Question 1

Do you offer in-person sessions at your office?

Accepted Answer

No.   My practice is exclusively online. If you are set on having in-person sessions, there are other qualified couples therapists in the area who offer in-person sessions. If you are unable to locate them, call me and I would be happy to provide a referral.   All my sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. Online therapy is convenient and effective. On your end, it will feel like a Zoom or Skype call, but the platform is more secure. I am happy to guide you through the process.

Question 2

Do you offer online therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes!   In fact, I only offer online therapy. All my sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. On your end, it will feel like a Zoom or Skype call, but the platform is more secure.

Question 3

Is online therapy effective?

Accepted Answer

Yes!   Research indicates that telehealth sessions are just as useful as in-person sessions for individuals. There is less research available on the effectiveness of telehealth for couples, but the research that is available is promising. In my own experience, I’ve found that many couples prefer telehealth. Why?   1. It's convenient: you don't have to commute to my office, which saves you time.    2. You're in your own environment, which is comforting for many people (especially if you have pets!).   3. You're less likely to need a babysitter.    4. The changes you make in our session may better translate outside of our sessions, since the therapy is not taking place in a separate location from the everyday environment where you interact with your partner.

Question 4

What technology do I need for online therapy?

Accepted Answer

You will need a few things to ensure our online sessions are successful:   1. A computer, tablet, or smartphone; 2. An internet connection; 3. A private location.    That's it!

Question 5

Can we meet in the evening after work (or the early morning before work)?

Accepted Answer

No.   My last session of the day begins at 4 pm, and I do not offer early morning hours.    I limit my sessions to normal working hours in order to have a healthy balance in my own life, especially with my marriage. This allows me to show up in the healthiest manner possible for the couples I serve.

Question 6

How often do we meet?

Accepted Answer

In the beginning, we typically meet weekly. This gives focus to our work and helps you get the most out of our sessions. You want to have time between sessions to implement what you’ve learned, but not so much time that we lose momentum. After a strong foundation is built, we often transition to meet less often, such as every other week, then every three to four weeks. I often joke that my goal is to become obsolete, but it’s true! As soon as I become obsolete, it means our work together has been successful.

Question 7

How long is each session?

Accepted Answer

75 minutes.   This length of time allows you to get the most out of our sessions while remaining focused - it's about efficiency and effectiveness.    Please note that, unlike couples therapy, Discernment Counseling begins with a 2-hour initial session, then subsequent sessions are 90 minutes.

Question 8

How long will I be in couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

Therapy length depends on your goals and the complexity of your case. Some prefer to address short-term goals over the course of 3-6 months; others have more complex needs that require more time (6 months or more).    It is important to note that couples usually find themselves entrenched in unhealthy communication patterns that have been established over the course of many years, so it is not an overnight journey. At the same time, your time and money are valuable, not to mention your emotional energy. I strive to help couples in as brief a period of time as possible while respecting the complexity of the issues. During the course of our work together, I will provide my professional recommendation as to the length of our work together; however, you are free to end therapy at any time. If you need additional clarity, we can discuss it further during our phone consultation or in our first meeting to ensure we are on the same page.    Please note that, unlike couples therapy, Discernment Counseling and Hopeful Spouse Counseling are short-term interventions of up to 5 sessions.

Question 9

Do you work with individuals?

Accepted Answer

No, just couples. This focus helps me offer the best care possible.

Question 10

Do you work with kids or families?

Accepted Answer

No, I only work with couples. Some therapists work with people across the lifespan; other specialize. My training, experience, and focus is working with couples. This sometimes involves parenting issues, of course, but I refer out to a child/adolescent therapist if your child needs help, or I refer out to a family therapist if that is needed.

Question 11

What if I'm not sure if I should stay in a relationship?

Accepted Answer

If you're unsure about your commitment level, or if you're not sure that therapy can help your relationship, couples therapy may not be the best fit for you at this time. If you or your partner are contemplating separation, Discernment Counseling may be a better fit for you. Regardless, I can provide a phone consultation to help you explore the options available to you, so you can receive the appropriate support.

Question 12

Will you encourage us to divorce or separate?

Accepted Answer

No. During couples therapy, the assumption is that you both want to work on your relationship, so my stance will be to support you in doing that. It's not a 'compatability test'.      If you or your partner is ambivalent about staying in the relationship, Discernment Counseling takes a more nuanced stance in order to respect the complexity of your situation. See my values statement for more information regarding my stance on marriage, therapy, and divorce.

Question 13

What if my partner won't come to couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

You have a few options, which depend on the reason your partner is not interested in joining you for couples therapy. If your partner is ambivalent about the relationship itself and is considering separation, you may be a good fit for Discernment Counseling.   If, however, your partner is simply unsure about the need for couples therapy, or if they are uncomfortable with the idea of it, you can see if they are willing to at least do a phone consultation.   You can also explore seeing an individual therapist to make changes on your own, which may inspire your partner to join you for couples therapy. Regardless, I am happy to provide a phone consultation to help you explore your options.

Question 14

Will you push your religious beliefs on me?

Accepted Answer

No! I will never push an agenda on you or make you uncomfortable with faith-based remarks that you don't yourself bring to the table. As a therapist, I use clinical, evidence-based interventions that are compatible with diverse belief systems. I affirm you and your worldview, and I want to be here to support you.

Question 15

Will you respect my religious or spiritual beliefs?

Accepted Answer

Yes! As a therapist, my role is to incorporate your worldview into the therapy process. I will not judge you or your beliefs. Although I am not trained in any type of pastoral counseling, we will do our best to incorporate your belief system into our work together. I affirm your religious or spiritual beliefs and want to be here to support you.

Question 16

Do you support same-sex couples and others in the LGBTQ+ community?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can expect LGBTQ+ affirming therapy. My mission is to help couples heal and strengthen their relationship, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or not. I affirm your relationship and want to be here to support you. This is a safe place.

Question 17

Do you support those in consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships?

Accepted Answer

Yes! I support people’s right to define their relationship structure in whatever way they choose, so long as it's consensual. I affirm your relationship and want to be here to support you. This is a safe place.

Question 18

Are you sex-positive, BDSM & kink friendly?

Accepted Answer

Yes! I support people’s right to sexual expression in whatever way they choose, so long as it's consensual. I affirm your sexual expression and want to be here to support you. This is a safe place.

Question 19

How do I know if you're the right therapist for me?

Accepted Answer

When choosing a therapist, there are many factors to consider. While I wish I was the best therapist for everyone, the truth is, finding the right therapist is a very personal decision. Training and experience are important factors; so is your comfort level with the therapist. Fortunately, we have many excellent couples therapists in the area, so I am happy to support you in finding the right person for you if, for whatever reason, we are not a good fit.    I maintain a small practice and work with a limited number of clients in order to ensure the best quality of care - this also takes the pressure off, since it allows us to make sure it’s truly a good fit if we do decide to work together. Check out the rest of my website to learn more about me, my background, and my work. If you are ready to see if we're a good fit, the next step is to schedule a free, initial phone consultation. Get started.

Question 20

What are your rates?

Accepted Answer

Couples Therapy:    Initial Assessment = $250 for initial 75-minute session (includes a comprehensive online relationship assessment)   Subsequent Sessions = $190 for 75-minute sessions   Discernment Counseling:   Initial Assessment = $300 for initial 2-hour session   Subsequent Sessions = $230 for 90-minute sessions

Question 21

Is therapy worth the investment?

Accepted Answer

Couples therapy is not inexpensive, yet it’s effective.   Like anything else, it is important for you to consider how important your goals are to you in order to determine if the investment is worthwhile for you. You need to weigh the potential benefits if you do therapy against the potential outcomes if you don't do therapy.   I believe wholeheartedly in the usefulness of our work together - that’s why I do it! - and one of my core beliefs is to always offer more value than I receive in compensation (that way, everyone wins).

Question 22

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

No.    I can, however, provide you with a Superbill, which is a receipt. You can then submit the Superbill to your insurance company, who may reimburse a portion of your payment (see below).

Question 23

Will couples therapy be reimbursed by my insurance company?

Accepted Answer

Couples therapy is not typically covered by insurance companies.    Nevertheless, I can provide you with a Superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company to see if they will reimburse a portion of your payment. Please note, however, that I do not provide diagnostic "codes" for insurance filings because, in couples therapy, there is not one patient with a presenting problem; instead, both partners are working together on their relationship issues.

Question 24

What if I need to reschedule?

Accepted Answer

No problem. If you cancel or reschedule your session with at least 48 hours’ notice, there is no fee. If you cancel or reschedule within 48 hours of your scheduled time, or if you do not show for your scheduled appointment, you will be charged the rate of your scheduled session. If it's a true emergency, that's a different story.     Why the charge? The late-cancellation charge is there because I set aside a specific time just for you, and it’s difficult to coordinate for another couple to use that time slot with such short notice.

Question 25

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

All major credit cards (i.e., Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover).    For ease and convenience, your card will be automatically charged at the end of each session through the secure, online portal.

Question 26

Can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?

Accepted Answer

Most HSA/FSA accounts come with a debit card that is linked to the account (or you reimburse yourself from the account). On my end, I am able to charge your card just as I would with a credit card. It is up to you, however, to check with your accountant and your HSA/FSA administrator to determine whether or not the services rendered are considered a qualified medical expense.

Question 27

How do I start working with you?

Accepted Answer

It’s simple. It all starts with a free, 20-minute phone consultation.   During this call, I’ll ask a few questions about your background and goals—and, importantly, you can ask questions of me—so we can see if we’re a good fit to work together. If it's not a good fit, I'll support you in finding the right person for you. If it is a good fit, I'll get you scheduled as soon as possible so you can get started.   Get started.

Question 28

Makarios Tabor

Online Couples Therapy - SC & FL Residents

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions