I do not offer ADHD evaluations, but I know what a good ADHD evaluation looks like. I can refer you to a trusted colleague if you are seeking an ADHD evaluation.

Medical trainees are busy and traditional in-person counseling services aren’t always flexible enough to meet their needs. To improve access, I made the intentional decision to create a fully online practice.

The most important requirement is that you be physically located in Ohio for the duration of the visit.

At the start of telehealth visits, I will ask you to provide your current location for safety purposes. Additional details regarding online therapy are detailed in my “Electronic Service Delivery Informed Consent” document, which you will receive in the initial paperwork or upon request.

After careful consideration, I have decided not to take insurance.

This decision was largely based on the competing agendas of insurance companies and clinicians. The following are just a few of these discrepancies:

• I value privacy and confidentiality. When you use insurance, information about you and your healthcare may be shared with third-party individuals. In a self-pay practice, your care generally stays between you and your clinician.
  

• Psychologists adhere to a guiding ethical principle called Nonmaleficence (i.e., do no harm). Insurance companies often require “medical necessity” to cover services, which requires us to give you a diagnosis, which becomes part of your medical record. We know that diagnostic labels can be harmful to people, although this is often necessary to obtain insurance coverage for services. When clinicians “hunt for problems” to support a diagnosis, they may miss out on your strengths and the things that are going well in your life. In a self-pay practice, we don’t have to force unnecessary diagnoses for the purposes of getting your services covered.

• I value freedom of choice. Clients should have the freedom to choose the clinician they believe is the best fit for them. When you go through insurance, you are often limited based on the clinicians who are in-network. Clinicians should also have the freedom to do what they believe is in the best interests of their clients, though insurance companies (often non-clinicians) can determine treatment decisions, including the length and type of treatment. In a self-pay practice, these decisions are between client and clinician.

Please let me know if this is a concern for you. I recognize that my rate may not be affordable for everyone. In these situations, I am happy to connect you with a therapist who accepts insurance or has a rate that better aligns with your financial situation.

The most secure method of communication is via the Client Portal (for current and past clients). For prospective clients without access to the Client Portal, it is recommended that you schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me via the website instead of reaching out via email.  

Email contact is limited to initial inquiries (before you are an established client) or other administrative purposes (with your permission). Since it is difficult to ensure the privacy of electronic communication, I may limit my communication with clients via email to the topic of scheduling.

A Place to Talk Counseling is not a crisis center.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, you should call 911 or go immediately to your nearest emergency room, preferably driven or escorted by a trusted family member or friend.

Other emergency numbers are:
·       The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

·       National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)

·       National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)