Common Questions
Why do people get counseling?
People decide to find a counselor for a wide range of reasons. Sometimes they have a specific issue that they just want some help working through. Other times, people have more complex reasons for coming in for therapy, like recovering from a traumatic childhood so those issues don’t negatively impact current relationships. Or they may need help learning how to manage anxiety, stress, depression, or trauma that has caused difficulty in their daily lives. Seeking therapy indicates that you are ready to take responsibility for gaining insight into your life, and making positive changes to improve it.
What are your fees?
$165 for a 45-minute session
$330 for a 90-minute session
These rates apply for individual, couples, and family sessions.
More information on the Rates and Insurance page.
Do you accept insurance?
While I do not accept insurance, I will provide you receipts that can be submitted for out-of-network, outpatient mental health benefits. Contact your insurance provider for how this works.
More info on the Rates and Insurance page.
What is your cancellation policy?
Because I hold your spot only for you and do not offer it to anybody else, I require 48-hour notice for cancellations or you will be billed the full session fee. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Do you offer face-to-face counseling?
Not for the time being. Out of an abundance of caution, I am not planning office sessions until at least next summer. Like so many people, I am being extra careful with my own safety and the safety of my loved ones from COVID-19. This careful approach is also out of concern for your safety and comfort. I do not want to return to the office until everybody feels safe and the COVID spikes have settled down.
Is telephone/video counseling as effective as face-to-face?
Absolutely! In a 2002 study by Reese, Conoley, and Brossart in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, telephone counseling was shown to be equally effective as face-to-face counseling. The authors also indicate that the bond built between therapist and client is equally strong via online counseling.
Is what I say completely private?
Your privacy is protected by federal HIPAA laws. I have to disclose your private information in these circumstances:
- Actual or suspected child abuse, elder abuse or abuse of the disabled
- Somebody’s life is in immediate life-threatening danger
- By order of a Judge
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about this.
Can I ask my partner, friend or parents to join sessions?
Of course! Just let me know ahead of time so I can adjust my approach accordingly. Couples, family, and peer sessions are all the same price per session.
If my partner and I are seeing you as a couple, can you see us individually as well?
Usually, yes, either for regular individual sessions or intermittent sessions. This is because of my specific training. In Gottman Couples Counseling, I will see each of you at least once during the assessment period. After that, my “client” will be the relationship, but issues that you may have outside of the relationship are fine to bring up since your well-being IS an integral part of the relationship. I would not do regular individual sessions if there seems to be an expectation or fear that I take sides). Some deeper therapy relating to serious diagnoses like Bipolar disorder etc. may preclude regular sessions.
Even if I cannot see you for regular individual therapy regarding issues outside of the relationship, I may still request individual sessions from time to time to help you with specific relationship dynamics. You can request these intermittent sessions as well.
Do I have to know exactly what I want to talk about to schedule an appointment?
Not at all. Many people see me for sessions when they aren’t sure what is going on. They just feel unsettled, or like they are starting to move in a bad direction. Coming in at this point often prevents long-term therapy by helping you overcome the obstacles early-on before they become major issues.
Can you prescribe medicine?
No, I have a Master’s degree (MA), not a Medical Degree (MD). A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in mental health. They are able to diagnose and prescribe appropriate medications. Psychiatrists frequently ask to collaborate with people’s counselors so they have a full picture. They will ask you to sign a release form; I will ask them to send me a copy of that release (you can also sign mine) so I can chat with them.
A Psychologist has a Ph.D., which is not a medical degree. A Ph.D. is a doctorate degree, but not a doctorate of medicine (MD). A psychologist cannot prescribe medicine unless they also have a medical degree.
Jonathan F. Anderson, LCMHC, LPC-s
Jonathan is dually licensed in North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC, formerly LPC) and in Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-s). He completed his Bachelor‘s degree at the University of Texas, Austin, in 1994, and his Master’s Degree at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in 1997. Jonathan has been a leader in the teletherapy industry for over 20-years. He has written telephone counseling training protocols for an international teletherapy provider and was the lead trainer at the same organization. Jonathan has completed Level II of the rigorous Gottman Method of Couples Counseling, and is recognized as an advanced provider of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Management. He is happy to be able to apply his expertise of online and telephone counseling to his trauma response and to all of his counseling services.