Do you find yourself saying things like:

• “My problems are not that bad.”

• “It’s embarrassing to need therapy at this point. I should be able to figure this out on my own.”

• “Only crazy people need therapy and I’m not crazy.”

These are things we often hear from people who have felt pulled to go to therapy but are just not sure if they actually need it. For many people, these are ways to discount the benefits and helpfulness of therapy and prevent themselves from healing. No problem is too little or too big to have additional support and guidance.

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, grief, anger, difficulties setting boundaries, conflict with family and/or friends, feelings of being overwhelmed, or experienced trauma, then therapy might be right for you.

Our team at Empathetic Empowerment Counseling has flexible availability. In addition to traditional hours (8am - 5pm) we offer limited evening hours as well.

At Empathic Empowerment Counseling we are excited to accept a few, common insurance plans! We accept…

• Highmark

• BCBS

• Aetna

• United/Optum

We will provide you with a superbill upon request.

Please see out Rates & Services page for this detailed information.

As part of the Intake process, we collect your card information to keep on file. At each session time, this card will be charged the session fee. We utilize our HIPPA-compliant EHR system, Simple Practice, for all transactions.

• Feeling limited by the choices available through their insurance.

• Being willing to pay out of pocket due to a personal recommendation they have received.

• The peace of mind knowing their insurance company doesn’t have access to their diagnosis and treatment information.

Additionally, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

We understand that for some, the expense of therapy can be yet another challenge. That is why we believe in sliding scale prices. If requested by the client, on a case-by-case basis we consider multiple factors (income, insurance copay, any challenging circumstances) to determine a lower rate.

Our team at Empathic Empowerment has numerous specialties and areas of focus. Some of these include:

• Intergenerational, childhood, and complex trauma

• Discrimination & oppression

• Postpartum concerns

• Narcissistic abuse, including verbal & emotional abuse (guilt tripping, manipulation, blaming, obligation)

• Codependency

• Complex grief (I.e. mourning people who are still alive)

• Existential crisis (I.e. loss of purpose or identity)

• Perfectionism and high expectations

• Executive functioning struggles (I.e. low motivation, task Initiation problems, unorganized, easily distracted)

• Anxiety / depression / lack of fulfillment / joy

• Imposter syndrome / feelings of inadequacy

• Dissociation

• Low self-esteem or low self-worth

• Disordered eating

• Dating struggles / relationship concerns

Please see our home page for more specialties & areas of focus

Sessions often begin with a recap of how you have been since our last time meeting together. Our approach is very person-centered so we are ready to start where you feel ready. We take our lead from you and discuss the issues you want to tackle.

Then, we collaboratively create our goals and begin to explore how to achieve these goals through various creative interventions. Sessions are generally a mix of back-and-forth sharing, education, skill building, and guided exercises.

Often, we will leave you with something to do in the upcoming week before we meet again. These suggestions further support your active healing.

At your first appointment, we will spend some time going over various policies and consents to ensure we have all the details we need.

Following this we will discuss the reasons you have decided to reach out for therapy and any goals you might have. We will work to establish a plan and ways to meet your goals. Additionally, at the end, we often will have time to answer any questions you might have.

Please be sure to complete all your electronic intake paperwork prior to your first session. This allows for us to dive right in and maximize our sessions.

We know that the information shared in the spaces of counseling is often very personal. At the beginning, each new client will be presented with a Informed Consent for Psychotherapy. Unless authorized by you or required by law we will not share your information with others.

For example, the law may require us to disclose confidential information to a legal authority if there is reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected, or if you appear to be in danger of harming yourself or others.

If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency please contact any of the following resources:

• Emergency: 911

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (call or text)

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1- 800-799-7233

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433)

• Crisis Text Line: Text "DESERVE" TO 741-741

• Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging): https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

• Self-Harm Hotline: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)

• Essential local and community services: 211, https://www.211.org/

• Planned Parenthood Hotline: 1-800-230-PLAN (7526)

• American Association of Poison Control Centers: 1-800-222-1222

• National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Hope Line: 1-800-622-2255

• National Crisis Line - Anorexia and Bulimia: 1-800-233-4357

• GLBT Hotline: 1-888-843-4564

• TREVOR Crisis Hotline: 1-866-488-7386

• AIDS Crisis Line: 1-800-221-7044

• Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net

• TransLifeline: https://www.translifeline.org - 877-565-8860

• Suicide Prevention Wiki: http://suicideprevention.wikia.com

As of January 1st, 2022 and under the No Surprises Act, state-licensed and/or certified healthcare providers are required to provide a “Good Faith Estimate” of healthcare charges to every new and continuing client who is either uninsured or is not planning to submit a claim to their insurance for the healthcare services they seek.

• You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost, when you find a therapist and hire them.

• Under this the law, healthcare providers are required to provide clients who do not have insurance or who are unsure of insurance estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy and mental health services. You have the right to request and receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of non-emergency healthcare services. You may ask your healthcare provider for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. Ensure that you find a therapist who is honest and transparent.

• If you end up receiving a bill that is at least $400.00 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill by first contacting the healthcare provider or the facility to let them know the billed charges are higher than the GFE and request the business to update the bill to match the GFE. If you need more information or you wish to start a dispute process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) please click here.

Learn More

If you have questions about the Good Faith Estimate, please reach out and ask. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with the resources and guidance to file a dispute.