Frequently Asked Questions
A little more clarity before you begin.
Starting therapy can bring practical questions alongside emotional ones. Here are straightforward answers to the things people most often want to know.
Beginning
You are allowed to ask what you need to know.
Choosing a therapist is personal. Approach matters, but so do logistics, cost, timing, and the simple experience of speaking with the person.
You do not have to use the right language or arrive certain that therapy will help. Questions are part of discerning fit.
Where are sessions held?
All sessions are currently virtual. Present Life Counseling serves clients located in Georgia, Ohio or Tennessee through telehealth. There is no office address and no in-person option at this time.
What is a Connection Call?
A Connection Call is a free 15-minute conversation to briefly connect, explore what kind of support you're looking for, and see whether working together feels like the right fit. It is not a therapy session, and you do not need to tell your whole story during the call.
How much does therapy cost?
The standard session fee is $200 for each 55-minute telehealth session. Limited sliding scale options are available.
Do you accept insurance?
Present Life Counseling does not accept insurance. Lisa can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Benefits vary by plan, and a superbill does not guarantee reimbursement.
How often will we meet?
Most clients begin weekly or biweekly. Frequency can adjust as the work develops, and many clients move to monthly or as-needed sessions once the therapeutic relationship is established.
The work
Therapy can begin with what is already here.
Sometimes people postpone support because they cannot summarize the problem. They know they are exhausted, reactive, disconnected, or carrying too much, but the pieces do not form a clean story.
A clean story is not a prerequisite. Understanding can emerge through the relationship and the work itself.
What is the cancellation policy?
The cancellation policy is 48 business hours.
What is a Present Life Session?
A Present Life Session is a flexible, one-to-one reflective conversation scheduled as needed. It is not psychotherapy or a substitute for mental health treatment. Clients in Georgia, Ohio or Tennessee seeking therapy should use the psychotherapy path.
What can we work on?
People often reach out for anxiety that never fully turns off, emotional exhaustion and burnout, overthinking, nervous system overwhelm, people-pleasing, emotional over-responsibility, depleting relationship patterns, disconnection from self, guilt around rest, and high-functioning coping that hides emotional pain.
What is your approach to therapy?
Lisa's approach is thoughtful, grounded, emotionally safe, and presence-based. Work may include nervous system regulation, self-understanding, compassionate awareness, attachment dynamics, emotional regulation, trauma-informed care, relational healing, identity, self-worth, boundaries, and emotional clarity.
Do I need to know exactly what is wrong before I reach out?
No. You may have a clear sense of the pattern you want to change, or you may only know that you are tired of living the way you have been living. The Connection Call gives you a place to begin without needing a complete explanation.
Is therapy only for a crisis?
No. You do not have to wait until your life falls apart. Many high-functioning people seek therapy while continuing to work, care for others, and meet responsibilities. Functioning does not mean you are not hurting or that support would not be meaningful.
Privacy and space
Making room for virtual therapy.
Because sessions are virtual, it helps to choose a private location where you can speak as freely as possible. A stable internet connection and a device suitable for video are important.
If your days are tightly scheduled, consider whether you can protect a few minutes before and after the session. Therapy may bring up emotion, insight, or a need for quiet. A small buffer can help the conversation settle before you return to work or caregiving.
You can ask about the virtual process during the Connection Call. The goal is not to create a perfect environment. It is to make enough room for honest attention.
Fit and pace
What if I am not sure?
Uncertainty is allowed. A website can tell you about Lisa's perspective, history, fees, and areas of focus. It cannot tell you exactly what it will feel like to be in conversation together.
The free Connection Call exists for that reason. It offers a brief experience of contact without requiring a commitment to ongoing therapy.
You might ask how Lisa thinks about a pattern you are noticing, what weekly or biweekly work could look like, or whether telehealth feels appropriate for what you need. You may also simply name that you are not sure where to begin.
Fit does not mean that every moment of therapy will be comfortable. Meaningful work can include challenge. But the relationship should have enough safety, respect, and honesty for challenge to be useful.
Urgent support
What should I do in a crisis?
What should I do in a crisis?
Present Life Counseling is not a crisis service. If you are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 for an emergency.
The inquiry form and Connection Call are not monitored as crisis services. If you need immediate support, use the crisis resources above rather than waiting for a response to an inquiry.
For a non-emergency question about beginning therapy, the contact form routes your inquiry without publishing Lisa's phone number or email.
A gentle first step
Start with a Connection Call.
A free 15-minute conversation to briefly connect, explore what kind of support you're looking for, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.