FAQ

Where is Traverse Talk's office located?
Our office is wherever you are! Our counselors work from their homes and private practice locations to serve you virtually wherever you are. All therapy sessions occur over live video chat!
What are your business working hours?

Our business is here to serve you with any questions, concerns, or issues you may have along your journey.

Our administrative office staff is available Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET (and on-call – as needed – after hours for technical issues). We also offer extended help through text/chat/emails until 7 pm ET to support our clients.

What are your therapists' hours?
We believe that scheduling for therapy shouldn’t be a challenge. When scheduling your sessions, you will find your therapist has hours to fit your busy life! These hours often include evenings and weekends.
How long is a typical session?
A typical session is about 50 minutes – about the same amount of time as your favorite hour-long sitcom!
What is the hourly fee?
Our hourly rate is $120/hour and $75.00/half an hour.
How do I pay?
We will bill your credit card on file at midnight the night of your session.
Do you accept insurance?
We currently do not accept insurance, but we will provide you with information if you would like reimbursement for an out-of-network provider.
Can you help me file my insurance?
We would love to help! We can provide you with the information needed to file an insurance claim for reimbursement.
Something came up. Can I cancel an appointment? Do you have a cancellation policy?

Yes, but we ask that you cancel 24 hours ahead of time to avoid receiving a charge for the session. If you have an emergency, please let your virtual assistant know to avoid being charged.

You can reach out and communicate with your therapist or virtual assistant to help you cancel your appointment and reschedule as soon as possible so you stay on track with your goals.

How do I make an appointment?
After your initial session, you can contact your virtual assistant directly via phone, email, chat, or text to schedule. You will also have a self-booking option online if you prefer. And you can always schedule with your therapist.
Will I get a personal virtual assistant?
Yes! We will assign you a virtual assistant that is part of your treatment team. You can reach out to this person if you have any questions or need help with billing, changing an appointment, and even technical issues with connecting.
What is my first step to getting started?

Your first step is to contact us. Through our website, you can do this with an easy phone call to one of our helpful staff members, send a chat, or even shoot us a short text. Whatever works best for you!

We will respond within 24 hours (usually much sooner) and will follow up with some paperwork (the fun stuff!) for you to electronically sign before we can begin.

Once all of that is out of the way, we schedule your free first session. This session will be a video session that allows you to evaluate video conferencing and, more importantly, find a counselor who can help you with whatever brought you to Traverse Talk.

We will ask you simple but often complicated questions during your first session – what brought you to therapy? Why are you here? How can we help you?

Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers! These questions help us get started and create a plan to help you take steps to your happier life! How exciting is that?

Once we get started, you can schedule your ongoing therapy appointments in several convenient ways. You can book online using our booking tool or ask your virtual assistant to help you schedule via chat, text, or email.

You may even find a time that works for your schedule and keep it consistent, allowing you to schedule your appointments in advance with your therapist!

Who is your perfect client?
Our perfect clients are looking to improve their lives and are motivated to get it done!
With what age ranges does Traverse Talk work?
Our clientele age group is from 16 years old to 120! We have experienced counselors for adolescents.
Do you work with men? Women? Couples? Adolescents?

Yes, we are dedicated to working with men and passionate about helping women.

Couples therapy is a specialty area of ours!

We even will work with teenagers!

Are you LGBTQIA friendly?
Yes, and we have counselors that specialize in this area as well.
Do you work with people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions?

Yes! Traverse Talk is all-inclusive and welcoming to all. This commitment includes our founder, therapists, and administrative staff. We respect differences and welcome the diversity those differences bring!

It is important to us that you always feel welcome here.

Are Traverse Talk counselors/therapists Christian?

Like our clients, our therapists come from various backgrounds, religions, and beliefs.

We have counselors who would describe themselves as more spiritual than religious, and we have others who follow a more Christian-based path.

Our counselors only bring spirituality into therapy sessions if the client requests it. If this is a part of therapy that you would like your therapist to incorporate, please let us know at your first session to align you with a therapist to meet your specific request.

Do you offer video or phone sessions?

Traverse Talk therapy sessions are video sessions. We offer phone sessions in certain situations if a video is unavailable or based on personal preferences. For example, if video sessions cause a great deal of anxiety for the client, we may opt for a phone session, so the client’s level of anxiety is lower.

Video sessions allow for you to see and hear your therapist and for them to do the same with you! Facial expressions and non-verbal clues are important to communication, and it is nice to converse in a face-to-face conversation with your therapist in real-time.

How long will it take me to reach my goals? Should I come every week or less? What payment options are there?
In our first session, we will discuss what you hope to get out of your counseling sessions and begin looking at your overall goals. There are different options available for frequency, time, and payment for therapy that we will provide to you. You are also free to ask us any questions you may have; we are always glad to help!
How long will I be in therapy?

As our therapist, Chad, states, “You won’t be in therapy forever!” Our goal is to help you so you no longer have the problem, issues, concerns that brought you to us on your first day.

You and your therapist determine the length of your time in therapy based on the goals you would like to treat and your progress. An average episode of care is 10-12 sessions, but time varies depending on each individual’s treatment.

Does anyone cry in front of their therapist?

Yes, some people do cry during sessions, and others do not. You may also laugh at times, too! It’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions when you are in a session.

Please remember that crying is a normal, healthy way to release emotions when talking through painful events that happened in your lifetime. It’s normal, and your therapist is always empathetic and understanding. If you don’t cry, hey, that’s okay, too!

Do I have to tell my therapist everything?
You can pick and choose what and when you are ready to tell your therapist certain details about your life/situation. As we establish trust, you may feel more comfortable disclosing things, making your therapy more effective and personalized to you.
Is there anyone you can't treat/see?
We are not a crisis or emergency service provider. For safety reasons and our online platform, we do not see clients who need either acute care or are in a crisis. If required, we can help to connect people with resources in their area for these services.
What else can I do to try to help myself?

We suggest talk therapy in addition to personal self-care. You can use self-help material specific to your situation and utilize support groups creating a strong supportive network. In addition, you can ask your family for support and help.

On a final note, physically taking care of yourself can also help. Take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner, read a self-help book on the front porch, and start taking the steps to a happier life.

In couples therapy, is individual work confidential?

Yes, your work is confidential; however, there is a “no secrets policy” in couples counseling. However, we will discuss anything that you individually bring up with the therapist in a group setting. This information may include something you told the therapist, either verbally or in writing, inside or outside a session.

The only exception is with safety issues, such as abuse, reported to the therapist. A “no secrets policy” allows for the transparency that is necessary to heal as a couple.

Do couples fight in front of you?

Indeed! Couples do fight in front of their therapists because they are discussing heated topics or issues that have caused problems in the past.

Seeing how the two of you interact when having a verbal dispute is valuable information for the therapist to observe. They will gain insight into how you’re communicating when the conflict arises between the two of you.

Does my therapist take sides?
No, your therapist is trained not to take sides. The therapist is there to help you both as a couple improve your relationship and not as separate individuals.
Will my therapist take notes?

Your therapist will take notes to ensure they keep track of your progress accurately week to week. The notes also allow the therapist to go back and review something you may have said at another session that relates to your current session. Your therapist will handle these notes with confidentiality.