FAQ

Black Lives Matter!!

CSP Owners Jonelle Richards and Christine McCulloch support the Black Lives Matter Movement and believe the Black Lives Matter too!!

Our company has taken a lot of time in the last few months to look inwards and hold difficult conversations about what it means to be black in America. We know that racism is systemic and it is engrained in many of our systems so how are we going to be a part of the solution in this country?

We are fully aware of the role we play in society in hiring administrative employees and contracting with therapists to provide care for our diverse community. We are putting more effort into finding a more diverse pool of candidates to meet our clients’ needs. We take resumes for independent contractor therapists all the time. Please send your resume to hr@counseling-pdx.com.
We are providing a series of Anti-Racism Training to our employees and independent contractor therapists throughout the year.
On Friday June 19th, 2020, (Juneteenth) we joined up with Multnomah County and other companies around Portland, and the country in declaring a paid holiday for our employees, so as to take the day off for “respite and renewal”. It was also a chance to learn more about local and national Black history as well as to support Black businesses. We will do this every year.
We are constantly looking and participating in opportunities to support black people and people of color.

What is CSP doing in response to COVID-19?

In light of the current situation with Coronavirus, we are taking extra precautions to make sure that we are all staying safe and well. Offices are being sanitized every morning and throughout the day.

Schools, places of work, hospitals, clinics and public facilities are encouraging everyone to stay home and take care of themselves if they are sick. We are requesting that you do the same.

With that, we are also providing you the capability to still be able to make it to your appointment virtually or online in case you are not able to come into the office to see your therapist.

That said, please communicate with your therapist about appointments like you usually do and let them know when an emergency arises.

Will the offices be opening back up for Phase 1 Reopening and when?

As of 6/12/2020 Phase 1 Reopening will only happen in our Tigard and Canby Offices. The SE Portland Office will remain closed until the Governor allows the county to open.

That said, therapists will not be seeing clients regularly in the Tigard and Canby offices at this time. Some are making exceptions to see clients with emergency situations only. The risk is still pretty high for getting COVID-19.

What should I expect if I come to the office during COVID-19 if it is an emergency?

You understand that by coming to the office, you are assuming the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (or other public health risks). This risk may increase if you travel by public transportation, cab, or ridesharing service.

Here is what to expect when you come to the office.

Everyone MUST WEAR A FACE MASK OR FACE SHIELD in all areas of the office including in the therapy session.
Clients and therapists have to be symptom free and have no fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to meet in person. Appointments will be canceled and rescheduled by either person if they are not well or text positive for COVID-19.
Clients will wait in their car or outside until a couple of minutes before their appointment time.
Clients and therapists will wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when they enter the building.
Clients and therapists will adhere to the social distancing measurements we have set up in the waiting room and therapy rooms. For example, they won’t move chairs or sit where we have signs asking them not to sit. Chairs in the waiting room are designated for parents/guardians of those clients who need assistance.
There will be no physical contact.
Parents/Guardians are responsible for their children and will follow the same protocols.
Clients and therapists will take steps between appointments to minimize their exposure to COVID.
If both have a job that exposes them to other people who are infected, they will immediately let each other know.
If their commute or other responsibilities or activities put them in close contact with others (beyond their family), they will let each other know.
If a resident of their home, or someone they were recently in contact with, tests positive for the infection, they will immediately let each other know and clients may resume treatment via telehealth.
Offices and common areas are being thoroughly sanitized daily and in between appointments

For your safety, all visits are via Telehealth / Virtual Therapy unless your therapist thinks that you absolutely have to come in for an in-person visit.

If you have any questions, give us a call! 503-342-2510.

I am not able to come in to the office to see my therapist but I am able to meet them virtually. What do I need to do?

Check with your therapist if you can do virtual therapy and if your insurance will pay for it.
See if you can keep your appointment or reschedule your appointment to a time that works for both of you.
Fill out the Informed Consent Form for tele-therapy and virtual counseling by clicking on this link: Tele-counseling Informed Consent (Includes Virtual/Online Counseling)

What will I need to be able to meet with my therapist virtually?

1. Have an electronic device (laptop, computer, phone, or tablet) with a camera, that can be used to have the online video conference and access to wi-fi. Telephone visits are not covered under CSP Kaiser referrals.
2. Sign the CSP Virtual Consent Form first. Please click on this link: CSP ConsentForm.
3. You will be sent a Hipaa compliant video conference link by your therapist via email, before your appointment.
4. Your visits will be billed at the same rate we bill your regular office visits and copays/coinsurances and deductibles will still be applicable.
5. Please let your therapist know if you have any questions related to your sessions. If you are not comfortable doing virtual visits, please let your therapist know.

How much will my visits cost?

Visits range from $130 to $320 per session. They vary based on the level of Education of your provider and how long your visit is. If you have insurance, you may either need to pay a deductible, a copay or coinsurance towards your visit.

What qualifications does my therapist have?

The providers have different qualifications and are all licensed in Oregon. They are Psychologists (Phd and PsyD) and Licensed therapists (LMFT, LPC and LCSW). Many of them also have extra certification in things like in marriage counseling, addiction and trauma. They also use different modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotional Focused Therapy, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc. If you are looking for a specific type of therapy, please call our office at 503-342-2510 and we will gladly tell you if we have a therapist for you.

How long will my sessions be?

Sessions are typically about 55 minutes long.

What happens in the first session?

The first session may be slightly different than future visits. You and your therapist will get to know each other. You may find it helpful to have some thoughts on what you want to accomplish. Give some thought to what makes things worse and what makes things better. It’s helpful to know when things started to get worse, and who you can call upon for support. We will be working together to create life-long solutions to help you create the life you really want.

How often should I come in for treatment?

If you are in some distress, weekly appointments will be most effective for you. Why? Because the mind needs practice and repetition to change gears. You may start feeling better right away, and to sustain this state may take regular practice . . . like learning to play a musical instrument.

How long do people attend therapy?

Most people find that 10 sessions can help them make important changes, when they are coming in for a tune up. If you are working on a major overhaul of your life, or a long standing pattern, 6 months may help you make lasting change. Every person is different. Our work together is designed specifically for you. No cook book methods in our work together. We talk about your goals, and we use those to chart our way through the changes you want to make. When you’ve accomplished your intended changes, we’re done.

What if it’s really urgent?

We can usually see you within 24 hours. Your safety and well-being is very important to us. If you are having severe panic, anxiety or depression, please go to the nearest emergency room. Portland also has excellent crisis telephone lines, staffed by caring people:

Metro Crisis Line 503-988-4888
Women’s Crisis Line 503-235-533

What if I don’t start to feel better?

You will start seeing small changes after your first few sessions. If you don’t we will help you plan the next step of treatment. You might need a different type of treatment. You might benefit from group therapy. You may need to see your doctor to rule out medical problems. You may also benefit from working with other holistic practitioners, such as Acupuncturists who work with your body’s imbalance, Naturopathic doctors for nutritional counseling, homeopaths, etc. We collaborate to help you get the results you want.

What if I feel that my therapist is not the best fit for me?

We understand that it is difficult to talk about what is going on, but calling us is your first step to entering therapy. We therefore ask that when you first call to make your first appointment please try to give us as much information as you feel comfortable doing to pair you up with a therapist that will best fit your needs.

If you get into therapy and you feel that you need to change therapists, you can either let your therapist know, or you can call our intake coordinators and they will find out what didn’t work for you and how they can pair you with a better fit.

“Remember it is your therapy and your wellbeing that is driving the process, so if something isn’t right or you just don’t ‘click’ with your therapist, talk about that with them and consider trying a different therapist or type of therapy. That said, sometimes therapy can be a difficult and uncomfortable process – it’s very common to have weeks where you just don’t want to go or to have periods where you feel angry or upset with your therapist. Often this is when the best ‘work’ gets done, so try and stick with it and work through your feelings with your therapist.” Clinical Partners, UK.

Please Note: Sometimes you are paired with a therapist because of the insurance you have and not their specialty, especially if you cannot afford to pay for an out-of-network provider.

Can highly intelligent and gifted people make use of therapy?

Many gifted individuals have trouble adjusting to their environment. They may feel like it’s hard to fit in socially and find the right school or job. Exceptional endowments may feel like liabilities instead of assets. People with exceptional skills may have developed a few key areas, and my find that emotional intelligence remains underdeveloped. Exceptionally gifted individuals may be seen by others as powerful and charismatic. Being revered and admired rather than isolated and rejected can also cause emotional conflicts. We have experience working with clients with high IQs and know the challenges you may face. With us, you are not alone and can be yourself.

How do I get the most out of therapy?

You can make the most of your investment of time and money by doing a couple of things:

Be an active participant in the process. Speak about what is going on for you, ask questions
Organize your schedule in such a way that you can come to your appointments and be on time
Budget for your investment in psychotherapy
Catch yourself doing things right
Catch yourself doing things differently
Practice what you are learning
Set small attainable goals, either daily or weekly, report on your success
Meet your inner critic and chuckle at the rule book your inner critic uses to indict you