Question 1

What can I expect from our initial phone consult?

Accepted Answer

1. Through text or email communication, we will land on a date/time for me to call you for the consult.

2. During the call, I'll answer any questions that you may have for me.

3. We'll briefly discuss what has led you to seek therapy at this time so I can get an idea of what you're looking for and discuss how I may be able to help.

4. We'll discuss logistics, including making sure that our schedules align as well as frequency, etc.

5. At the end of the call, we'll either schedule an intake appointment, I'll add you to my waitlist or I will provide you with referrals to other therapists in the community. 
 
If the idea of talking on the phone makes you nervous, I get it... phone calls aren't usually on the top of my to do list. Talking to a stranger can be uncomfortable. It can help to have your questions already written down ahead of time. I'm pretty good at putting people at ease fairly quickly. Now, if the mere idea of calling me is just a no go and you'll do anything to avoid it (including giving up on the idea of going to therapy), then we can have the consult via text or email (both methods are secure and private on my end).
 
On my 'Contact' (https://www.therapyinalaska.com/contact)page, please fill out my information form before we talk as it can save time.

Question 2

How do I know therapy is right for me?

Accepted Answer

Great question and not a simple one for me to answer. 
I suppose the only way to find out, is to give it a go.
Most people benefit from therapy at one point or another as long as they find the provider, techniques and modalities that work best for them. 
It can be an immense relief to have a safe, supportive and judgement-free space that exists to benefit you. It's a place for you to share the parts of yourself that maybe you've never been able to share with others or don't understand yourself.

Change is hard. It has to be intentional and takes effort / time. 
You don't have to go it alone and you're absolutely capable.

Question 3

How does therapy work?

Accepted Answer

Here's a very basic outline:
 
People start therapy for a wide variety of reasons -- a major life change, a disturbing event/trauma, crisis, relationship trouble, times of transition, managing anxiety, etc. 
 
All you need to get started is a desire for things to be different. 
Motivation can be hard to come by and it looks different for each person but we approach it one step at a time.
 
Intake session: I gather background & history while giving you a sense of what it's like to work with me. At the end we'll have a sense of the same page we want to be on regarding your overall goals (we'll revisit these goals periodically to assess progress/change). On rare occasion, one or both of us may decide that perhaps it's not a good fit after-all and in this case, I will provide you with referrals after the intake.
 
Sessions 2 - 3: Often these sessions are a continuation of the intake session, I'm getting to know you more, we're figuring out our therapy groove together and we may start delving a little deeper.
 
Sessions 4+: We'll start going deeper at a pace that feels safe and realistic for you; some sessions will be easier than others.
You may be seeing me weekly, biweekly or monthly (for some it's pretty consistent and for others it fluctuates). I don't dictate frequency for clients (though sometimes my availability impacts frequency) and trust that folks know what fits into their schedule/finances. 
 
After we've worked our way through your original goals/immediate concerns; we revisit frequency, assess for new goals (if there are any) and make decisions together about what you'd like going forward.
 
When you're ready to end therapy, we discuss that shift and what it looks like for you.

Please note that it may take some folks many, many months (or longer) in therapy to develop enough trust to get into the truly deep work, that is okay. There are many variables that may contribute to therapeutic progress seeming "slower," including past trauma, attachment disruptions, previous negative experiences with other therapists, and more.

Question 4

How long does therapy last?

Accepted Answer

My time-frame with each client is different. Sharing "averages," usually isn't that helpful because there are so many variables that impact how long/how often you're in therapy.  My goal isn't to keep you on my couch forever nor is it to make you feel rushed out the door. I want to help you reach your goals in a way that works best for you. I encourage clients to have weekly sessions for the first 3-4 months if they can; research has shown that attending therapy less frequently may not be as effective for some. When sessions are spread out, they can end up being more "catch-up" versus working steadily on core issues. However, I absolutely understand that schedule and finances heavily impact this and have many biweekly (even monthly) clients who still see significant progress and growth.

Question 5

What information do you need before my first session?

Accepted Answer

About a week before your scheduled intake session, I will get you setup in the client portal which is where you will have access to all of the necessary intake paperwork (all of it can be filled out, signed and submitted right within the portal).

I prefer for all of the paperwork to be completed and submitted at least 24-hours prior to our first session so that I have ample time to review and be best prepared. However, if you are struggling with any of it; please let me know.

I also realize that there are folks who may have difficulty with reading/comprehension and can struggle to get through paperwork; I do not want that to be a barrier for care, so just let me know and we'll figure it out. Additionally, not everyone likes to or can do this type of paperwork online, if that is the case, I am fine printing it out and having you complete it during the intake appointment.

Question 6

Do you offer in-person or telehealth sessions?

Accepted Answer

Yup! I see clients in-person and via telehealth.

We will discuss this during the phone consult in more detail but I do see clients out of my home. There is an entire section of my home solely dedicated to my practice and clients never utilize or see any of my personal living areas. There is a designated parking space for clients, a private client entrance (different than the front door of the house), a client only waiting room and a client only bathroom. 
 
If either of us becomes symptomatic/sick within 24 hours of our appointment, we'll communicate and can either switch to Telehealth or reschedule for a different day.

Question 7

Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?

Accepted Answer

At this time, due to my family's schedule/needs, I do not offer evening/weekend appointments. While I recognize that a lot of folks have a 9-5 job that can make scheduling appointments during the week difficult, most are able to rearrange work/other committments to prioritize getting the support they need and deserve. If you absolutely need evening/weekend appointments, I'm happy to refer you to a therapist who offers that availaility.

Question 8

Can we work together if I don't live in Alaska or Oregon?

Accepted Answer

You don't have to be a resident of Alaska or Oregon but I can only provide services for people who are physically located in Alaska or Oregon.
If you don't live in Anchorage and don't want to drive in for in-person sessions, we can do telehealth. 
 
For current clients that go out of state temporarily and want to have sessions while gone, some states allow therapists to practice across state lines as long as the client's time in that state is brief (typically 30-90 days) and the therapist reaches out to that state's licensing board to inform them.

Question 9

What are your rates?

Accepted Answer

Please see all things regarding cost & insurance by clicking here!(www.therapyinalaska.com/rates)  
You can also find a link to this information on my 'Work With Me'(https://www.therapyinalaska.com/work-with-me) page.

Flat rate fee: $225 (this applies to sessions that are anywhere from 20 - 60 minutes in length).

Question 10

Do you take insurance? Do you offer sliding scale/reduced fee spots?

Accepted Answer

I am an Out-of-Network provider; please visit my rates (https://www.therapyinalaska.com/rates)pages for additional details; there is a mini FAQ at the bottom of that page that answers common questions about this.

Please take the time to verify your benefits as the contract is between you and your insurance provider and you're ultimately responsible for any unpaid services. I cannot make any guarantees about the level of reimbursement that you may be eligible for (though, I am also happy to verify your benefits as well).

Additionally, most insurance plans have what is called a Benefit Level Exception, which is where we request for insurance to reimburse you based on your in network benefits due to my specific specialties, lack of availability in Alaska, etc. Plans that do this will typically approve this for 3-12 months at a time.

At this time, I do not have any sliding scale/reduced fee spots available. However, I am happy to provide you with specific referrals or you can try out these resources that connect clients with therapists who have low fee / pro bono spots available:
Open Path Collective(https://openpathcollective.org/)
Therapy Aid Coalition(https://therapyaid.org/)

Question 11

What happens if I cancel late or don't show up to a scheduled session?

Accepted Answer

To avoid fees, please cancel with at least 24-hours notice; this is most easily accomplished by just sending me a quick text/email.

Opting-in for appointment reminders to be sent via text is a helpful way to avoid late cancels.
Specifics around my policies are included in my intake paperwork and are pretty standard for those who provide professional services. Your session time is reserved for you only and I follow best practices so that I can maintain good boundaries for the business side of my practice. That being said, I also aim to be flexible and do not charge for illness or emergencies. 
Late Cancel Fee / No Show Fee - $75

Before charging a fee, I will reach out to you first in the event that there was an emergency and/or illness.

**Please note that insurance cannot be billed for late cancel/no show fees**

Question 12

What ages do you work with? Do you work with couples or co-parents?

Accepted Answer

I work with adolescents (16+) and adults. 
Occasionally I will work with kiddos ages 13-15 depending on circumstances, level of engagement, etc.  For younger kids, I am happy to work with parents directly or refer out to a play therapist.

I do work with couples on a limited bases. This includes parents, co-parents, kid-free couples, non-traditional partnerships, etc. I am pretty selective because this kind of work does take more time/energy but you're welcome to reach out to see if we'd be a good fit!

Explore my family/couples therapy page.(https://www.therapyinalaska.com/family-couples-therapy)
Note: I do not see high conflict / divorcing couples but am happy to provide referrals for therapists that do.

Question 13

What kind of letters do you provide?

Accepted Answer

HRT/Surgery Letters for those in the LGBQTIA+ community:
I provide this letter at the end of a 2-3 hour assessment; I do not require multiple sessions/on-going therapy in order to obtain a letter. I do not charge for the letter itself, I simply charge for the assessment (if it is cost prohibitive, we will discuss options).
 
I don't participate in gatekeeping those who seek HRT and/or surgery in order for their physical bodies to align with their gender / identity. I have received specialized training regarding these types of letters, seek on-going consultation and have a template that I use (but am happy to use templates that have been provided to you by your Medical Provider and/or insurance company). 
 
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters:
Rarely do I provide these types of letters, if I do, it is after thorough discussion and I do not provide this service for clients that have been seeing me for less than 6 months.

Diagnostic Confirmation/Accommodation Letters
These are the types of letters that clients most often request. These letters include factual information regarding mental health diagnoses that I have given and provide justification for certain accommodations in different environments (e.g., school, work, etc.). I cannot provide letters for diagnoses received by other medical/mental health providers unless I have gathered the necessary information and am in agreement with the diagnosis.

Medication Management Referral Letters
If a client has decided to explore the use of psychotropic medication (for anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, etc.), I will provide a letter of recommendation/support for their medical management provider if I am the one who gave the correlating diagnosis or if I have the necessary information from previous medical/mental health providers and am agreement with the diagnosis.
 
*Other types of letters can be requested and discussed on a case by case basis.

Question 14

What is your stance on systemic oppression?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, most of us grew up being socialized in systems that uphold:
 
 • Racism
 • Sexism
 • Ableism
 • Classism
 • Ageism
 • Heterosexism
 • Size-ism
 • Anti-LGQBTIA2+ beliefs/ideas
 • Anti-Trans beliefs/ideas
 • Bigotry

While I am not an expert, I recognize that being white and presenting as cisgender/heteronormative (I am non-binary and queer) has provided me with a lot of privilege. It is my responsibility to be engaged in social justice advocacy. Learning to be anti-[insert ism here] is a lifelong journey towards understanding, unpacking and dismantling the systems of oppression that have been in place for centuries.

Disclaimer: I recognize that these are sensitive topics and that it is not my role to force clients to discuss or work on these areas but they fully inform my perspective, how I exist in the world and the approaches that I use with clients.

Question 15

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Easy - go to my Scheduling (https://www.therapyinalaska.com/scheduling)page.
 
Once we've scheduled a phone consult:
 
1. I'll call you at the day/time we've agreed upon. Before ending the call, we decide whether to book the intake session, add you to my waitlist or if I am providing you with referrals.
 
2. If you scheduled an intake session, I will reach out to you the week before to get you setup in the client portal. The portal is where you will have access to the intake paperwork that you'll need to review, fill out and submit prior to us meeting. 
 
The day of appointment - In Person
Arrive at my office (read more about my location  (https://www.therapyinalaska.com/about)by clicking here (https://www.therapyinalaska.com/about)and scrolling to the bottom of the page), park, walk up to the front door, enter the client code and come on in -- you'll find yourself in a private waiting room where you can hang up your coat, take off your shoes (or leave them on), get yourself a drink of water, and take a seat. I will come out to get you at the appointment time.
 
The day of appointment - Telehealth 
Log into your client portal at the start of our appointment time (or click on the link you received via email / text). After you click the link, you'll be put in a virtual "waiting room," until I let you in. If you have any issues with technology, reach out by texting or calling me and we'll problem solve together. 
Your intake paperwork will include necessary information about telehealth.

Question 16

What if I have more questions?

Accepted Answer

No problem.
 
Text me at 907-865-8452 (the fastest way to get a hold of me).

Email me at: jen@therapyinalaska.com (mailto:jen@therapyinalaska.com)
 
Note: I can only guarantee security/privacy via text/email on my end of things, not yours so please be cautious with the information you send to me.

I am currently accepting new clients for my waitlist only. To be added, please visit my contact page.

Open Door Therapy