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Frequently Asked Questions
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NAVIGATION
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IS THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
Whether you're a tenured therapy veteran ready to move closer towards healing or you're looking to start learning more about yourself, therapy is right for you. Character Development will show you how to better your relationships with yourself and others while helping you identify and succeed in meeting your goals!
While every session lasts 50 minutes, each client's journey will look different and the length of therapy will primarily depend on you. While some of us have mountains we're climbing barefoot, others may have paved roads to their place of healing. Together, we can overcome the obstacles that are holding you back and help you realize your dreams.
WHAT CLIENTS DO YOU WORK WITH?
My passion is working with adult individuals=and couples who are wanting to better their relationships to each other and their own mental health. I have a special interest in working with members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. I know, from personal experience, that sometimes you need someone who just "gets it," and you don't have to spend an hour each week teaching someone about your lived experience.
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I love working with clients either individually or in couples therapy sessions. Nothing brings me more joy than to help a couple find the voice in the relationship, help them succeed in meeting their goals, and build stable and safe relationships where each member can be truly "seen" and "heard."
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Please note that Colby only works with adults over the age of 18 and with couples who have been partnered at least eighteen (18) months.
HOW WILL WE MEET?
Quarantine has provided us the opportunity to connect with each other in new and unique ways. You will meet with your therapist using a HIPAA-Secured Video Conferencing Platform rather than meeting in person. This allows us to have conversations in the space you're most comfortable in! So, there's no need to worry about walking into a strange, clinical space and trying to adapt to our taste in furniture!
WILL YOU COLLABORATE WITH MY CARE TEAM?
Here at Character Development, we encourage collaborative care and will work closely with your care team to help you meet your goals. We have experience working closely with other healthcare providers to ensure that you're receiving the best care possible. In some instances, we might even provide you with referrals to trusted professionals in the area.
HOW MUCH DOES THERAPY COST?
The cost of couples therapy (or individuals not wishing to use their insurance) with Colby is $150/50 minute session. Individuals opting to use their health insurance may have a copay or co-insurance which will be discussed with you after we've done an eligibility and benefits check with your insurance plan.
HOW DO I SCHEDULE A CONSULT/SESSION?
If you're a new client looking to get started in therapy, fill out this form and I'll be in touch via email to learn more about what's brining you to therapy and offer you a few times to meet. If you need additional times or have a unique scheduling situation, just let me know and I'll try to find a time that works for us both.
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If you're already a client, you can use the patient portal to see my availability and schedule, reschedule, and/or cancel your appointment.
WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?
We currently accept all major debit/credit cards and HSA/HFA cards through a HIPAA secured platform. I also accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Aetna, Opum/United Healthcare, and Kansas Medicaid for individual therapy sessions only.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PAYING OUT OF POCKET?
Paying out of pocket, instead of using insurance, gives us more flexibility (and gives you more autonomy) in treating your needs. When you utilize insurance to manage your mental health, they have the ability to dictate session frequency, session duration, and even the number of therapy sessions covered in a given year. They often do not cover couple or family sessions or if they do, often the insurance mandated goals of couple's therapy are not always in alignment with what is best for the couple and/or the modalities I'm trained in. ​​
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Paying out of pocket allows you to take charge of your mental health and you get to determine length of care and work directly with your therapist to create the treatment plan that works best for you.
CAN I JOIN MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT WHILE ON VACATION?
Great question! As long as you're vacationing in one of the states I'm licensed in (KS, CO, MO, and IL), we can still hold our therapy session! However, if you're taking a much more tropical and/or adventurous vacation in a destination other than the states listed, our therapy appointment will need to wait until after you get back (as much as I would love to see the ocean in your zoom background!) Legally, therapy happens where the client is at the time of service and as your provider, I must be licensed in that state/jurisdiction in order to be in compliance.
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CLIENT?
In order for therapy to be effective, there are several boundaries I have to enforce in order to protect your confidentiality and safety. As a client, you are responsible for the following:
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Making sure you have a private and secure (non-public) place to do therapy from, uninterrupted
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​No one is allowed to be in the room while therapy is taking place, unless previously agreed to by your therapist​
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If joining from a vehicle, the vehicle is not allowed to be moving and must be parked for the entirety of the session in order to protect your safety
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You must be physically located in a state your therapist is licensed in at time of service. If joining from a location other than your home address, you will provide it to your therapist at the start of session​
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Come to therapy prepared with an open-heart, open-mind, and several topics for us to discuss.