Frequently Asked Questions About Online Therapy
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and it is normal to have questions. This page covers common questions about fit, first sessions, online therapy, insurance, privacy, couples counseling, substance use, and more, so you can move forward with confidence.
Getting started
with therapy.
Clear answers about the first step, what to expect, and how to know whether therapy is the right next move for you.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
You do not need to be in crisis or have everything figured out before therapy can be useful. Therapy may be worth considering when something is repeatedly getting in the way of how you want to feel, function, relate to others, or make decisions. A first session can help clarify what is happening and whether working together makes sense.
What happens during the first session?
Your first appointment is a therapy intake session. We will talk about what brings you in, what has been happening, what you would like to change, and what may be contributing to the problem. I will also explain how I work and answer your questions. You do not need to tell your entire life story in one visit. The goal is to understand enough to begin thoughtfully and decide together what the next steps should be.
What if I don't know what to talk about?
That is completely workable. You can start with what has been bothering you, what feels stuck, or what you wish were different. Part of my role is to ask useful questions, help organize what you are experiencing, and identify patterns that may be hard to see from inside the problem.
What if I'm nervous about starting?
Many people feel anxious before a first therapy appointment, especially if they are unsure what to expect or have not felt comfortable opening up in the past. You are not expected to perform or say the right thing. We can move at a pace that allows you to feel oriented, understood, and increasingly comfortable with the process.
When I book, is it a consultation or an actual therapy appointment?
When you book through my scheduling system, you are reserving an actual intake appointment rather than a brief consultation call. The first session still gives you a chance to evaluate fit, ask questions, and decide whether you want to continue. One appointment is not a commitment to ongoing therapy.
Fit & how I work.
Learn more about my approach, what therapy with me is like, and how we determine whether the work is actually helping.
How do I know if you're the right therapist for me?
The most reliable way to assess fit is to meet. A good therapeutic relationship should feel respectful, collaborative, and useful, even when the work is challenging. I am active and engaged in sessions, and I tend to work well with people who want a therapist who listens carefully, asks direct questions, offers feedback, and helps translate insight into change. If the fit does not feel right, you are not obligated to continue.
What is your therapy style like?
My style is active, collaborative, practical, and individualized. I draw from approaches such as CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, Gestalt, and trauma-informed therapy, but I do not force every client into the same model. We focus on understanding what is keeping the problem going, identifying what is most likely to help, and adjusting the work as you make progress.
Will you mostly listen, or will you give feedback and tools?
Both. Feeling heard matters, but I do not see therapy as simply providing a place to vent. I will listen closely, ask questions, offer observations, teach practical strategies when they are useful, and respectfully challenge patterns that may be keeping you stuck. The balance depends on what you need in that moment and what will move the work forward.
Do I have to talk about my childhood or trauma?
No. Your history can be important when it helps explain what is happening now, but therapy does not require digging into painful experiences before you are ready or when it would not be useful. We can begin with your current concerns and decide together when deeper exploration would support your goals.
How will we know therapy is working?
We will define what improvement would actually look like in your day-to-day life and relationships, then pay attention to whether those changes are happening. Progress may include reduced symptoms, better coping, clearer decisions, healthier relationships, or greater ability to handle situations that previously overwhelmed you. If therapy is not producing meaningful movement, we should talk about that and adjust the plan.
How long will I need therapy?
There is no single timeline that fits everyone. Some concerns respond to focused short-term work, while more complex or longstanding patterns may take longer. We will periodically review your goals and progress so therapy continues because it is useful, not simply because it has become a routine.
What concerns do you work with?
I work with a broad mix of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, substance use, grief and loss, stress, and patterns that leave you feeling stuck. You do not need to see your exact experience listed on the website for us to consider working together. In the first session, we can look at what is happening, what you want to change, and whether my experience and approach fit what you need. If I believe another clinician or level of care would serve you better, I will be straightforward about that.
Is your practice LGBTQIA+ affirming?
Yes. LGBTQIA+ clients are welcome in my practice. I believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and care. Therapy should be a place where you can speak openly about your identity, relationships, values, and experiences without having to defend who you are. I work to understand your experience rather than impose my beliefs on it. Clients of different backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and relationship structures are welcome, and I will be transparent if something falls outside my professional competence.
Online therapy
& scheduling.
Practical information about online therapy, session length, scheduling, communication, and what you need before your appointment.
Is therapy completely online?
Yes. Allington Counseling is a telehealth practice. Sessions are held by secure video, which allows you to meet from a private location without traveling to an office. You must be physically located in Colorado at the time of the appointment.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
For many common mental health concerns, research supports video-based therapy as an effective option, with outcomes that can be comparable to in-person care. The most important practical factors are having enough privacy, a reliable internet connection, and feeling comfortable engaging by video. If telehealth does not seem appropriate for your needs, we can discuss that openly.
What do I need for an online session?
You will need a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and a private space where you can speak freely. Headphones can be helpful when privacy is limited. You will receive the information needed to join the secure video session before your appointment.
How often will we meet?
Many clients begin with weekly sessions because consistency helps build momentum. Depending on your goals, symptoms, schedule, and progress, we may later decide that a different frequency makes more sense. We can talk about this at the first appointment rather than assuming one schedule fits everyone.
How long are sessions?
The initial intake is typically 60 to 90 minutes. Ongoing psychotherapy sessions are generally scheduled for about 55 minutes, with a 45-minute option available when clinically appropriate. We will choose the format that makes sense for your treatment and coverage.
Can I text or email between appointments?
Text and email are appropriate for scheduling and routine administrative communication. I do not provide therapy by text or email because important clinical work is better handled in a private session where there is enough context and time to respond thoughtfully.
What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Plans sometimes change. If you need to move an appointment, please do so as early as possible through the scheduling system or by contacting the practice. Late cancellations and missed appointments may be subject to a fee under the practice policy, so reviewing those terms before your first session can prevent surprises.
Fees & insurance.
Clear information about session costs, insurance coverage, and payment so you can know what to expect before beginning.
What does therapy cost?
For private-pay clients, the initial 60 to 90 minute intake is $150, a 55-minute psychotherapy session is $140, and a 45-minute session is $110. If you are using insurance, your actual responsibility depends on your specific plan, including any copay, deductible, or coinsurance.
What insurance plans do you accept?
I accept 30+ insurance plans and programs, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna, Centivo, and select employee assistance programs (EAPs), such as Cigna EAP, Confide Enhanced EAP, and Resources for Living EAP. Insurance billing is available through Headway, Alma, and SonderMind, depending on your specific plan. You can review the current list on the Fees & Insurance page and choose your insurance when booking. Eligibility, behavioral health benefits, and estimated costs are checked before your first session.
How will I know what I actually owe with insurance?
Your benefits are checked before the appointment so you can have a clearer estimate of your expected cost. Your responsibility may be a copay, coinsurance, or an amount applied toward your deductible. Insurance estimates are helpful but are not a guarantee of final claim processing.
What if my insurance is not listed?
You can still choose private pay if the rate works for you. Depending on your plan, you may also have out-of-network benefits that reimburse part of the cost. The Fees & Insurance page explains current payment options in more detail so you can decide whether scheduling makes financial sense before you begin.
Are there fees for missed appointments or late cancellations?
Yes, missed appointments and late cancellations may result in a fee under the practice policy. Insurance generally does not cover missed-session fees. The policy is provided before treatment so you can review the expectations in advance and avoid unexpected charges.
Couples counseling.
Common questions about couples therapy, what to expect, and how the process can help you understand and change the patterns between you.
How do we get started with couples counseling?
Couples counseling is offered through private pay. You can request an appointment through the private-pay scheduling form, and I'll follow up with available times and next steps. Our first session is an opportunity to understand what's happening in your relationship and begin identifying what you'd like to change together.
Do both of us have to want couples therapy equally?
No. It is common for one partner to feel more ready, hopeful, or motivated than the other. You do not have to begin with equal enthusiasm. Both people do need to be willing to participate honestly enough for us to understand what is happening and explore whether meaningful change is possible.
Will you tell us who is right?
Couples therapy is not about choosing a winner. I will help identify the interactional patterns that are creating distress, what each person is contributing to those patterns, and what needs to change. That does not mean treating every issue as automatically equal or ignoring harmful behavior. The goal is clarity, accountability, and healthier ways of relating.
What if we are not sure whether we want to stay together?
You do not have to arrive with that decision already made. Therapy can provide a structured place to understand what has happened, what each person wants, and whether rebuilding the relationship feels realistic. When the decision itself is the central issue, the work can focus first on gaining enough clarity to make it thoughtfully.
Can couples therapy help after infidelity or a major breach of trust?
It can. Repair after betrayal usually requires more than simply deciding to move on. Therapy can help slow the cycle of accusation, defensiveness, withdrawal, or repeated reassurance-seeking so the couple can understand the impact, establish boundaries, rebuild emotional safety, and determine whether trust can be restored.
Do you have a no-secrets policy?
Yes. In couples counseling, the relationship is the client. I do not agree to hold information from one partner when that information materially affects the couples work. The policy is reviewed clearly before treatment begins so both people understand the expectations and can make an informed decision about participating.
Substance use.
Therapy can meet you where you are, whether you are questioning your use, trying to make changes, or looking for support in recovery.
Do I have to call myself an addict or alcoholic?
No. Effective substance use counseling does not require you to adopt a label that does not fit for you. We can look directly at what you are using, how it affects your life, what function it serves, and what you want to change. The focus is on honest assessment and useful goals rather than forcing an identity.
Do I have to be ready to quit?
No. Ambivalence is common and can be part of the work rather than a reason to avoid therapy. Your goals may involve stopping, reducing use, preventing relapse, understanding patterns, or deciding whether change is needed. We start with your actual level of readiness and build from there.
Do you require abstinence?
Not automatically. The appropriate goal depends on the substance, your health and safety, the severity of the problem, your history, and what you want from treatment. In some situations abstinence may be the safest recommendation, while in others reduction or harm-reduction goals may be clinically appropriate. We can discuss that without judgment.
Can we work on substance use and anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship problems at the same time?
Yes. Substance use often interacts with mood, anxiety, trauma, relationships, sleep, stress, and coping. Treating those concerns as if they are completely separate can miss what is keeping the overall pattern going. When appropriate, we can work on them together and prioritize what is most important for stability and progress.
Privacy & safety.
Your privacy matters. These answers explain confidentiality, its limits, communication with others, and what to do in an emergency.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. Protecting your privacy is a core part of therapy. Information about your treatment is generally confidential and is not shared without your permission except in specific situations required or permitted by law. The informed-consent process explains these limits before treatment begins.
When can confidentiality be broken?
There are legal and ethical exceptions to confidentiality. These may include situations involving imminent danger, suspected abuse or neglect when reporting is required, certain court orders, or other circumstances defined by law. If a concern arises, I will generally discuss what is happening and what steps may be necessary whenever it is clinically and legally appropriate to do so.
Will you talk with my partner, family, doctor, or someone else about my treatment?
Not routinely. Outside of legal exceptions, I would typically need your written authorization before discussing your care with another person or provider. When coordination would be helpful, we can talk about what information should be shared, with whom, and for what purpose.
What if I'm experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis?
Allington Counseling is not an emergency or crisis-response service. If you are in a mental health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support. If there is an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Therapy can be part of ongoing support, but urgent safety needs require real-time crisis resources.
You don't have to know everything before you start.
Come as you are. We'll go from there.
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