How do I make an appointment?

You may contact me via email at sarah@hpcollective.com to schedule an appointment. Once we schedule the first session, I will send you my practice documents, which you can complete and upload into a secure client portal. I will also need a copy of your insurance card and ID for billing purposes.

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Do you offer complimentary phone consultations?

Yes, prior to a first appointment, interested clients may contact me for a free 15 minute phone consultation.  During this consultation, we can briefly discuss your concerns and answer any questions you have.  This consultation will help us to determine whether I am a good match for what you are looking for.  I will also ask you some questions to make sure I have the appropriate experience and resources to meet your needs.

What days and times do you offer therapy sessions?

I currently offer weekday appointments only.  My latest weekday appointment is 5pm, though I am available for emergency/crisis sessions if necessary during evenings or weekends.

Do you accept insurance?

A.  Yes, I accept HMAA, HMSA (PPO, HMO, and Quest), UHC (with Optum), UHA, Tricare, and Cigna (with MDX).  These health insurance companies will generally reimburse for treatment provided by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).  Depending on your insurance provider, you may be required to pay a co-pay for each session.  You are responsible for determining what insurance benefits you receive.  Questions to ask your insurance provider:

Do I have mental health insurance benefits?

What is my deductible and has it been met?

Is there an annual limit to the number of therapy sessions covered by insurance?

What will be my co-pay with an in-network and out-of-network psychologist?

If you don’t accept my insurance, can I still schedule a session with you?

Yes, I accept pay out of pocket clients at a rate of $180/60 minute session. My fee is based on the customary rates for LCSW’s with my level of experience in Hawaii. With that said, I do not want clients to be unable to access my services due to financial hardship. If you need to pay out of pocket on a sliding scale fee, please ask about my sliding scale fee during our initial consultation. 

Payment is made at the time of session by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) or check.  You will not be charged for a cancelled session if you call at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment.  Otherwise, a late cancellation fee of $150 will be applied.  An advance cancellation allows me to offer the appointment to another client in need of care. Thank you for your understanding.

What can I expect when beginning therapy with you?

Sessions are typically 53-60 minutes and are via telehealth only at this time.  During our first few sessions, I will like to explore the issues bringing you into therapy, gain a better understanding of who you are from a biopsychosocial (holistic) perspective, and identify your goals for therapy. I may ask questions about your history, background, relationships, education, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and goals/aspirations.  Throughout the session, I will summarize, offer suggestions, and possibly assign reflective homework to support you in meeting your therapy goals.

What should I consider when choosing a therapist?

When choosing a therapist, you want to consider the therapist's clinical education, training, and expertise. Equally as important, you want to evaluate your comfort in working with a therapist.  I encourage you to schedule initial therapy sessions with multiple therapists to determine who feels like the best fit for you. 

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How many sessions will it take to address my concerns?

The frequency and length of your treatment depend on your specific goals and circumstances.  I provide both time-limited and longer-term therapy.

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Can I continue to work with you through telehealth if I move out of state?

No.  I am licensed to see clients only in Hawaii.  Therefore, I am unable to see clients if they relocate to another state.  

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Do you prescribe medication?

No.  However, when appropriate, clients may be referred to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation.

What is brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a somatic modality, which emerged from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and uses focused mindfulness to explore, desensitize, and reprocess unconscious stress and trauma. Brainspotting integrates neuroscience with intuition to facilitate deep healing of trauma patterns, areas of “stuckness”, emotional dysregulation, and limiting beliefs through accessing and releasing unconscious thoughts, feelings, memories, patterns, etc. Brainspotting is based on the principle that where you look affects how you feel. Through finding and using focused mindfulness on specific brainspots, which are points of activation, expansion, resource/safety in the visual field, clients are able to rapidly heal their body, mind, and soul to move from a state of emotional dysregulation to regulation in under 6-12 brainspotting sessions.

What is a Therapy Intensive?

A Therapy Intensive is an accelerated form of therapy designed to help clients go deeper and get results faster. Instead of attending therapy one hour per week for a year, imagine carving out one day, a weekend, or even a week for your own personal “retreat” customized for your therapeutic needs. Intensives are a cutting-edge approach to help people feel better faster. No need for a weekly therapy appointment.

In fact, many people think of Therapy Intensives like a retreat. For that day, weekend, or week you can unplug, take time off work, get a babysitter, or even stay in a hotel. This time is completely dedicated to you so you can focus on healing, reflecting, and reconnecting.

My Therapy Intensives integrate a variety of evidenced based therapeutic techniques, such as CBT, DBT, Humanistic, IFS, etc.) as well as cutting edge somatic modalities for holistic healing, including Brainspotting, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Breathwork, Mindfulness, and Meditation.

Who can benefit from a Therapy Intensive?

Therapy Intensives are perfect for people that are ready for relief now. If you’re ready to see things change in your life and your relationships but you don’t want to wait for that to happen next year - a Therapy Intensive may be right for you. If you have a specific topic, trauma, or stressor that you want support with - this can be the focus of your Therapy Intensive. The dedicated time will be customized specifically to you and your goals.

Why should I do a Therapy Intensive instead of a normal 53-60-minute therapy session?

Therapy Intensives are more effective and efficient than normal 60-minute therapy sessions. Typically in a 60-minute session, there are at least 5-10 minutes of “check-in” at the start of the session and usually, 5-10 minutes spent on “closing up” or “checking out” at the end of a session - Leaving only 30-40 minutes for deep therapeutic work. Therapy Intensives are different. A 3-hour Therapy Intensive allows for 2.5 hours of depth work. That’s the equivalent of three 60-minute sessions or practically a month of therapy - in a single day!

How many Intensive Days should I schedule?

Great question! This depends on your goals for the Therapy Intensive. Some goals can be reached in a 1 Day Intensive (3 hours), but other goals are more complex and may require a 3 Day Intensive. I can help you determine the number of days that would work best for your therapy goals.

If I already have a primary therapist, can I do an intensive as adjunct therapy?

Absolutely! Therapy Intensives work very well as an adjunct therapy. I would ask that you sign a Release of Information so that your current therapist and I can collaborate/coordinate to best serve you.

Can my insurance help pay for Therapy Intensives?

Therapy Intensives are not covered by insurance. However, if you have out-of-network benefits, your insurance company may reimburse a portion of the Therapy Intensive. It’s best to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card to learn the details about your specific plan. Make sure to ask questions like: Do I have a deductible for out-of-network services? Have I met my deductible? What CPT billing codes do you reimburse (i.e. 90837 or two 90843 in one day)? What is the rate of reimbursement for each billing code? What is the allowable amount for reimbursement?

Here is a helpful resource: The Complete Guide to Out-Of-Network Reimbursement.

When are Therapy Intensive payments due?

A 50% non-refundable deposit is due at the time you book your Therapy Intensive. The remaining 50% is due on the first day of the Intensive Session.

What if I’m interested in a Therapy Intensive but I’m not 100% sure?

Let’s schedule a time to talk! I’m happy to answer any questions and explore your unique situation to see if a Therapy Intensive may be helpful for you.