HILARY JEMESON, LMFT, LMHC, LPC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THERAPY?
Therapy, also called psychotherapy or counseling, is typically defined as a treatment intended to relieve or heal. Most people enter into counseling with a therapist in order to explore and gain awareness of and move through obstacles in their lives while increasing well-being and healing. Every individual's process will be different as therapy is tailored to one's specific experience, situation, issue, goal, and need.
WHO DO YOU WORK WITH?
I am trained, experienced, and qualified to work with children, adolescents, adults, individuals, couples*, and families. My current passion is in empowering young adults to navigate and adjust to difficult transitions. (*While trained, I do not work with couples.)
WILL WHAT I SHARE BE KEPT PRIVATE?
Absolutely! All of your conversations with me are completely confidential. Information is shared only with your written permission. Exceptions to confidentiality are rare and include when a person poses a threat to his/her/their own safety or the safety of someone else or when it is court-ordered.
HOW DO I REACH YOU?
You can email me at hilary@therapywithhilary.com.
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You can also call me at (305) 204-1612. I am often not immediately available so if you reach my voicemail, please leave a voicemail or follow up with a text message so I know to return your call.
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I attempt to return all voicemails, emails, and text messages within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
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IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS CALL/TEXT 988 OR IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 911!
WHAT IS AN INITIAL PHONE CALL WITH YOU LIKE?
I offer free 15 minute phone consultations to potential new clients. This initial phone call gives you the opportunity to ask me questions and decide if you would like to work with me. It also helps me get an idea of what you're looking to get out of therapy. If we're a good fit, and you decide to move forward in working with me, then we can schedule your first session. You’ll also get a follow up e-mail with paperwork to complete before your first session. It's completely private!
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If you would like to schedule a consultation call, you can click here then select "I'm a New Client" and "Initial Consultation Call - No Charge" from the service dropdown menu. Or you can email me at hilary@therapywithhilary.com or call me at (305) 204-1612.
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Please be advised: Consultation calls do not guarantee nor constitute a therapeutic relationship.
CAN I BOOK AN INTAKE SESSION?
Yes, just email or call me! To see my availability, you can click here and select "I'm a New Client" then "Initial Eval/First Session" from the service dropdown menu.
WHAT IS THE FIRST SESSION LIKE?
I prepare for your first session by reviewing the initial paperwork you completed online. I'll ask questions to get us started, and we’ll get deeper into what brings you to therapy. We will spend time getting to know each other, and this will help you get a better idea about whether you would like to continue with me.
HOW LONG IS A SESSION? HOW OFTEN WILL WE MEET? HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
The standard session time is 50-60 minutes. It is up to you, however, to determine the length of your sessions. Requests to change the session length need to be discussed with me in advance.
We can discuss and decide together the frequency that makes sense to help you achieve your goals for therapy.
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The length of therapy depends on several factors such as your specific need, the severity of issues, your goals, and your willingness to actively participate. Therapy is a process, and it may take some longer than others. Regular, consistent attendance is recommended to insure continuity and to enhance the effectiveness of therapy.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO CANCEL?
Please remember to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance. Canceled and rescheduled sessions will be subject to a full charge if NOT RECEIVED AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE (your credit card on file will be used for cancellations/no-shows). This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?
We will discuss and establish our fee at the outset of treatment.
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Typical 50-minute session: $125-150
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Payment in full is due at the end of each session unless we have agreed otherwise, and fees can be paid in the form of cash, check, or credit/debit card. A credit card will be kept on file for late cancellations or no-shows (this will be requested and sent along with the initial documents to be completed and consents to be signed).
DO YOU OFFER SLIDING SCALE OR REDUCED FEES?
Yes, I offer a limited number of sliding scale/reduced fee spots for those in need. These spots are reserved for individuals experiencing financial difficulty. Contact me to discuss.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
Yes, I am currently credentialed in Florida with the following: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, Oscar Health, Oxford. As of April 2024, I am in the process of being credentialed with insurances in Colorado and South Carolina. Stay tuned for an update about insurance status in those states.
I partner with Headway to take care of all insurance verification and claims. Heads up: insurance requires a diagnosis to authorize and provide treatment. Sometimes individuals do not meet criteria for a diagnosis (particularly if you just want someone to talk to and/or have less severe presenting issues).
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I can also be listed as an out-of-network provider in which I would give you a billing statement ("superbill") that you can submit to your insurance company and other third-party payers for possible reimbursement. Feel free to reach out to me to discuss this further.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COUNSELOR, PSYCHOLOGIST, AND PSYCHIATRIST?
A Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist/Licensed Professional Counselor is a mental health professional who has a master's degree (M.S., M.A., M.S.Ed.) in psychology, counseling, or a related field. In order to be licensed, the professional counselor also needs two additional years' experience working with a qualified mental health professional after graduate school. A mental health counselor is qualified to evaluate and treat mental problems by providing counseling or psychotherapy.
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A Psychologist is a licensed professional who has completed a graduate program in psychology that includes clinical training and internships, and who provides care for individuals with mental and emotional problems. Psychologists often perform a range of testing on individuals for accommodations. Psychologists typically have a doctorate degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and have undergone postdoctoral training; however, they are not physicians and cannot prescribe medication.
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A Psychiatrist is a licensed medical doctor (M.D.) who has had specialized postgraduate training in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. Psychiatrists are the only mental health professional licensed to prescribe medication. Board-certified psychiatrists have passed national oral and written examinations after completing a residency program in psychiatry.
HOW DO I START?
Simply click here. Or email me at hilary@therapywithhilary.com or call me at (305) 204-1612.