FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
Starting therapy comes with a lot of unknowns. Here are some of the questions I hear the most, and the honest answers to them.
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No pressure, no obligation.
(636) 466-1994
Getting Started
Before we begin
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You can reach out to me through the contact page to book your free 30-minute consultation. We'll talk about what's bringing you in, what you're hoping for, and whether my approach fits. No forms to fill out, and no pressure to commit.
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The free consultation is a chance for us to get to know each other a little. I'd love to hear about you and what you're hoping to work on in therapy, and you'll have room to ask me anything about me as a therapist, or about the therapy process, so we can see whether we're a good fit.
It's not a sales call, and it's not a therapy session either. Its only purpose is to find out whether we'd work well together. If we would, we'll move forward with scheduling your first evaluation session. If we're not the right fit, I'll do my best to point you toward resources or referrals that would better meet your needs.
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Adults in Missouri and Arkansas, often high-functioning, high-achieving people who look fine on the outside and feel anything but on the inside: overthinkers, perfectionists, people-pleasers, and professionals carrying more than they let on.
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Honestly, you won't know for sure until we talk, and that's exactly what the free consultation is for. But we're likely to be a good fit if you're ready to look beneath the surface of your anxiety instead of just managing it week to week, you're willing to be curious about yourself even when it's uncomfortable, and you want a therapist who actively works alongside you rather than only listening.
I've written out the fuller picture on my Meet Joy page who tends to be a good fit for my practice, and who usually isn't, so you can see yourself clearly before we ever meet.
Fees & Insurance
The logistical side
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I’m not in-network with any insurance, so all services are private pay.
My current fees for the initial evaluation and follow-up sessions are listed on my Fees page, and you’ll always know the cost before we meet. No surprise bills, ever. And if you’d like to use out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance.
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I'm private pay and don't bill insurance directly. Many clients use out-of-network benefits; I provide a superbill you can submit for possible reimbursement. Paying privately also keeps your therapy off insurance records and free of insurer limits on how we work.
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American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, HSA or FSA cards.
Payment is due at the time of service. I do not carry a balance.
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I understand that life happens, so if you need to cancel or reschedule, just let me know at least 24 hours ahead, and there's no charge.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice are charged the full session fee, since that time was held for you and can't be offered to anyone else. The same goes for no-shows: if an appointment is missed without notice, the full session fee is charged.
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Possibly, and here's exactly how to find out, plus how payment works with me.
I don't bill insurance directly. You pay me in full at the time of each session, and if your plan includes out-of-network benefits, your insurance may reimburse you for part of what you paid afterward. I'll give you a superbill (which is like a detailed receipt of the services you paid for) to submit to them.
To check your coverage, call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask:
Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient psychotherapy?
Do they cover service code 90791 (the initial evaluation) and 90837 (follow-up sessions)?
What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I already met?
What percentage will you reimburse, and is there a limit on the amount?
How do I submit a superbill, and how long does reimbursement usually take?
One thing to be clear about before we start: reimbursement is entirely between you and your insurance company. I can't promise they'll pay, or how much. My fee is due at the time of service either way.
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We meet by secure video at your appointment time — no commute, no waiting room. Before your first session, you’ll get a personalized, HIPAA-compliant secure link, and if we decide to work together, that same link is yours for every session going forward. There’s nothing to download or install — just click your link each time. Many clients join from home, a parked car, or anywhere they can speak freely.
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For the concerns I treat, including anxiety disorders, OCD, trauma, perfectionism, and burnout, research shows online therapy works just as effectively as in-person care, and the approaches I use (EMDR, ERP, IFS) all adapt well to online sessions. What matters most is consistency and fit, and meeting from your own space often makes both easier.
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A device with a camera, a decent internet connection, and a private spot where you feel comfortable talking freely. Headphones help. That's it. I'll handle the rest.
Online therapy
How online sessions work
Working together
Once we’re underway
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I always jokingly say to my new clients that my goal is to get myself out of a job. Now, jokes aside: therapy is not meant to be forever. My ultimate goal is to empower you, so that one day your relationship with yourself has changed, you feel so much better about yourself as a person, and you have all the tools and insight — and most importantly, the inner relationship with yourself — that you don't need to see me anymore. That is the goal.
For that to happen, at the beginning of the journey I usually need to see most clients weekly or bi-weekly, so we have enough consistency and momentum for progress to happen. Once you notice progress, we can space sessions out to bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly, until you don't need to see me anymore.
But I still have clients who have "graduated" from the work that brought them to therapy in the very beginning, yet still choose to see me quarterly or yearly for an "emotional checkup." In other words, therapy can be as-needed then.
Since therapy is teamwork and my work is very collaborative, we will check in with each other periodically as we work, to decide together how often you need to be seen.
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I'm a Certified EMDR Therapist, so I use EMDR extensively in my practice. IFS (Internal Family Systems) also deeply informs how I conceptualize my work with clients. When treating OCD, ERP is a primary tool. I also use CBT and Mindful Self-Compassion.
In plain terms: we work on both the roots of the pattern and the day-to-day grip it has on you — not just talking about the week. I blend these modalities based on each client's needs and symptoms.
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I get why the concept of doing therapy can feel scary. You imagine yourself lying on a couch, closing your eyes, and somehow the therapist tricks you into telling them every dark little secret you have about your life, or somehow you remember something you didn't even realize happened. And before you know it, you're overwhelmed and overpowered by debilitating anxiety, fear, or depression.
In reality, you probably will face some uncomfortable emotions you've been trying to avoid, and work on things you've been trying to ignore. But I never ask clients to do those things without their consent, without equipping them with the tools they need, and without explaining why we're talking about certain things.
My work with my clients is very collaborative. I never claim to be the wise woman on top of the mountain. Creating a safe, non-judgmental space and earning my client's trust is my number one priority. I will also always check in with you first, before we go anywhere near the hard parts. You help set the pace, and we only move as fast as feels manageable. A little nervous at the start is normal. Scary is not what this should be.
What if I'm in crisis?
My practice does not provide on-call, crisis, or emergency services — therapy is by appointment only. If you are in crisis, please call 911, call or text 988, contact Behavioral Health Response at (314) 469-6644, or go to your nearest emergency room.
A FIRST CONVERSATION
Still wondering about something?
Bring your questions to a free 30-minute consultation. That's exactly what it's for.