Frequently Asked Questions

+ How do I schedule, and what do I need in advance?

You may complete the contact form on this website to request an initial consultation (free on the phone for 15-20 minutes) or to schedule an intake appointment. You may email for an appointment if you prefer: droliviaw@oliviawedelcounseling.com.

With a few exceptions, I do not schedule initial appointments until the intake documents are complete. You will receive a HIPAA-compliant, secure link to portal access in Simple Practice, my EHR. For clients using their benefits, I must also have your insurance information in advance in order to verify copay amount. A form of payment is required prior to the first session.

+ What are your office hours?

My office hours are by appointment only Monday afternoon - Thursday. I currently do not offer session appointments on weekends or late evenings. I am unable to accept walk in appointments at this time.

+ Do you offer crisis intervention & support after hours?

The short answer is no, I am unable to provide services after hours. If you are having an emergency, or feel as if you cannot keep yourself safe, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. You may also call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-862-5252 (for non-emergencies only). Both of these resources are available 24/7, 365 days per year.

+ How long are sessions?

Private/cash pay sessions are approximately 55-60 minutes. For clients using insurance, most plans limit session length to 45-52 minutes as more intensive requirements for longer sessions must be met for billing. The session length is discussed during the intake.

+ How long will I be in therapy?

The therapeutic process looks different for everyone. I’ve worked with clients who felt like they got what they needed in 4-6 sessions and others for several months. We will work on a plan of care together so that you will have a transparent idea of plans for therapy, including your best hopes and goals. Additionally, with respect to your time and planning ahead, the discharge process starts well in advance of the last session so it is not rushed. **For clients using their insurance benefits, it is very likely your plan limits the number of sessions.

+ What are your fees?

Therapy is an investment of your time, energy, and finances. I offer a comprehensive intake appointment where we review your presenting concerns, best hopes for therapy, and initiate your plan of care. This appointment is 90 minutes and the fee is $190.

My full fee for subsequent sessions that are 55-60 minutes is $165. I am fully invested in your session through advance preparation related to your plan of care, ongoing training related to my specialties, and continuing education related to my specialties.

Beginning January 1, 2023, I am offering a longer 'intensive' type of session where therapeutic work is done to meet a more specific need without the frequency of weekly sessions. These intensives are two hours (120 minutes) and are $250. Please reach out to droliviaw@oliviawedelcounseling.com if you are interested in more information. These sessions are not billable to insurance.

I do collect fees at the beginning of each session. I do not carry a balance for clients.

If you are using your health insurance, fees per session will vary depending on your individual plan. Fees will be discussed in advance, and copays are billed at the time of service.

+ Do you offer in-person sessions?

Yes! I have an office located near Historic Main Street in Grapevine, Texas at Grapevine Birthing Center (409 W. Wall Street). I also offer telehealth appointments through Simple Practice, my HIPAA-compliant EHR.

+ How can therapy help me?

Coming to therapy reduces guilt, shame, and frustration and assists in ending the stigma associated with mental health. Beyond specialized training and theoretical approaches, I am able to provide support, resources, and assistance with solution-building in a safe, non-judgmental space that promotes your personal growth and reduces the struggles of daily life. I can also help you in looking at other perspectives, learning new ways of coping and managing emotions, provide psychoeducation, and learning new skills to help reach your goals. The overall benefits from therapy require you to put into practice what you learn beyond the therapy hour so we can identify what works, what else we can do, and if we need to do something different.

+ What are the postpartum care planning sessions mentioned on your website?

I feel strongly that when women and families are prepared for postpartum from a supportive, informed perspective, the experience can go much more smoothly. I've helped numerous families plan for life after having a baby by having a flexible postpartum plan in place prior to giving birth. These sessions are educational and supportive regarding mental health, how to access resources if needed, paying attention to signs and symptoms for both mom and dad, and establishing a plan of support and care for both mom and dad. These sessions can be done in one to three visits and are not therapeutic in nature. Cost varies between $175 - $525 for one to three sessions and are not billable to insurance, but I will provide a superbill that you can submit for potential reimbursement.

+ Can I bring my husband/partner/significant other to therapy with me?

Your personal relationship(s) are very important and navigating them is essential if you believe there is a need. I do not do couples therapy, but I have extensive resources and referrals I can provide for couples and family therapists if requested. Please do not hesitate to ask. I do offer separate postpartum planning services for couples that are psychoeducational in nature.

+ Are you a Christian counselor?

I offer faith-based counseling for any clients who make the request. My other approaches to counseling are secular unless a faith-based approach is requested and documented in the intake evaluation in your file.

+ Are you in network with any insurance providers?

I am in network with Aetna, United Healthcare, and Oxford Health Plans. I used Headway as my billing platform.

+ Using Insurance vs. Not Using Insurance - Do I Have to Use my Benefits?

While using insurance benefits is your right, and having medical insurance is defintely helpful, insurance may limit access to care based on your individual needs. When insurance is used, the managed care company dictates the process, and I am unable to fully customize each session to fit your needs, based on your goals and best hopes for therapy, because insurance limits our time together. One of the benefits of private pay is you can see me, or any other private pay therapist, as you wish without having to meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis. When insurance is billed, I am required to provide a mental health diagnosis that becomes part of your permanent medical record, in addition to having your file (including notes, treatment plans, plan of care, etc.) potentially audited so they (the insurance company) can determine your progress and whether they will pay for more sessions.

I strongly prefer that you and I work together to determine your progress and need for sessions without input from a managed care organization who only knows you by your member identification number. However, iff you wish to use your insurance benefits, it is important that you call your provider to confirm benefits for counseling. You will receive a link from me for Headway, my billing company, where you will enter your information for insurance verification before we can schedule the first session.

+ Do you write letters for emotional support animals (ESAs), hormone replacement therapy, and/or long and short-term disability?

Writing letters for emotional support animals and hormone-replacement therapy is outside of my scope of expertise as the determination and documentation of needs should come from a medical doctor, and I do not write these letters as part of my practice. Additionally, employers and attorneys tend to rely on expertise of medical doctors for justifying documentation for needs related to long and short-term disability. While I have assisted with this paperwork in the past, I clarify in advance it compromises my ability to protect your information, and there are fees required in advance for completing any disability and FMLA paperwork.

+ Do you provide testimony as an expert witness?

I do not provide any testimony at any time as an expert witness as this requires extensive training beyond my scope of practice. I also charge a substantial retainer fee of $7000 plus billing $350 per hour for additional costs in the event I am required to go to court as it requires substantial time away from my business and other clients. The retainer fee must be paid in full in advance. If you need an expert witness, or anticipate needing a therapist skilled in court testimony, I will be glad to provide referrals.

+ What is your Covid-19 policy for in person sessions?

My office is housed inside of a licensed birth center which is considered a medical facility, so extensive cleaning procedures were in place long before Covid, and are still in place at this time. I continue to offer convenient telehealth sessions for anyone who prefers meeting via HIPAA-compliant software. For those who wish to meet in person, there is at least six feet distance between seats in my office at Grapevine Birthing Center, and all surfaces including door knobs are sanitized between appointments. In accordance with the State of Texas, a mask is not required, but you may wear one if you wish. I am also happy to wear a mask upon request.