QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT IS COUNSELING / THERAPY?
Just like physical health, everyone has mental health! Some people seek services to enhance mental wellness while others desire to treat mental illness. Just like your car needs regular maintenance and sometimes repair, our minds and heart need a similar check-up to keep us running whole. Try thinking of it this way: Counseling is to the mind and heart what laughter is to the soul!
Counseling / therapy is the process of building a relationship with a trained and trustworthy clinician in safe space to enhance mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness or to provide respite from mental illness. Play Wellness LLC uses the terms counseling and therapy interchangeably. (Some people like to make a distinction that counseling is for prevention and therapy is for treatment.) At Play Wellness, our clinicians are screened thoroughly and trained to provide quality clinical care for a variety of ages and needs.
For some people, counseling may initially feel scary because it may be the first time taking a deep, inward look at themselves. However, working through the fear often allows for greater self-awareness/love and healthier relationships. We admire all of our courageous clients to pay attention to their minds, listen to their bodies, and feel their feelings in a safe environment. Be your hero!
Counseling / therapy is the process of building a relationship with a trained and trustworthy clinician in safe space to enhance mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness or to provide respite from mental illness. Play Wellness LLC uses the terms counseling and therapy interchangeably. (Some people like to make a distinction that counseling is for prevention and therapy is for treatment.) At Play Wellness, our clinicians are screened thoroughly and trained to provide quality clinical care for a variety of ages and needs.
For some people, counseling may initially feel scary because it may be the first time taking a deep, inward look at themselves. However, working through the fear often allows for greater self-awareness/love and healthier relationships. We admire all of our courageous clients to pay attention to their minds, listen to their bodies, and feel their feelings in a safe environment. Be your hero!
DOES MY counselor NEED TO BE LICENSED?
Just like physicians are required to have a license to treat your body, there are great benefits for clinicians who provide counseling and therapy to be licensed to treat your mind, emotions, and behaviors! A license is state regulated, and most licensed clinicians are required to have a minimum of a master's degree. Some clinicians have a doctoral degree (Ph.D.), which is the highest degree that can be earned in any field and typically takes an additional 4-5 years of advanced level education, training, and the completion of a dissertation (conducting and publishing original research).
Overall, licensure holds your therapist accountable to provide treatment that is legally and ethically sound and helps the therapist to stay abreast of changes and important updates in the field. Types of licenses in Georgia include the following:
Overall, licensure holds your therapist accountable to provide treatment that is legally and ethically sound and helps the therapist to stay abreast of changes and important updates in the field. Types of licenses in Georgia include the following:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC; under supervision)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) or Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW; non-clinical)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT; under supervision)
- Licensed Psychologist (LP; psychological testing and/or clinical work)
- Licensed Psychiatrist (M.D. or D.O.; medical management, psychiatric evaluation, and/or clinical work)
AM I REQUIRED TO TALK IN THERAPY?
At Play Wellness LLC, we value holistic therapy care. We understand that not all individuals have the ability to talk about challenging life circumstances and emotions. We also know that it is unfair to expect children to conceptualize using verbal language when their neocortex (frontal lob)/left hemisphere of the brain is not yet fully developed. Thus, in addition to traditional, evidence-based talk therapies, Play Wellness also offers brainspotting, evidence-based play therapy, sand therapy, drama therapy, and game therapy. See more about Play Wellness' counseling methods. We may integrate play, expressive arts, and other creative modalities into therapy because we believe that play can be fun and seriously therapeutic. The type of therapy that is most appropriate for you and your needs will be discussed with you at the intake session and throughout treatment.
is counseling confidential?
Counseling services are provided confidentially, and clients who participate in psychotherapy services have a legal right to privileged communication. However, there limits to confidentiality, including when:
- The client request disclosure
- The client presents a danger to him/herself or others
- There is suspected neglect or abuse (e.g., physical, psychological/emotional, sexual) of a child, elder, or incapacitated adult
- Billing for payments of services and out-of-network insurance involvement
- The clinician is subpoenaed during court proceeding or the client is referred via court mandate
- Request by the Department of Homeland Security according to the USA Patriot Act
What is a diagnosis?
A diagnosis is a medical code provided to inform and treat clients. (Medically, a client can be diagnosed with a common cold. Psychologically, a client can be diagnosed with depression.) Historically, diagnosing has had helpful and harmful effects. Diagnosing can be helpful for understanding unrelated symptoms that are driven by an underlying issue, or it can provide research-based techniques for effective treatment. Diagnosing can be damaging when it is assessed poorly, used unfairly, or used to discriminate. Insurance companies require clients who plan to file out-of-network to have a diagnosis. Clients who prefer not to have a diagnosis on record can choose not to utilize out-of-network insurance benefits.
what actions do I take if a child or elder has been abused?
It can be sad, angering, shameful, and traumatic when it is discovered that a child, incapacitated adult, or elder has experienced neglect and/or abuse. While Play Wellness prefers that this never occurs, we know the reality of such tragedies and have assisted individuals from various ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses deal with the pain. Because we emphasize the care and safety of our most vulnerable populations, please contact the appropriate agencies as listed below prior to initiating services (or we can contact them with you).
If you suspect or have discovered the abuse or neglect of a child, please contact your state's department of child services (for Georgia residents), the police, or the district attorney's office. Please also contact your local Child Advocacy Center, as they can provide a free forensic evaluation and other services. If you suspect or have recently discovered the abuse of an elder or incapacitated adult, please contact your state's adult protective services/department of elder services (for Georgia residents) and law enforcement or prosecuting attorney. You may also contact the Ombudsman: Senior Advocacy Services organization for resources and referrals. Please see additional resources on our Mental Health Resources webpage.
If you suspect or have discovered the abuse or neglect of a child, please contact your state's department of child services (for Georgia residents), the police, or the district attorney's office. Please also contact your local Child Advocacy Center, as they can provide a free forensic evaluation and other services. If you suspect or have recently discovered the abuse of an elder or incapacitated adult, please contact your state's adult protective services/department of elder services (for Georgia residents) and law enforcement or prosecuting attorney. You may also contact the Ombudsman: Senior Advocacy Services organization for resources and referrals. Please see additional resources on our Mental Health Resources webpage.
HOW MUCH DOES COUNSELING COST?
We thank you for recognizing that your mental health is a priority and an investment. Our prices vary based upon the session time and educational level and experience of the clinician. Visit our team webpage to see each clinician's schedule and fees (on a purple tab after clicking on the clinician's name). We may also offer reduced rates to assist individuals who display commitment to the process and for families with multiple children. Play Wellness does not accept insurance, and, thus, is considered an out-of-network provider. (We would rather spend quality time with our clients rather than fruitless time going back and forth with insurance companies.)
We do provide Good Faith Estimates and can provide the paperwork (termed a "superbill") for submission to your insurance carrier for possible reimbursement. If you prefer to seek out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance carrier, we encourage you to ask them about reimbursement for codes 90791 (the initial session), 90837 (individual psychotherapy sessions), and 90847 (family psychotherapy sessions) before establishing treatment. We are grateful that you are focused on "mind and heart care," as it is an important investment into your mental, emotional, and behavioral health!
We do provide Good Faith Estimates and can provide the paperwork (termed a "superbill") for submission to your insurance carrier for possible reimbursement. If you prefer to seek out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance carrier, we encourage you to ask them about reimbursement for codes 90791 (the initial session), 90837 (individual psychotherapy sessions), and 90847 (family psychotherapy sessions) before establishing treatment. We are grateful that you are focused on "mind and heart care," as it is an important investment into your mental, emotional, and behavioral health!
I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS...
We would love to assist you further. Please contact us here.