Counseling, also called therapy or psychotherapy, is a process in which a client works with a healthcare professional to diagnose and resolve problematic beliefs, behaviors, relationship issues, feelings and sometimes physical responses depending on the counselor’s therapy approach. In life, academic, or professional coaching, a client works with a coach who is not a healthcare professional to clarify goals and identify obstacles and problematic behaviors in order to create action plans, and learn skills to achieve desired results. That being said, there is much overlap between coaching and counseling and many of our counselors integrate life-coaching approaches, often called ‘psychological coaching’ into their practice. This includes helping you identify obstacles, set goals, change your perspective, and identify and address your core beliefs. The key here is the training of the counselor or coach and the personal fit between the client and the counselor or coach. However, as you are deciding which service to pursue, it is important to note that coaching is something you pay for personally, whereas counseling CAN be paid for privately, but you can also have counseling covered by your health insurance.

See if one of our counselors or coaches is a right fit for you!

Screener: In one day of testing you will be interviewed for developmental history and background, you will complete rating scales, and you will have the diagnostic criteria of the disorder reviewed with you. This information will be written into a psychological report that will be provided to you at your follow-up results appointment. Within this report will be the diagnostic decision, an explanation of how this decision was reached, and recommendations based on the available information.

Comprehensive Evaluation: You should expect to be asked to complete at least 6-7 hours of testing, with your evaluation likely needing to take place over multiple days. A standard comprehensive evaluation would have a client complete a developmental history and background interview, behavioral rating scales, a test of academic achievement, and a cognitive evaluation. In addition to this you could be expected to complete additional testing that is specialized to the referral question. This information will be written into a psychological report that will be provided to you at your follow-up results appointment. Within this report are the diagnostic decision, an explanation of how this decision was reached, and recommendations based on the available information.

Many people feel nervous before their first appointment, wondering what their therapist will ask, or what they should tell their therapist. During the initial session(s) your therapist will primarily want to hear the reasons you made the appointment, what you have already done to try and solve the problem, and what you hope to accomplish in therapy. To better understand you, your therapist will likely want to know how things are going in the important parts of your life (relationships, work, school, etc.) as well as information about your background. If you and your therapist decide to continue working together, you will begin developing goals for therapy. During this first session the client will also have the opportunity to see how therapy will work, review office policies, privacy and confidentiality, as well as determine whether or not they are comfortable with the therapist. If you do not feel comfortable with your therapist for any reason, please say so, and your therapist will be happy to provide you with a referral to another therapist.

Each contracted therapist chooses their rate. When you contact us, our operations manager or the therapist will be happy to provide you with investment details.

Our practice is in-network with the following health plans: Web-TPA, Humana, Health Alliance Medical Plans, Wellcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Some health plans do offer “out of network” services, and our billing manager will be happy to contact your plan in order to provide you with accurate benefits information.

Although we take insurance if that makes sense for your situation, we have a number of clients who choose not to use insurance. Some clients have concerns about the degree of privacy that can be maintained once a claim makes its way to a huge managed care company. Others do not wish to be given the mental illness diagnosis that all providers must assign them if they are filing an insurance claim.

We also believe in making therapy available to all, so many of our clinicians offer a sliding-scale rate when needed and when available.

If you have a mental health-related emergency outside of Evergreen’s regular business hours, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

Additionally, you may receive 24/7 Crisis Support as follows:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.SUICIDE (784.2433)
• Veterans Crisis Hotline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
• Trevor Project 24/7 Line: 1.866.488.7386 or TrevorText: text START to 678-678
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1.800.656.HOPE (4673)