual concerns and situation, but it’s important to understand that consistency brings the best results.

Some clients feel that one 50 min session per week is going to meet their relationship needs. Other couples feel pretty miserable and want to expedite the therapy process, so they either choose crisis couples counseling program where we meet 2-4 times a week for a minimum of 2 hour sessions for a period of 6 weeks or a couples intensive, which is a full day 8 hour workshop custom tailed to each individual couple.

We will discuss the preliminary treatment plan and it’s length during the initial session.

 When is payment due?

The full fee for your session is collected at or before the time of service via cash, credit card, debit card or check. I can also securely store a debit or credit card on file so you will not have to take time for payment during your session. I do not bill for services, or carry account balances.

What Questions should I ask my insurance about my out of network benefits?

• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?

• Are services rendered by a licensed clinical social worker covered? My license in the state of VA is 0904009547 and in NC is C010718

• Is any pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed?

• If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion?

• Do I have a deductible and if so, what is it?

 Do you work with individuals as well or just couples?

Even though couples work is my specialty, I do provide individual therapy as well. Most of my clients are struggling with relationship issues and/or anxiety, whether it’s unhealthy pattern of dating, divorce recovery, tendency to overthink, or being preoccupied with what could happen.