Frequently Asked Questions

To get in touch with us, you can give us a call at 682-738-4128 and leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, or you can email us at info@liveyourbestlifecounseling.com and a staff member will be in touch with you.

During the complimentary 15-minute phone consultation, we’ll ask you some questions such as what your current struggles and needs are and then collaboratively decide if we may be a good fit to work together. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask any additional questions you may have.

Yes, we currently accept the following insurances: Aetna, Quest Behavioral Health, Optum (United Healthcare, Oscar, Oxford, and Optum EAP), BCBS of Massachusetts, Horizon BCBS of New Jersey, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, and COMING SOON: BCBS of Texas. 

If you do not have the insurance we accept listed above, sessions will be set at the out-of-pocket rates; we may assist you in filing for potential reimbursement through your insurance provider by individual request. A receipt for services rendered can be provided upon request that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement, known as a SuperBill. 

*Please note that we are NOT in network with Medicaid or Medicare, and even if your Medicaid and/or Medicare policy is managed by one of the above listed insurance companies, we are unable to bill your insurance and you will be responsible for the full cost of sessions.

There are several reasons individuals may choose not to use their health insurance for mental health counseling:

1. Privacy and confidentiality concerns: Using insurance requires a formal diagnosis, which becomes part of a permanent health record. Some may fear this could impact future insurance coverage or privacy in other personal or professional settings. Insurance companies may require detailed treatment plans or progress reports, which could make some individuals uncomfortable with third-party involvement in their care.
2. Limited access to providers: Insurance networks may restrict access to certain therapists, limiting individuals' ability to select the best fit for their needs. Paying privately can sometimes lead to faster appointments with preferred providers, bypassing wait times associated with insurance processes or referrals.
3. Treatment restrictions: Insurance companies often place caps on the duration and frequency of sessions covered, potentially cutting off care prematurely; this makes it challenging for individuals seeking long-term, in-depth therapeutic work, such as trauma-focused or exploratory therapies. Insurers may dictate the types of therapy or treatment modalities that are covered, limiting personalized care approaches. Clients may prefer to set their own therapeutic goals rather than those aligned with insurance guidelines for "medically necessary" treatment. 
4. Billing complications: Clients may prefer to avoid the administrative burden of dealing with insurance claims, approvals, and potential denials, leading to unpredictability in coverage and added stress for clients.
5. High deductibles or copays: Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket costs may still be significant, making it more cost-effective for some to pay out of pocket.

You are responsible for cancelling your scheduled counseling appointment at least 24 hours in advance (72 hours in advance for an EMDR intensive appointment), or you will be charged for the FULL session scheduled.   

Our services are accessible from Monday to Thursday, including select evening appointments. Our providers operate exclusively by appointment, offering distinctive availability. We are happy to address any inquiries concerning session timings or availability in general. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have. 

In addition, all messages received after 5pm Monday through Thursday may be addressed the next business day (Thursday’s messages received after 5pm may be answered Monday). Messages will not be monitored on Fridays/weekends, nor will they be monitored on holidays or when your assigned counselor is out of the office.

Counseling sessions typically last 53 minutes, although longer sessions can be provided as well for an additional charge. How often we meet is a decision that you and your counselor agree upon together, based on availability, severity of symptoms, and the rate you want to change. Typically, most clients start once per week in the beginning, then move to meeting less frequently when severity of symptoms have decreased.

At this time, our services are exclusively available through virtual appointments only to residents located within the state of Texas. We highly value our clients' time and resources and aim to ensure counseling services are easily accessible, allowing individuals to engage in sessions from the comfort of their homes. 

We work with teens and adults, along with premarital couples.

Yes! We can provide faith-based counseling upon request; our clients come from all different backgrounds - ethnic, cultural, religious, and spiritual - and we meet our clients where they are. 

 A number of benefits are available from participating in counseling. Counselors can help provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, and more. Many also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset in assisting with personal growth, improving interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the hassles of daily life. Counselors can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem, or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from counseling depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. 

Counseling varies based on individual needs, focusing on current events, personal history, and progress updates. Sessions can be short-term for specific issues or longer for deeper patterns or personal growth. The first session consists of an intake and then regular sessions moving forward are typically scheduled weekly. Active participation enhances counseling results, aiming to apply learned insights to daily life. Counselors may suggest activities outside of sessions to support progress, and success often comes from motivation to explore and implement new solutions.

Before scheduling an appointment, you will receive an email with links to our online forms. We are a paperless office and all of our forms must be completed prior to your initial session. If forms are not completed, this may delay the start of your first session, as we do not schedule any appointments until all paperwork is completed.

For counseling services for a minor child, please complete the necessary online forms for your child. For custodians of a child, or if you are undergoing a child custody dispute, the state requires that we have verified documents of custody or a copy of the current court order verifying your authority to consent for treatment. Please note that we do not offer any court-based or court required counseling services.

An initial Counseling intake is the first counseling session. During this appointment, we will review your intake documentation and assessment forms so that we can clarify your needs and discuss any concerns, questions, and goals. We will ensure your metric-based care assessments are completed so that we may have an evidence-based way of tracking your progress over time. This is also an opportunity for us to get to know each other and start to establish a therapeutic relationship. Lastly, we will establish some wellness goals for an individualized treatment plan that helps ground your counseling experience. Our hope is that you leave session feeling empowered and hopeful. You and your counselor will have a shared understanding of why you are here and what you want to accomplish during your time.

Confidentiality is vital in counseling, fostering trust in discussing sensitive topics. Counselors typically cannot share information without consent but are legally obligated to break confidentiality in cases of suspected child or elder abuse and when a client poses imminent harm to themselves or others. These exceptions ensure safety and protection in critical situations despite the general commitment to confidentiality in counseling relationships.

We accept all major debit/credit cards.

Healthcare providers are legally required to provide clients without specific health coverage or using particular types of coverage an estimated bill for healthcare services before providing those services. You have the right to request a GFE for the expected total cost of healthcare items or services. If scheduled in advance, providers must offer a written GFE within specific timeframes: 1 business day for appointments made 3 business days ahead and 3 business days for appointments scheduled at least 10 days in advance. You can request a GFE before scheduling, receiving it within 3 business days. If a bill exceeds the GFE by $400 or more, you can dispute it. Keep copies of the GFE and bills. For more information, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-985-3059.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT: CMS is authorized to collect the information on this form and any supporting documentation under section 2799B-7 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 112 of the No Surprises Act, title I of Division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260). We need the information on the form to process your request to initiate a payment dispute, verify the eligibility of your dispute for the PPDR process, and to determine whether any conflict of interest exists with the independent dispute resolution entity selected to decide your dispute. The information may also be used to: (1) support a decision on your dispute; (2) support the ongoing operation and oversight of the PPDR program; (3) evaluate selected IDR entity’s compliance with program rules. Providing the requested information is voluntary. But failing to provide it may delay or prevent processing of your dispute, or it could cause your dispute to be decided in favor of the provider or facility.