Services
Sweetwater Counseling provides counseling services for children and adolescents ages 3-18. Because children and adolescents often do not have the words to express themselves as adults do, I use evidence-based creative approaches and techniques like play therapy.
At my core, I am a Person-Centered or Child-Centered counselor meaning that I focus on the client with empathy, compassion, and understanding. Typically, I will use a combination of approaches as appropriate for the client. These additional approaches may include Child Centered Play Therapy (general child counseling), Solution-Focused Brief Counseling (general child counseling), Theraplay (for attachment), and Aut-play (for Autism). This provides the client counseling tailored to their needs and goals.
As a former school counselor and high school teacher, I have experience working with children from 4-18. I have worked with children from a variety of backgrounds and on a variety of topics including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, anger management, family challenges and others. I am an Associate Licensed Counselor in Alabama (ALC), a registered school counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a School-Based Registered Play Therapist.
Private Pay
I currently only accept private pay. Utilizing private pay for counseling has advantages that insurance does not. With private pay, you are not having to meet a deductible on top of having to pay a co-pay. Also, when utilizing insurance, in order to be reimbursed for services, counselors are required to give clients a mental health diagnosis that goes on their permanent medical record. For some, this is not an issue, however, for several clients, including first responders and military, this can be an issue. Utilizing private pay is also beneficial because it increases confidentiality due to not having to submit with reimbursement. While all of the communication through insurance is HIPAA compliant, there is the factor where someone other than the counselor is looking at the client’s information. One clarification is that utilizing private pay does not invalidate my position as a mandated reporter or negate my duty to warn. Both of these are very important aspects to the counseling relationship which I go over during the intake with the client.
Fees
- Counseling Session – 60 Minute: $95.00
- Consultation – 30 Minute: $45.00