Frequently asked questions

How can telemental health distance therapy help me?

Therapy can teach you new ways to think about the situations that bother you. It can help you cope with feelings and situations. I can help you to develop ways to cope with feelings and symptoms, and change behavior patterns that may contribute to your life challenges.



What should I expect at my first telephonic appointment?

Before we have our first session, I will have you fill out some brief paperwork that will give me an overview of what may be bringing you in for support. I will be sending these documents through a HIPPA compliant web portal called wecounsel. You will create your own login so we can communicate securely via email, chat, and audio. During the first sesson, we will begin to get to know each other and we’ll decide if it would be a good fit for both of us to work together.



What type of payment methods do you accept?

I use an online practice management system, wecounsel, so that you can enter and save your payment information yourself in the secure customer portal. If you do not wish to add your credit card information to the customer portal, you can also pay via Square with any major credit card right after each session. I also accept PayPal, Xoom, Venmo, and SquareCash.



What are your fees?

I am an Open Path Psychotherapy Collective therapist. My fees for individual and couples sessions are as follows: Open Path Cost (per session):
$30 - $50 for a 50-minute individual session
$30 - $80 for a 50-minute couples and family counseling $60 - $100 for a 75-minute individual or couples session



Do you take insurance?

I do not work with insurance providers. My professional opjective is to offer therapy to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or unable to pay full market rates for therapy.



What is an LMSW and a LCSW?

LMSW stands for Licensed Master of Social Work. A person with a licensed master’s of social work (LMSW) is a practicing social worker who has received an MSW from a school of social work accredited by the CSWE. Obtaining an MSW involves studying advanced concepts of social work and completing supervised field work. I attended Portland State's Social Work program and did my practicum work the first year at Kindtree Autism Rocks, and the second year at Sacred Heart Medical Center as a Medical Social Worker. LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. The requirements to earn a LCSW are: Have a Master's Degree in Social Work. Under supervision, complete the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the social work field. The minimum, post-master's hours are: 3500 Total Work Hours 2000 Direct Client Hours 100 Supervised Hours (50 of these must be individual) Pass the ASWB Clinical Exam Pass the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam Once an LCSW gets licensed they must complete a certain number of Continued Education hours every two years to stay up to date on the latest clinical research in the field. In addition, some therapists will get extra training in advanced areas of practice. For example, I have additional training in psychosis to work with individual who have expereinced trauma and/or substance use.



What’s most Important about telemental health?

A number of studies have been done on what makes telemental health therapy successful. Across numerous studies, the most important factor in predicting successful therapy outcomes is the quality of the therapeutic alliance. There are nearly 80 million Americans who live in a mental health professional shortage area. Even in urban environments where mental health workers abound, cost, transportation and time constraints often prevent people from seeking mental health services. You can read more about this phenomenon here.



How can I schedule an appointment?

You can schedule an appointment with me by contacting me via my "Contact" page. You can also email me at lorraine@comprehensivetherapy.online, call me at 971-407-2657, or text me at 458-215-0179 to set something up. I believe it is most helpful to have a free 15-minute phone consultation before setting up an appointment. I look forward to hearing from you!



What kinds of things do people seek help for?

People seek counseling for a variety of reasons including feeling unhappy, confusion about the direction their lives are headed in, and for experiencing feelings of worry, sadness, or anger. I also am contacted by individuals looking for help to change behaviors that are troubling them including: addictive or disordered behaviors or behaviors that affect their relationships at home or at work. Some people seek counseling because they have a life goal that has been eluding them and they are ready to explore their barriers - I really enjoy helping individuals move forward in their lifes. Individuals might also seek out counseling because they are going through a difficult time or facing a difficult decision and they are looking for an unbiased "sounding board" - a place to sort through their feelings and move forward with intention and clear thinking.



Is what I say confidential?

Absolutely. All client-therapist conversations are private and confidential. It is also confidential information that a person is meeting with me. As a licensed clinical social worker, I follow the professional ethical standards of the National Association of Social Workers. Only in rare exceptions when the safety of a client or other is at risk can disclosure of confidential client-therapist information take place. Before we start working in earnest, you will be able to read my confidentiality form and determine if it works for you.



Can you tell me more about the free consultation call?

During the consultation, you can expect to share a brief summary with me of why you are seeking therapy and ask any questions you may have about the therapeutic process. You can ask anything and it is my hope that you would have a better idea of if we might be a good therapeutic fit.



© 2020 by Comprehensive Therapy | All Rights Reserved | E: lorraine@comprehensivetherapy.online | T: 458-215-0179