If you’re new to teletherapy or counseling in general, we know that initiating services can feel like a daunting task. Don’t worry; I'm here to help and answer your questions every step of the way. Finding the right therapist for you is an important part of the process. I recommend browsing the website, reading through the 'About' page and booking a free consultation. We’ll discuss your individual needs, what I can offer you, and determine the likelihood of your eligibility for services. Should the decision be made that I am the right therapist for you, we'll schedule your initial assessment at the end of our consultation call and you'll pay a deposit to secure your spot.

Currently, Sweet Life Counseling is only able to accept new client appointments made via telephone with the exception of consultations. You can reach me at 601-283-2015 Monday thru Friday between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. It is recommended (but not required) that you complete a consultation first which you can schedule directly from this site. Existing clients may use their client portals to request/schedule a specific appointment day and time.

I realize that life is unpredictable and sometimes plans just don’t work out. However, in an effort to respect everyone’s time, I ask that you call at least 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule services. (For example, if your appointment is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m., you will need to call and request a cancellation or reschedule date BEFORE 3 p.m. on Wednesday. A notification at 3:01 p.m. on Wednesday or anytime thereafter will result in penalties.) Fees paid for services canceled more than 24 hours in advance will be refunded in full. Fees paid for services rescheduled more than 24 hours in advance are fully transferable to the new service date and time. Failure to request an appointment cancellation or rescheduled date within the required time frame will be considered a “No Show” and result in the assessment of a fee totaling 40% of the total cost of scheduled services. A client will no longer be eligible for services with Sweet Life Counseling after accumulating 3 No Shows.

Sweet Life Counseling is a primarily private pay service. Each session is scheduled for 45-50 minutes at rates ranging from $125-$150 per session, depending on the service. In some cases, you may be able to request reimbursement from your insurance through your out-of-network benefits. See also: General FAQs- How do I utilize out of network benefits? and What are the benefits of private pay therapy services?

To receive this benefit through your insurance, you would simply pay for services and submit a copy of the paid invoice to your insurance company along with a claim form for processing. If approved, they would send you a check. If you choose to apply your out-of-network behavioral or mental health benefits the therapist will need to provide the insurance company a diagnosis. Reach out to your insurance company and ask the following questions: What is my out-of-network deductible? How much of this deductible has already been met? Is there an annual limit to the number of sessions or total amount that is reimbursable? What is the rate of reimbursement for CPT code 90837 or 90834? Do I need pre-certification or pre-authorization? Please note that reimbursement is not guaranteed and your therapist reserves the right to decline any engagement with your insurance company. You can also use your FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Healthcare Savings Account) to cover the cost of services since counseling is considered a medical expense.

You work hard for your money, and we respect that. Without the stringent requirements of a third party, your therapist will have the freedom to focus solely on your needs and personalize your experience to a greater extent. Sweet Life offers a more holistic approach to mental health. You'll be able to fully explore ways in which to incorporate non-traditional strategies and techniques into your mental health and healing journey. Finances dedicated to the payment for counseling services is an investment in not just your mental health, but overall wellness. You'll have no limits on the number of sessions you can engage in annually and there is no diagnosis required for treatment. To help increase the likelihood of satisfaction with services rendered, Sweet Life Counseling offers a 15 minute, no-cost consultation to assess client/counselor compatibility.

Teletherapy, also known as online therapy, e-therapy, or video therapy, is therapy delivered through a virtual platform via a computer. If you’ve ever used FaceTime or Skype, it’s essentially the same thing – except more secure and with a qualified therapist or counselor at the other end instead of a distant friend or relative. While it has grown in availability over the last few years, teletherapy has been around since the 1990s in the United States and is considered a highly effective method for therapy delivery. Teletherapy sessions work much the same way as traditional therapy sessions with only one significant difference – the therapist and the client are not in the same room. Sessions are scheduled at an appropriate and suitable time and day for each party, who then log-in via an agreed, secure video platform. The therapist and client can see and hear each other in real-time during the session via the use of webcams and headsets. Through this virtual environment, they can interact with each other, and the therapist uses the same traditional techniques and activities they would use in a face-to-face therapy session (Goode and Shinkle, 2019). (Excerpts taken from Positivepsychology.com) Once you begin services with Sweet Life Counseling, you will receive a personal invitation to create your own client portal account where you can review and complete necessary documents, schedule/reschedule/cancel appointments, and join your teletherapy sessions!

In our increasingly digital world, we’re finding new ways to connect. Therapy is yet another area that has caught on to the power of digital connection. Use of digital platforms is helping more people access the support they need. Teletherapy opens the door for individuals who may not usually have access to quality mental healthcare to receive just that. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals in more rural communities, individuals with disabilities that make traveling difficult, individuals with limited to no access to reliable transportation, and individuals who are simply uncomfortable seeking face-to-face services. Teletherapy offers greater flexibility to those with busy schedules and helps to maximize one’s productivity by eliminating time spent traveling to appointments and sitting in a waiting room. Teletherapy also alleviates the stress and anxiety some experience when faced with encounters with new environments, experiences, and people. E-therapy enables individuals to familiarise themselves with the counseling process from the comfort of their own home. In today’s climate, with the ever growing threat of exposure to/contact with COVID-19, teletherapy becomes an even more important option for those seeking support but wanting to minimize their risk of becoming ill.

While teletherapy can potentially be very helpful for people in certain situations, it is not without some risks or disadvantages over traditional therapy options. Insurance coverage for teletherapy can depend upon the state in which you live and the insurance provider you have. Teletherapy is not an adequate means to address individuals in crisis situations or effectively serve those with more severe psychiatric illnesses. Initial assessments help determine eligibility for teletherapy services. *If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

As a licensed professional counselor, I am not qualified to prescribe medication. However, I'm happy to support individuals wanting to explore or continue the use of psychotropic meds to further their recovery and mental health maintenance. As part of a larger community of mental health service providers, I have a limited knowledge of commonly prescribed medications for mental health issues. I have and continue to work with primary care physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists who do prescribe medications to help ensure proper continuity of care for clients receiving therapy services. I'm equally as happy to support individuals looking to effectively manage symptoms of mental health conditions without medication and through use of more naturopathic means.

Gone are the days when the only people receiving mental health treatment are those with serious mental health issues. (And even those people, are still people worthy of love, respect, and as much autonomy as possible.) Personal growth counseling is a valuable tool that can be used by anyone to help them learn more about themselves and how their actions impact the world around them; break free from whatever hindrances have kept them from accomplishing their goals, and move towards the realization and fulfillment of their talents and potentialities. Private pay therapy services, specifically, allow individuals to engage in therapy without the need for a formal diagnosis. See also: General FAQs- What are the benefits of private pay therapy services?

As a licensed professional counselor, I am not qualified to prescribe medication. However, I'm happy to support individuals wanting to explore or continue the use of psychotropic meds to further their recovery and mental health maintenance. As part of a larger community of mental health service providers, I have a limited knowledge of commonly prescribed medications for mental health issues. I have and continue to work with primary care physicians, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists who do prescribe medications to help ensure proper continuity of care for clients receiving therapy services. I'm equally as happy to support individuals looking to effectively manage symptoms of mental health conditions without medication and through use of more naturopathic means.

Have to is such a strong phrase. The truth is that you are free to discontinue services at any time. However, implementation of lasting change takes time. Because the issues impacting the happiness of an individual are likely to have been present for a while and can even stem from early life experiences, consider the perspective that a commitment to weekly sessions for a period of 6 months to a year is but a drop in the bucket compared to the years you've lived so far and the lifetime of joy and peace of mind you hope to achieve. A number of factors will impact the specific amount of time needed for you to achieve your desired outcome including how open you are in sharing during your sessions, your personal level of motivation and readiness for change at the time of therapy, the depth of healing needed, and your commitment to the practice of new and more effective habits identified during the therapy process.

Let's chat about your needs to determine if we're a good fit. If so, we'll schedule your initial assessment and start working towards better health, spiritually and mentally. Click the button at the bottom of the page to schedule a time to chat!

The fee for this one-on-one counseling service is $125 per 45-50 minute session. Your happiness, though, is priceless!

We'll spend the first 1-3 sessions getting to know each other. I'll ask questions that help me understand the relationship histories of each partner as well as the history of the current relationship. You'll discuss the current dynamics, challenges, and your hopes for the future. The sessions to follow will be spent systematically addressing each of your concerns and putting new, healthy habits into practice. There is a possibility that individual sessions will be conducted if issues arise that impact either partner's ability to feel safe and be vulnerable while in the therapy space with their partner. When this happens, I will work through the concerns of the affected partner and help them devise a plan for when and how to share those concerns with their partner.

Having a neutral third party can help you see a more complete picture of what factors are contributing to your current challenges. It's easy to get caught up in thinking that our partners are solely responsible for all the issues, but a trained counselor can help you see things from a new perspective and identify options for moving forward even if you feel like you've tried everything.

Have to is such a strong phrase. The truth is that you are free to discontinue services at any time. However, implementation of lasting change takes time. Because most of the issues impacting the happiness of a couple stem from each partners' individual habits and patterns that pre-date the relationship, consider the perspective that a commitment to weekly sessions for a period of 6 months to a year is but a drop in the bucket compared to the years you've lived so far and the lifetime of joy you hope to build with your partner. A number of factors will impact the specific amount of time needed for you to achieve your desired outcome including the depth of healing needed and of the amount of effort put in by each partner.

Most insurances do not cover the cost of couples therapy. Sweet Life Counseling is also a primarily private pay service provider. In some cases, one of you may have an insurance that Sweet Life Counseling is considered to be "in network" for. If this is the case, your insurance may pay for joint sessions where one partner is the identified client being joined for a "family session with client present." Best practice is that you contact your insurance company directly to learn about your mental health/behavioral health benefits. You can ask specifically about “couples counseling” billed using code 90847. See also: General FAQs- Do you accept insurance? General FAQs- How do I utilize out of network benefits? General FAQs- What are the benefits of private pay therapy services?

The telehealth platform currently utilized by Sweet Life Counseling does require both partners to be in the same physical location for sessions. This is also recommended as it allows the counselor to see firsthand the strengths and growth areas of a couple's dynamics and enables couples to engage in given exercises throughout the therapy process. See also: General FAQs- What is teletherapy?

To get the most out of therapy, it is recommended that clients engage in sessions from a safe, private space where they can have peace and quiet. Childcare coverage may be needed if you believe that you child(ren) require(s) constant supervision or will have trouble respecting your need for privacy for the duration of the session.

Let's be real. Nothing in life is guaranteed. A number of factors will impact the level of success of your couples counseling journey: the specific issues present, the willingness of each partner to participate in sessions, the willingness of each partner to do the work outside of sessions just to name a few. I can assure you, though, that I will be diligent in doing all I can to help, offering every relevant tool or resource I have available to me.

This is a common misconception. Counseling is not just there to help couples correct course, but also to help them prevent ever deviating from the path of prosperity to begin with. Pre-engagement, pre-marital, marital, and general couples counseling can help you safeguard your relationship from common pitfalls by building on your strengths as individuals and as a unit.

Let's chat about your needs to determine if we're a good fit. If so, we'll schedule your initial assessment and start working towards making your relationship all you ever hoped it could be. Click the button at the bottom of the page to schedule a time to chat!

The fee for this counseling service is $150 per 45-50 minute session. Your happily ever after, though, is priceless!

Beginning the journey to change can healing can be almost as challenging and intimidating as the healing work itself. If you find yourself with a reluctant partner but recognize the strain conflict in the relationship has put on your mental health, individual sessions can be beneficial. You're not locked in to one way of doing things forever. Your therapist at Sweet Life seeks to truly individualize services and offer a level of flexibility that puts you in the driver's seat. You can always bring in your partner when they are ready. Another option that may be less intimidating is the Prepare/Enrich Program. This program offers couples insight into their strengths and growth needs in the relationship by examining attitudes and expectations in key areas. Although this is NOT therapy, our therapist can lead you through these discoveries and help facilitate conversations on these key areas that are able to transform your relationship for good. Contact us at 601-283-2015 for more information or visit the Prepare/Enrich page on the website.

The Prepare/Enrich program is widely known as the leading relationship inventory. The program itself is comprised of a customized, science-backed couple inventory and feedback process. It is designed to aid couples in gaining insight into themselves, their partners, and their relationship dynamics; assessing various areas within the relationship; encouraging discussion that celebrates strengths and boosts momentum in growth areas of the relationship. Over 3 million couples have participated in the Prepare-Enrich marriage program since it was developed over 30 years ago. The Customized Version of Prepare/Enrich is the sixth revision, and the distinctive feature of this online tool is its ability to dynamically adapt the content for each couple based on their relationship stage and family structure. In this way, the program is relevant for dating, engaged, or married couples. The core scales in Prepare/Enrich cover the topics of communication, conflict resolution, partner style and habits, financial management, leisure activities, affection and sexuality, family and friends, relationship roles, and spiritual beliefs. Customized scales include topics such as cohabitation issues, cultural/ethnic issues, interfaith/interchurch, dating issues, forgiveness and a variety of scales for parenting based on the age of the child and parenting situations (parenting expectations, step-parenting, intergenerational issues, etc.). Beyond these core and customized scales, PREPARE/ENRICH assesses a couple’s closeness and flexibility, family-of-origin, personal stress, four areas of relationship dynamics, and five factors of personality. Finally, facilitators can select customized spiritual belief scales when working with couples from a variety of faith traditions.

Contrary to the belief of some, it is not a sign of weakness or failure to seek counsel. In fact, Proverbs 15:22 advises us to do so if we want to succeed. When an individual seeks the help of someone trained to assist them in navigating the very things they are struggling with, they are simply utilizing another God-given resource. Spiritual counseling, specifically, takes into account the principles and guidelines of one's faith to help them identify practical solutions that not only align with their beliefs but help to strengthen their spiritual walk.

We'll discuss some necessary background information during your first session including your spiritual beliefs and expectations for the therapy process. You will take the lead in determining how much or how little faith-based elements are included in your therapy process. My goal is to understand your views and use them as a basis for any spiritual practices suggested or assigned in addition to the general therapeutic work. I'm willing to answer questions and provide additional information or resources for as much as I'm familiar with, but seek to make it clear that there is no expectation for clients to adopt my personal views. And NO, there is no condemnation and no judgment and no one preaching to you here.

I believe that scripture firmly supports us caring for our mental health. (I'm happy to share more about this with you later. 😊) I use an integration of scripture, alternative healing techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy, a widely used and proven effective form of therapy that looks at how our mindset and actions impact our overall mental health.

Absolutely not! I'm here to serve you and walk with you towards your goals. I'd be happy to provide personal growth therapy that comes strictly from a clinical perspective.

Absolutely! Because you are always the one to make the call about if and/or when to implement strategies identified in therapy, you are free to explore what potential solutions look like from a spiritual point of view. I can offer biblical wisdom and/or recommend spiritual disciplines, but you are free to take or leave those offerings.

Let's chat about your needs to determine if we're a good fit. If so, we'll schedule your initial assessment and start working towards better health, spiritually and mentally. Click the button at the bottom of the page to schedule a time to chat!

The fee for this one-on-one counseling service is $125 per 45-50 minute session. Your happiness, though, is priceless!