Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of questions I get asked frequently about my private practice or therapy in general. If I have not answered your question below, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
What forms of payment do you accept?
I currently accept cash or checks. Checks can be made out to Lana Smith Hale.
What can I expect from therapy?
I think therapy is a combination of hard work and willingness to be open to emotional exploration. Therapy is not easy, and is far from what is characterized in the media (cue: Freud & lounge chair). Rather, therapy should be an engaging and dynamic process.
What can be gained from therapy is a new sense of self and a renewed hope for the future. My goal is to work together to examine your past, your needs, and how to help you get to where you want to be in your life.
And just remember that for the effects of therapy to really last, expect to be an active participant in the process. Only you are the expert on yourself, and together we can work towards getting your emotional needs better met.
Are my sessions confidential?
What you share with me in the therapy room is confidential. This means that I will not discuss with any one else except in specific circumstances required by law. These circumstances include:
1) If I believe you are a serious risk of harming yourself or someone else
2) If I have reasonable suspicion that child abuse or elder abuse is occurring.
At your request, I am able to share information with someone in your life following your written release.
In the case when I work with a minor, I work with the child and family to explain what I will and will not share. I strive for a balance between maintaining a minor’s confidentiality and including parents in treatment for the overall benefit of the family and child. Upon initiating therapy, we will explore this issue further.
How quickly can I be seen once I call you?
I make every effort to return phone calls within 24 hours, if not before (unless it is a holiday).
I am usually able to see clients within the week or the week after you first call to set up an appointment.
How long is a counseling session?
Phone Consultations (free of charge) are 15 minutes, where I assess your clinical needs and make sure we are a good clinical match.
Intake therapy sessions are 75 minutes. Within this intake session, we will go over scheduling, forms, and payment.
A therapy session is 50 minutes. An additional 10 minutes is reserved for scheduling and payment, which brings the total therapy session to 60 minutes.
How often do we need to meet and how many sessions do I need?
Generally, we will have one, 50-minute session per week. During intake, we will discuss your unique therapeutic needs to see if this is appropriate. I am able to offer longer sessions or more frequent sessions on an individual basis. Conversely, we may reach a place where sessions occurring every other week or so are warranted.
The number of sessions needed depends greatly on what your goals and needs are in therapy. Generally, 3-10 sessions is the average length for short-term work. For people seeking long-term work, we can assess what your needs are and create a treatment plan to fit your needs.
What if I need medication?
Being a licensed therapist has taught me many skills, but providing medication is beyond my scope of practice! I am happy to refer you to psychiatrists to explore your needs further.
Medication is one tool people can utilize during treatment. We can explore if this may be a fit for you. I am happy to communicate and work with your psychiatrist to make sure your needs are getting met (but only after discussion with you and obtaining signed permission first!).
Please read my blog post to find out more information on the difference between professions.
How do I know if I am making progress?
Progress in therapy may not always feel how you imagine progress should feel. Often, therapy brings up emotional topics that can be hard to talk or think about. Progress is gained when you feel that you are making a genuine effort to be present in sessions and engage in exploration. Progress is highly personal, and is a topic that comes up quite often in therapy. Through it might not always feel like you are moving forward with therapy, the process takes time and we will work together to find ways to monitor your efforts.
Do you take insurance?
At this time I do not take insurance. However, I am considered an “out of network” provider.
You may be eligible to have some or all of the cost of therapy reimbursed by your insurance company. I am happy to offer you a monthly statement to make it easy for you to submit to your insurance for an “out of network” provider. Please contact your insurance provider to inquire further about their reimbursement policy.
I offer a few sliding scale spots, so please inquire if you are interested.
What is your Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation must be done at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. 100% of payment is expected for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice or missed appointments. If you are ill or there is a crisis, contact me as soon as you are aware that you cannot make our scheduled session.