Frequent Asked Questions:

When should I seek professional help with my personal problems?

Most people can benefit from therapy at least some point in their lives. Sometimes the signs are obvious—but at other times, something may feel slightly off and you can’t figure out what it is. At the time you may have uncontrollable sadness, anger, or hopelessness which may be signs of a mental health issue that can improve with therapy. If you have a history of abuse, neglect, or other trauma that you haven’t fully dealt with therapy would be beneficial. Losing someone or losing something can be very difficult and talking to a therapist could be helpful to during the long process.

How long do I need therapy?

The nature and course of psychotherapy depend on many factors, including the specific concerns a client presents with, client readiness for change, external stressors/supports, and client-therapist fit variables. We may use many different methods to deal with the problems that you hope to address.

What do I bring to the first appointment?

Our receptionist will email you forms prior to your session. You will be asked to bring your ID and insurance card with you to your first appointment.

What is the difference between talking to my best friend and talking to a therapist?

Your best friend is someone who should be there for comfort and love. They are also convenient. A therapist is someone trained and has the skills to help you understand and approach your situation in a new way. A therapist is confidential as well, with some exceptions. A therapist will be non judgmental and focuses on the client and their needs.

My partner and I are having difficulties should we come alone or together? What if they refuse?

It would be ideal to both come together if you are concerned about your relationship. If your partner refuses to attend it may be wise to do individual therapy. If couple’s therapy is an option later together, another therapist may be able to see both of you.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy that works with the client to resolve emotional distress caused by a variety of factors in their life. It has been extensively researched and been found to be effective for addressing trauma.

EMDR therapy is different from other treatment approaches as it does not require the client to provide detailed information about their distressing issues. Instead of working to replace thoughts and feelings related to a particular event, EMDR helps the brain resume its normal healing process that may have been “stuck.” When we experience distress in our lives, there are times we are able to process it naturally within our brain and move on; however, other times, part of that particular situation becomes “stuck” or “frozen in time.”

EMDR utilizes dual attention stimuli to help “move” the past memories through the brain to fully process, thus, lessening the distress experienced.

For further information related to EMDR, please visit the EMDR International Association at https://www.emdria.org/.

Can I do telehealth?

We do provide telehealth as well as in person. Please contact your insurance phone numbers on the back of your card to verify you are eligible for telehealth. We use a HIPAA compliant platform in order to protect your privacy and confidentiality. For your appointment, you will need to have access to a private place and a computer/tablet/smart phone with a camera and high speed internet. Creative Counseling Group, PLC will provide you with access to a secure HIPAA compliant videoconferencing software free of charge. All you have to do is be on your device and logged on at the time of your appointment.

What if I want to pay cash rate and what is balance billing?

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)? When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing. " This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

Creative Counseling Group PLC does not provide Emergency Services. 

You are protected from balance billing for: Emergency services. If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of- network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable
condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center.  When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

Creative Counseling Group PC does not provide hospital or ambulatory surgical services.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:
*Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
*Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
*Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
*Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

**If you are choosing to see a provider who is in network with your insurance plan, you will be responsible for the cost share amount that your specific insurance plan has assigned. There will be no additional balances billed. Balance billing will not apply to you.

If you are choosing to see a provider who is out of network with your insurance plan, you will be responsible for the total balance of all services provided. In accordance with federal law, we can provide you with a Good Faith Estimate of what your cost share amount may be based on the services you plan to utilize with Creative Counseling Group PLC.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact our office at 319-200-1022 or No Surprise helpdesk at 1-800-985-3059 or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.