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Pampas Flower

GETTING STARTED

WITH IOWA FAMILY COUNSELING 

We understand that you may have questions about counseling, therapy, and how to get started. We hope that the information and links provided below will help answer some of the questions that you have about the process.

If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact us  

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ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS?

We are accepting new clients, but do currently have a waitlist for services. The wait time to receive services ranges from a week or more to a few months and depends on a few factors. These factors include scheduling availability and alignment between your schedule and therapist availability and specialty and openness to teletherapy/virtual sessions. 

 

If you would like to be placed on our waitlist for services, please add your information (and/or intended client's information), using the link below and a staff member will reach out to you to follow up with you. Please note that being added to our waitlist does not constitute a client/therapist relationship. 

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HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment email our staff or use the button below to get added to our appointment inquiry and waitlist.

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One of our team members will contact you to follow up on your inquiry or to schedule your appointment.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Therapy Session

WHAT ARE SESSIONS LIKE AND HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE?

Initial visits are typically 60-90 min long, with follow-up visits ranging between 30 and 60 minutes. Typically, sessions occur once per week, however, treatment frequency and duration will be discussed at the initial assessment.


At our first session, we will complete the necessary paperwork including consents, releases of information, and insurance information.

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We will have a conversation that covers topics including types of symptoms, the severity of symptoms, support systems, resources, and briefly touch on family social history. We will also discuss treatment needs, goals, duration, and frequency of services.

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At this time, we will get to know each other and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. There are many treatment options available, we will find the best options to fit your needs.

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WHAT ARE TELETHERAPY SESSIONS LIKE AND HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Teletherapy sessions are simply therapy sessions where the client and therapist are not in the same physical location. Though you may not be able to be in the same location as your therapist, you can still receive consistent, quality mental health care.

 

We typically connect through our secure, EHR telehealth platform (SimplePractice) via your client profile, however, back-up compliant platforms we may utilize include GoogleMeet. 

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Click the Beginning Teletherapy button to download a helpful resource for getting started with teletherapy. It includes basic tips and instructions for how to join a video session as well as some frequently asked questions to make your teletherapy sessions successful.

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DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE? HOW WILL I PAY FOR MY SESSIONS?

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan.

 

To determine your coverage, contact your insurance company or benefits provider prior to your first appointment.

 

We have put together a list of questions to ask when calling these companies, as well as payment information on our Insurance and Payments page.  

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DO I NEED TO DO  ANYTHING BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT?

One of our team members will contact you to review your needs and schedule your appointment. At this time, we will let you know which forms need to be completed prior to your appointment. For your convenience, most forms will be sent electronically using our patient portal and can be completed using a computer, tablet, or phone. A pre-assessment questionnaire will also be sent with some demographic questions, in addition to your access to basic needs and current medications. Some of our printable forms can be found on our Forms page or you can follow the link below.

 

You will also want to check with your insurance or employee benefits plan in order to verify coverage.

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