Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. At Dogwood Counseling, we want the process to feel comfortable, straightforward, and supportive from the beginning.
Our therapists provide in-person and telehealth counseling for children, adolescents, and adults in Charlotte, NC and throughout North Carolina, with select therapists also offering telehealth services to clients in South Carolina. Our clinicians have experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, life transitions, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, and other mental health concerns.
What happens after I schedule an appointment?
Once your initial appointment is scheduled, your therapist will send you intake paperwork and information about your appointment. Completing your paperwork before your first appointment allows your therapist to review your information and helps you get the most out of your first session.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
You do not need to prepare anything special for your first session. Your therapist will talk with you about what brought you to therapy, what you’d like help with, and your goals for treatment. Together, you’ll begin determining what approach and frequency of therapy make the most sense for you.
How long are therapy appointments?
Sessions typically last 45- 55 minutes depending on your insurance provider. If you are interested in a longer session, please discuss this with your therapist to determine whether that option is available.
How often should I attend therapy?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your therapist will work with you to determine an appropriate frequency based on your needs, treatment goals, and availability.
Some clients benefit from weekly therapy, while others may eventually transition to less frequent sessions as they make progress toward their goals.
Can I use my health insurance for therapy?
Many clients use health insurance benefits to help cover the cost of therapy. Coverage varies by insurance plan and by therapist.
We know that understanding the cost of therapy can be confusing, so we try to make the process as straightforward as possible. As part of the intake process, Dogwood Counseling verifies your behavioral health benefits and provides a benefits summary and estimated out-of-pocket cost. We aim to provide this information as early as possible so you have a clear understanding of your expected financial responsibility for therapy.
While we make every effort to provide accurate benefit information, insurance coverage is ultimately determined by your insurance company, and benefit estimates are not a guarantee of payment.
Dogwood Counseling therapists participate with a variety of major insurance plans including:
- Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield, including Anthem and Blue Value plans
- Cigna/Evernorth
- Humana
- MedCost
- Meritain Health
- Certified with Tricare
- United Healthcare
If your therapist is out-of-network with your insurance plan, you may still have out-of-network mental health benefits. In that case, we can provide a receipt that you may submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
How can I find out what my insurance will cover?
Your insurance company can provide the most accurate information about your individual benefits. Before beginning therapy, we recommend asking:
- Do I have outpatient mental health benefits?
- Is my therapist in-network with my plan?
- What is my copay or coinsurance?
- Do I have a deductible, and has it been met?
- Are telehealth therapy sessions covered?
- Are there limits on the number of therapy sessions covered each year?
What forms of payment do you accept?
Copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and self-pay fees are due at the time of service.
Dogwood Counseling accepts credit and debit cards, including FSA and HSA cards, as well as cash. Please speak with your therapist about current self-pay rates.
Do you offer telehealth therapy?
Yes. Dogwood Counseling offers telehealth therapy as well as in-person counseling, depending on the therapist.
Telehealth can be a convenient option for clients who prefer to attend therapy from home, have busy schedules, or live farther from our Charlotte-area office.
Please check your therapist’s profile to see whether they currently offer telehealth and which states they are licensed or registered to serve.
What if I’m not sure which therapist is right for me?
You don’t have to know exactly which type of therapist you need before reaching out. Our group practice includes clinicians with different specialties, treatment approaches, and areas of experience.
You can review our Meet Our Therapists page or contact us and tell us a little about what you’re looking for. We can help you identify a therapist who may be a good fit based on your concerns, preferences, insurance, and availability.
Ready to get started?
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
Contact Dogwood Counseling to learn more about therapy in Charlotte, NC or schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.
SCLLR Telehealth Registration Listing https://llr.sc.gov/TeleHealth/Counselor.html
