Therapy
I am available to see individual adult (18+) clients in Washington state through telehealth (video sessions). This includes metro Seattle neighborhoods like, Fremont, Beacon Hill, South Lake Union, Queen Anne, and Capitol Hill. I do not have in-person availability at this time.
Therapy (also referred to as counseling) can look differently based on what you’re hoping to explore or accomplish. For some clients, weekly counseling appointments are a time dedicated to their needs and processing what is happening in life. This could include life transitions, anxiety related to work, ambiguous grief, or adjusting to retirement. For some clients, we are working towards more finite goals. Some clients prefer to focus on the present, and others like to explore what’s happened at various points in the past. There are options in how we tailor the process to be most supportive to you.
Together we’ll work to identify goals and how much structure is helpful for you in the initial consult and throughout our time together. I generally open sessions with, “what’s most important for us to cover?” General therapy FAQs or What to Expect in Therapy to learn more about therapy in general, and I am happy to answer questions.
Scheduling
I begin with a 20 minute consultation to learn more about what brings you to therapy, share more about my approach, and for us both to determine if this is a good fit. There are no right or wrong answers! You can get more of a sense if you would like to share more of your story with me, and if I might be helpful to you. I use this time to assess if your experience and goals are within my experience. View the contact page to arrange time to virtually meet.
After the consultation, we move to an initial intake session, which is generally more structured and an opportunity to learn more about you. I usually ask questions about your past, what brings you to therapy at this time, what supports you have in your life, and what are some challenges you face. I believe in being trauma-informed, and therefore you can share as little or as much information as you would like. There’s time to get to know each other, and I trust that you’ll share information when it’s helpful to you.
We’ll find a time that works best for you on an ongoing basis. Establishing a routine time helps ensure we have dedicated time for you, and can help orient your week. I meet with most clients on a weekly basis for approximately 50 minutes. With time, we may determine sessions can transition to be every other week, or increase frequency.
Payment
All sessions are 50-minute telehealth sessions. The cost for the initial intake session is $180.00 and each subsequent session is $160. You may request a superbill from Kelly Hemphill Counseling, PLLC, which is a monthly statement you can submit to your insurance company along with your out-of-network claim.
I am not in-network with any insurance companies, so it is important to be aware of your out of network benefits, which can often be robust. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) may be used. These are benefits for you to set aside tax-free money to be used for out-of-pocket medical expenses, decreasing your taxable income.
I offer a limited number of income driven reduced fee slots through Open Path.
Out-of-network reimbursement
You may be able to seek-out-of-network reimbursement, which requires a bit more effort on your part to see check with your insurance provider, as I am unable to submit claims for out-of-network insurers and do not make single case agreements.
Here are some questions to ask your insurance company before starting therapy:
Does your insurance cover out-of-network providers?
What is your responsibility for an out-of-network telehealth appointment (code 90837)?
Do you need preauthorization or a referral to access outpatient mental health services?
How many sessions are covered by your insurance per year?
How much of your deductible will you need to pay before mental health services are covered?
Cancellations
Missed sessions must be cancelled 24 hours in advance to avoid an $80 cancellation fee, which is often not eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. Providing this notice also helps with offering alternative session times for other clients, so thank you for your adherence!
