BREAKTHROUGH COUNSELING FAQ

Move Beyond Feeling Stuck and Create a Life That Feels Like Yours

Starting therapy can bring up questions about appointments, fees, confidentiality, what to expect, and whether the service is right for you. Find clear answers to some of the questions people ask most often..

Clear information • Compassionate support • No pressure to decide today
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Every question is a good one.
WHAT TO EXPECT

Sessions Designed Around Your Needs

How long are therapy sessions?

Standard individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes long. This is often referred to as the 'therapeutic hour,' which allows 10 minutes at the end for documentation and clinical treatment planning. Longer sessions can be scheduled upon request if clinically appropriate.

Therapy is a highly individualized process. Some clients find resolution or significant relief within 8 to 12 sessions, while others choose longer-term therapy to explore deeper patterns and secure ongoing support. We will continuously evaluate your progress together to decide what duration fits you best.

We track your progress through collaborative, open check-ins. Together, we will assess changes in your day-to-day symptoms, improvements in your key relationship patterns, and how close you feel to achieving the personal goals we establish during our initial consultation.

Absolutely. We typically begin with weekly sessions to build momentum and establish a strong foundation. As you start noticing positive changes and feel more confident in your coping strategies, we can transition to bi-weekly or monthly maintenance sessions.

FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO SUPPORT

Secure Virtual Therapy Options

Virtual appointments may provide a convenient option for clients who live farther away, prefer not to travel, or are unable to attend the office because of weather or other circumstances.

Do you offer virtual therapy sessions?

Yes! We provide fully secure, HIPAA-compliant virtual therapy sessions (telehealth) across the state. This allows you to receive professional, confidential counseling from the comfort and privacy of your own home.

We utilize a secure, encrypted telehealth platform. There's no complex software to install—you will simply receive a private link via email or text. Clicking that link instantly connects you to your therapist on any tablet, phone, or laptop.

State licensing regulations mandate that you must be physically located within the state where your counselor is licensed during the exact time of the appointment. We can gladly verify these boundaries with you before scheduling.

For the best experience, we suggest finding a highly private room with a reliable, stable internet connection. Using a pair of headphones can minimize background noise and substantially increase the confidentiality of your session.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Fees, Insurance, and Payment

Please provide me more information about fees.

Please click here to learn more about our rates. We accept all major credit cards, HSA (Health Savings Account) cards, and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards. All payment transactions are securely processed automatically at the time of your scheduled session.

Breakthrough Counseling is an out-of-network provider. This ensures your treatment remains highly customized, private, and free from restrictive insurance demands. We gladly provide monthly documentation (superbills) that you can easily submit to your insurance company for direct reimbursement.

Coverage depends entirely on your specific out-of-network benefits plan. Many clients receive reimbursement for 50% to 80% of the session cost. We strongly advise calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card to verify your benefits prior to your first visit.

Yes. While standard sessions last 50 minutes, extended sessions (such as 80-minute trauma processing or intensive couples therapy) are available upon request and are billed at a prorated rate based on our standard hourly fee structure.

YOUR INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENTS

Policies Designed to Support Clear and Respectful Care

What is your cancellation policy?

We require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling. This standard practice allows us to offer the open session time to other clients who may be waiting for care. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, as well as missed appointments without notice, will be billed at the full rate of the scheduled session.

Yes, absolutely. Your privacy is protected by both ethical guidelines and federal HIPAA regulations. Everything discussed in your therapy sessions, as well as your scheduling and billing history, remains strictly confidential. We will not release any information about your treatment to outside parties without your explicit, written consent.

By law, there are specific and rare exceptions where confidentiality must be broken to ensure safety. These situations include: if there is reason to suspect the abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or dependent adult; if we believe you are in imminent danger of harming yourself or someone else; or if we are issued a binding court order. Whenever possible, we will discuss these steps with you beforehand.

We utilize state-of-the-art, fully HIPAA-compliant electronic health records (EHR) systems to store your personal details, intake paperwork, and clinical notes. Any digital communication, including scheduling confirmations and virtual therapy sessions, is fully encrypted. Additionally, our administrative procedures are designed to limit access to your records exclusively to authorized care providers.

Read Our Privacy Policy →

You Don’t Have to Face Life’s Challenges Alone

Take the first step toward lasting change. Speak with a compassionate therapist in a safe, confidential environment. Your first 15-minute consultation is completely free.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. We do not provide 24/7 emergency response services.