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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a typical counseling session with you like?
    Clients have shared that our time together is enjoyable, deep, and growth fostering. Laughter and tears are both wholeheartedly welcome. Our sessions provide spaciousness for your embodied wisdom to be accessed. My approach is collaborative, contextual, trauma-responsive, and celebrating of collective and individual identities. I bring curiosity, intergenerational compassion, and cultural humility. I often provide creative Mind/Body techniques for attending to the human nervous system. For example, here is an exercise for connecting offered by Rev angel Kyodo williams. Somatic (relating to the body) modalities I have been trained in include 2 years of learning Somatic Experiencing, a world renowned method of trauma resolution. If you are interested in learning more, here is a podcast episode with Alanis Morissette and Dr. Peter Levine discussing somatic experiencing as a modality of healing. Importantly, during or after an overwhelming experience, engaging creativity (e.g., music, art, metaphors, etc.) has been known to be a protective factor to help people alleviate anxiety or PTSD. The healing that people experience when accessing the creative part of their brain by engaging in experiential methods can often surpass talk therapy. Creativity in our sessions can include: music, sandtray, poetry, drawing, meditation, guided imagery, writing, quotes, metaphors, collages, coloring, collage, breathing together, experiential activities, engaging with parts of yourself that are having an inner conflict, role playing to prepare for an upcoming courageous conversation, etc. No prior art experience is at all needed, nor any supplies. If you are interested, here is a link to a free online creativity and healing course as an adjunct to counseling services. Although totally not needed and never expected, you are always welcome to bring to the session anything you find creatively inspiring (e.g., a poem, a piece of art, a quote) for us to explore the relatedness with your goals and insights you might find within.
  • What if my situation is urgent and I am experiencing a crisis?
    Your safety is of unfathomable significance to me. Although it is beyond my current capacity to be on call for emergencies, there is community access to care immediately when you are in need. For 24/7 mental health support, you are encouraged to either call or text 988. If there is a medical emergency, 911 can send an ambulance. I am able to respond to messages within 3 to 5 business days.
  • Location - Can we meet online or in-person? What if I am not in Florida, or what if I’m in Florida but in a different city?
    At this time, I am only scheduling online telehealth video meetings The state of Florida laws and ethics mandates prohibit counseling clients outside the state where I am licensed. You may be located anywhere in the state with a private space and reliable internet. I am licensed throughout the entire state of Florida.
  • Do you prescribe medication?
    Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists are not trained or authorized to prescribe medicine, so I do not. You can find a psychiatrist on psychology today, and you can filter for insurance and other aspects that may be important to you.
  • What topics could we focus on together? What ages do you serve?
    We may be a good match if you are an adult (18+) seeking support with relationship concerns, making sense of what is happening in your life, understanding others, stress, communication, connection, grief, adjustment to a transition, the present-day impacts of traumatic events that have happened, worthiness, self-care, rekindling your creativity, understanding and creating boundaries, etc. I offer creative and embodied ways of navigating painful and challenging life circumstances and relational difficulties. ​
  • What types of payment can you receive? How much do private pay services cost and do you have sliding scale spots available?
    PayPal and all major credit cards: Visa, Master Card, and American Express. You are protected from hidden healthcare costs by a law called a “good faith estimate”. We can discuss as an open dialogue whether you prefer to meet weekly, biweekly, monthly, and when it is time to complete our work together or move to an as-needed basis.
  • Cancellation/Reschedule Policy - What happens if I can’t make it to the appointment that was scheduled?
    Cancellations or rescheduled sessions are welcome in advance - at least 48 hours ahead of time, if possible. Because your session day and time has been reserved especially for you, if the cancellation or reschedule is less than 24 hours ahead of time, no other client would be able to fill that time spot. Therefore, you will be responsible for the full session fee, whether or not you were able to make it.
  • Can I use my health insurance for counseling?
    Depending on your insurance, my services might be covered completely, or partially covered with a co-pay, or not covered at all. Importantly, see table at the bottom of this question for Considerations related to deciding about whether to private pay or to use insurance. *** If you have Aetna, Cigna, Oxford, United Healthcare, or Oscar Health, I can provide in-network services for those insurance providers. Headway can take care of billing for us, click here to learn more. *** If you have out-of-network benefits for other insurance policies, I can provide you with a “superbill” that you can submit to your insurance company for possible partial reimbursement. *** To find in-network providers with other insurance policies, you can search https://www.psychologytoday.com/us. There is also a database with clinicians who specialize in serving people in the LBGTQ+ community, which can be accessed via: https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org If you are uninsured or underinsured, and cannot afford market rates for therapy, you can search for a provider through https://openpathcollective.org.
  • I am ready to move forward! What are the next steps? -OR- I have a question(s) that is not on this list!
    Feel free to email DrEmiLenes@gmail.com or call (352) 448-9901 *** Please include your weekly availability of which evenings or weekend windows you are available for the next few weeks. If you do not get a response within 3-5 business days, please resend.
  • What is the purpose of the free consultation before scheduling?
    Our moments are so valuable. Before we schedule a whole session, let’s connect about if what my services can offer is a good fit for what your needs.
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