An awesome benefit of  counseling sessions, or therapy, is that it not only helps you understand yourself better but it helps you understand other people. However, you get out of therapy what you are wiling to put into it. It is a collaborative relationship where both parties (therapist and client) put in a lot of work. It takes much more than coming to sessions once a week to make long term changes.

You will be expected to practice skills you are taught in session, outside of session, reading suggested articles, and/or doing self-care. If you are not willing to put in the time and energy needed, you can expect little improvement. Since big and small problems are going to come up from time to time, knowing how to deal with them in a healthy way is an essential skill. The counselors at Sage Minds Counseling are willing to put in the energy for you to have better mental health through therapy.

It can be comforting just knowing that you have a built-in support structure that you can go to once on a schedule. People are starting to open up more about their personal struggles and mental health issues because they see others that have been helped. If you think that you may have a mental health problem or need someone to talk to, we highly encourage you to get help.

When Will I Experience the Positive Results of Counseling?
Each individual’s situation is different. There is no set time frame for therapeutic services. Where as one person may see the results they are looking for in six months, it may take another person a year or longer, and that is perfectly fine. Therapy is not a race. After a few sessions, a treatment plan is composed that is individual to your needs. This will serve as a “road map” of our journey together. It will help us “stay on track” so we can meet your goals as efficiently as possible.

Here are some factors that can impact your experience:

• How much engagement, participation, effort, and commitment you bring with you to each session and when you are not with us.
• The nature of your symptoms, including the severity and quantity, and how long you have been experiencing them
• Your resilience to working through issues, problems, concerns, and the stressors in your life
• Support from family and friends that want to see you succeed and have better mental and physical health
• Patterns in your family of origin (our pasts and where we come from matter)
• Your willingness to be open and honest with your therapist about what's going on in your life and how you are progressing

You will begin by meeting with your counselor on a weekly basis. This is the most effective way for developing a therapeutic counseling rhythm. Therapy sessions are scheduled on a weekly basis as therapy works best when there are consistent sessions that allow for growth and change to take place. Over time, when goals start being met and substantial growth is shown, we will discuss bi-weekly appointments. The end goal of therapy is discharge. When that time nears, you will be an active participant in that conversation.

Weekly sessions are super helpful in the following situations:

• you are working on building skills (coping, communication, social, mindfulness skills)
• you are working through a specific challenge that is actively showing up in your daily life (anxiety, relationship difficulties including divorce, grief, behavioral issues, depression, trauma).
• you are breaking old patterns and reprogramming thinking as well as behaviors because this requires repetition and a neutral party who can consistently support you in seeing how this is showing up in your life as well as how to shift.

Biweekly Sessions are a good option when:

• You have been in therapy some time and you are seeing progress like less anxiety, alleviated depression, decreased overwhelm, being able to practice the skills you are learning in session out in the real world.
• You are being proactive about coming to therapy so there is nothing urgent, but you are doing some inner work on yourself and you are doing work between counseling sessions that your therapist suggests or that you find supportive like meditation, journaling, establishing a fitness routine, etc.

Appointment availability varies depending on therapist schedules and current demand. We strive to accommodate new clients as quickly as possible, often within one to two weeks of your initial contact.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact your local crisis hotline or emergency services immediately. You can text HOME to 741741, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. For urgent but non-emergency situations, let us know when you call and we will do our best to prioritize your appointment scheduling.

Searching for a therapist / counselor online can be a daunting task and many people simply find the whole process of locating a therapist intimidating. Whatever your reasons for seeking care, you deserve to find a therapist who fits you. It’s important that the therapist be someone whom you trust, respect, and even like. By necessity, therapy isn’t always easy or enjoyable—it often requires facing up to painful difficulties and life patterns.

It can be difficult to discern from an online profile or even an initial session whether the therapist has that special something that will allow you to form a good working relationship. For this reason, it’s often useful to think of the first few sessions as a mutual assessment. During your first few sessions, you'll want to make sure you listen to your gut instinct.

Ask yourself does the environment feel warm and welcoming to you? Were you given a friendly reception? Can I see myself trusting and sharing personal and often difficult details with this person? You can also call and we can chat over the phone. Not all human beings fit well together, and that’s okay. The important thing is for you to find a therapist who fits your needs at this point in your life.

Counselors at Sage Minds Counseling are available for scheduled sessions with new and existing patients. You can schedule an appointment with us by phone or by email and we will gladly assist you during the scheduling process and answer any questions you may have along the way. You can request an appointment using our online form to start the scheduling process and determine an available appointment time that best fits your schedule.

We typically respond within 24 hours Monday through Thursday. While sessions do take place on weekends, administrative responses may be delayed Friday through Sunday as administrative support operates on a modified weekend schedule. Voicemails are always welcome, and we will respond as soon as possible.

It's normal to feel nervous about this first call. It may help to know what you're in for. It's helpful to have a goal or two in mind as you begin. For example, are you focused on processing a particular incident in your past? Are you interested in developing better communication skills? Are you eager to challenge the way you customarily think about yourself or the world around you (your inner dialogue)? Do you want to create a toolbox for coping with anxiety? Are you looking for a "safe" place to express your feelings regarding a loss?

The therapist will typically start off the call with a few questions to get to know you better, so they can make sure they're qualified to meet your needs. Here are some questions a therapist may ask you on the initial call. If possible, take a few minutes before the call to reflect on these topics, so you can have a clearer sense of your goals for therapy.

• Why are you considering therapy now?
• Have you been in therapy before?
• What are you looking for in a therapist?
• What has worked in the past, and what hasn't?

We love answering your questions about our practice, methodology, or anything you are concerned with and are happy to discuss counseling / therapy options with you.

Yes, we offer secure telehealth counseling sessions for clients who prefer to meet virtually or cannot attend in-person appointments. Our online sessions use HIPAA-compliant video conferencing technology to ensure your privacy and confidentiality.

Telehealth therapy provides the same quality care as in-person sessions and is available for individual counseling, couples therapy, and teen counseling. This option offers flexibility for busy schedules, travel constraints, or personal preference.

Telehealth counseling works just like in-person therapy, except you connect with your therapist through a secure video platform from the comfort of your own home. You will need a private space, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone.

Your therapist will send you a secure link before your scheduled appointment time. Simply click the link at your appointment time to join the session. The experience is designed to be easy and comfortable while maintaining the same therapeutic benefits as traditional office visits.

Yes, research consistently shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for most mental health concerns. Many clients find that the convenience and comfort of being in their own space actually helps them open up more easily.

Telehealth therapy uses the same evidence-based techniques and therapeutic approaches as traditional office visits. The connection you build with your therapist and the work you do together remains the same, regardless of whether you meet in person or online.

One of the greatest barriers to effective mental health treatment is the cost. Although recent regulatory reforms sought to improve access to behavioral and mental health services, many people worry about the costs of therapy. Therapy is, no doubt, a financial commitment.

I have heard therapy is expensive.

You should view therapy as an investment in your future. Make sure you’re prepared to get the MOST of your therapy experience with us. Then, your investment is worth it and you don’t stay in therapy longer than you’ve planned. Imagine having a skill set in place to help you feel confident with situations that arise in the future for the rest of your life! That is a feeling that could be priceless.

When you invest in yourself by going to therapy, and you show up, put in the work, and actively push for change in your own life, you'll experience a long-term difference and be armed with strong tools for the future that allow you to continue self-development and self-management.

As with any major cost to your budget, it is important to research your options. 

We currently accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Cigna, United Healthcare (UHC), Baylor Scott and White, Imagine 360, and WebTPA insurance plans. If you have one of these plans, we will bill your insurance directly for covered services, and you will be responsible for any copays, deductibles, or non-covered services.

Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider before your first session to verify your mental health benefits. If your insurance is not listed, we offer competitive self-pay rates and can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.

We offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based therapy approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Neuropsychotherapy. Our therapists are trained in multiple modalities to provide personalized treatment.

We specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, ADHD, autism support, and relationship issues. Each treatment plan is tailored to your unique needs and goals, ensuring you receive the most effective care for your situation.

Yes, we provide couples counseling to help partners strengthen their relationship, improve communication, and work through challenges together. Our experienced therapists work with couples at all stages of their relationship journey.

We address issues such as communication difficulties, trust concerns, intimacy challenges, life transitions, and conflict resolution. Our approach is collaborative and non-judgmental, recognizing that each relationship is unique and deserving of individualized attention.

Yes, we work with children as young as 8 years old and provide specialized teen therapy services. Our therapists have extensive experience helping young people navigate emotional challenges, social pressures, academic stress, and family dynamics.

We create a safe, supportive environment where children and teens feel comfortable expressing themselves. Our approach is age-appropriate and engaging, helping young clients develop healthy coping skills and emotional regulation strategies that will benefit them throughout their lives.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a scientifically-backed therapy that helps process traumatic memories and distressing experiences. It uses bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess difficult memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact.

EMDR is particularly effective for treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and other conditions rooted in past experiences. Many clients experience significant relief in fewer sessions compared to traditional talk therapy, as EMDR targets where trauma is stored in the brain and nervous system.

Yes, we offer comprehensive ADHD testing using the QbTest, an FDA-cleared computerized assessment that provides objective, data-driven results. The QbTest measures attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity using motion-tracking technology.

We provide ADHD testing for individuals ages 6 and up, including children, teens, and adults. The assessment takes 15-20 minutes and helps ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. We also offer ongoing monitoring to track treatment progress over time.

We understand that life happens and sometimes you need to reschedule. We ask that you provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice may be subject to a cancellation fee. This policy helps us serve all clients effectively and ensures appointment availability for those in need. If you have an emergency, please contact our office and we will work with you.

If you miss a scheduled appointment without providing advance notice, you may be charged a no-show fee. We reserve appointment times specifically for you, and missed appointments without notice prevent us from serving other clients who need care.

We understand that emergencies and unexpected situations occur. If you missed your appointment due to an emergency, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can work with you and reschedule your next session.

Confidentiality is strictly maintained. The law protects confidentiality of communication between a client and therapist or counselor. No information will be disclosed without a signed consent form. There are exceptions to the law, however. 

• Suspected child, dependent adult or elder abuse.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person.
• If a client intends to harm him or herself. The counselor will make every effort to work with an individual; however, non-cooperation may lead to additional steps to be taken.

Client confidentiality has many legal and ethical aspects. Counselors and other mental health providers are bound by professional oath, personal ethics and legal licensure to uphold confidentiality for their patients. This means that counselors are legally restrained from disclosing information that was shared within the protected client-counselor relationship. Breaking confidentiality could result in a counselor losing his or her license, so they take issues of confidentiality very seriously.

In addition, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA, is a series of laws that protects people’s personal health information, including mental health records. Any medical health professional that violates HIPAA could face civil or possibly even criminal penalties. Counseling is considered a medical service and we are required to protect your information just like your other health providers.

When a child is a minor, mental health providers are legally and ethically required to confirm who has the authority to consent to treatment. This legal requirement exists under state regulations and professional licensing standards to ensure we are honoring parental rights and following proper procedures. Without this confirmation, we could inadvertently violate a custody agreement or court order, which would put both your family and our practice at legal risk.

This requirement applies to all families where parents are divorced, separated, legally separated, or have any type of custody arrangement in place—whether formal or informal. It is not a reflection of concerns about either parent or your specific situation. Rather, it is a standard practice designed to protect everyone involved: you, your co-parent, your child, and our clinicians. By understanding the legal framework of your custody arrangement from the beginning, we can ensure therapy proceeds smoothly and ethically.

We recognize this can feel intrusive or frustrating, especially when you are focused on getting help for your child. However, this step creates a foundation of trust and legal compliance that ultimately serves your child's best interests throughout their treatment with us.

Not necessarily. Whether both parents need to agree to therapy depends entirely on what your custody agreement specifies. Custody arrangements vary significantly from family to family. Some custody orders grant one parent sole legal custody, which typically means that parent alone has the authority to make major decisions about the child's education, medical care, and mental health treatment. Other arrangements require joint legal custody, where both parents must agree on these significant decisions, including whether to begin therapy.

There are also situations where parents share joint legal custody but the agreement specifies certain exceptions or gives one parent decision-making authority in specific areas, such as mental health care. Some agreements require consultation but not necessarily agreement, while others have detailed provisions about how disagreements should be resolved. This is why we need to review the complete custody documentation—to understand exactly what your specific agreement requires.

Our role is not to determine what should happen or take sides in custody matters. We simply need to understand and follow what the court has already ordered. Once we review your documentation, we can explain clearly whether one or both parents need to consent to treatment, and we can guide you through the next steps based on your unique situation.

Custody and consent provisions are often scattered throughout legal documents rather than contained in a single, easy-to-find section. Important details about who can consent to mental health treatment might appear in the legal custody section, the decision-making authority section, provisions about medical care, or even in modification orders or addendums. Information about required communication between parents, notification timelines, and dispute resolution procedures can be found in multiple places throughout the document. If we only review selected pages, we risk missing critical information that affects how we provide care to your child.

Additionally, the complete document provides context that partial excerpts cannot. For example, one section might grant joint legal custody, but another section later in the document might specify exceptions for mental health treatment. Or an amendment to the original decree might have changed the provisions entirely. We also need to verify that the document is official and legally binding by confirming it includes all required signatures, including the judge's signature and court seal, along with any file stamps or certification marks.

We understand that custody documents can be lengthy—sometimes 20, 30, or even more pages—and it may seem excessive to provide everything. However, this thoroughness protects you and your child. By reviewing the complete document, we ensure we are following the exact terms of your court order, which prevents potential legal complications and helps avoid conflicts between parents about whether treatment was properly authorized.

Unfortunately, no, we need the complete document from beginning to end. While we certainly understand the desire to simplify the process by sending only the relevant sections, custody and consent provisions often appear in multiple locations throughout legal documents, and extracting just certain pages could cause us to miss legally binding information. What might seem like "just the custody pages" may not include subsequent modifications, specific provisions about mental health treatment, or important details about parental notification and communication requirements.

Additionally, we have a professional and legal obligation to verify the authenticity and completeness of the documentation we receive. When we receive only selected pages, we cannot confirm whether there are additional provisions, amendments, or modifications that affect the sections we're reviewing. Court orders are also sometimes modified over time through separate orders, and without seeing the full document trail, we might be working with outdated or incomplete information.

We know it can feel like extra work to scan or copy an entire decree, especially when you are already managing the stress of seeking help for your child. However, providing the complete document—including all pages, signatures, and any modifications or amendments—is the only way we can ensure we have the full picture. This protects you from potential legal complications and ensures your child's treatment begins on solid legal footing.

Please provide the most recent version of your custody agreement or divorce decree that you have access to, regardless of how old it is. Many custody agreements remain in effect for years or even until the child reaches adulthood, so an "old" agreement is often still the legally binding document that governs parental rights and responsibilities. What matters most is whether the agreement is still in effect, not when it was originally created.

However, if there have been any modifications, amended orders, supplemental orders, or new rulings since your original decree was issued, those must be included as well. Sometimes parents return to court to modify custody arrangements, change decision-making authority, or update provisions about education, medical care, or relocation. These modifications can significantly change who has the authority to consent to mental health treatment, so we need to see the complete picture of your current legal situation, not just the original agreement.

If you are unsure whether your custody agreement has been modified, or if you know modifications exist but are having difficulty locating them, we recommend contacting the court where your case was heard or consulting with your family law attorney. Most courts maintain records of all orders and modifications. If you are currently in the process of modifying your custody agreement, please let us know, as this may affect the timeline for beginning treatment.

We do not routinely share custody documents with the other parent. Any divorce decree or custody order you provide is maintained as part of your child's confidential clinical record and is used solely to verify consent authority and understand communication or notification requirements related to treatment.

That said, if both parents have legal rights to access the child's records, applicable law may require us to provide copies of records contained in the file upon a proper request. This could include custody documentation if it is part of the clinical record. In most cases, the other parent already has access to these documents through the court system.

Importantly, providing access to records is not the same as proactively sending documents. We do not release information or records unless legally required to do so, such as in response to a valid written request, court order, or subpoena, and we follow all applicable state and federal privacy laws when responding to such requests.

Separately, some custody orders require that both parents be notified when mental health treatment begins or allow both parents access to treatment information. If your custody agreement includes these provisions, we are legally obligated to follow them. This may affect what information is shared, but it does not mean we automatically provide copies of custody documents to the other parent.

If you have concerns about the other parent's rights or what information they may be entitled to receive, we are happy to review your custody documentation with you and explain how it impacts consent, communication, and access to records so there are no surprises.

Without confirmation of legal consent through proper custody documentation, we are unable to begin or continue mental health treatment with a minor child. This is not a choice our practice is making to be difficult—it is a legal and ethical requirement that we must follow to maintain our professional licenses and protect all parties involved. Providing therapy without proper consent authority could expose our clinicians to professional discipline, legal liability, and potential criminal charges in some circumstances. More importantly, it could put your family at risk of legal complications and potentially invalidate the therapeutic work we do with your child.

We understand this requirement can feel like a barrier, especially when your child needs help urgently. However, this protection exists for good reasons. It prevents situations where one parent seeks treatment for a child without the knowledge or consent of another parent who has legal rights to make that decision. It also protects children from being placed in the middle of parental conflicts about treatment. By ensuring we have proper authorization from the start, we create a stable foundation for therapy that serves your child's best interests.

If you are having difficulty obtaining your custody documentation—for example, if you have lost your copy, cannot locate all the pages, or are unsure where to find modification orders—please let us know. We can often suggest resources for obtaining these documents from the court or provide guidance on next steps. In urgent situations where a child is experiencing a mental health crisis, we can discuss crisis resources and emergency services while you work on gathering the necessary documentation for ongoing treatment.

Yes, absolutely. This is a universal requirement for all families where parents are divorced, separated, legally separated, or have any type of custody arrangement or court order in place—regardless of whether the arrangement is amicable, contentious, or somewhere in between. We ask every family in this situation to provide complete custody documentation before beginning treatment with a minor child. This policy applies consistently across all of our clients, with no exceptions based on individual circumstances, how cooperative parents appear to be, or how straightforward a situation might seem.

This standard requirement exists because we cannot make assumptions about custody arrangements based on conversations, appearances, or what parents tell us. Even when both parents are cooperating beautifully and both agree that therapy is needed, we still need to verify the legal framework through official documentation. Custody situations can be complex, and what parents believe about their agreement sometimes differs from what the court order actually says. Additionally, circumstances can change—a cooperative relationship today might become contentious tomorrow, and having proper documentation from the start protects everyone involved.

We want to be very clear that requesting this documentation is not a reflection of concerns about you as a parent, suspicions about your situation, or doubts about what you have told us. It is simply our standard operating procedure, grounded in legal requirements and professional best practices. Every mental health practice that serves children with divorced or separated parents should be asking for this same documentation—and if they are not, they may be exposing themselves and their clients to unnecessary legal risk.

We are happy to talk through this process with you at any time, and we encourage you to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or need clarification on any aspect of our custody documentation requirements. You can contact our office by phone at (972) 989-7655 or by email at info@sagemindscounseling.com, and our administrative team can address many common questions immediately. For more complex situations or specific concerns about your unique custody arrangement, we can schedule a brief consultation with one of our clinicians to discuss your situation in more detail.

Common situations where families reach out for guidance include: uncertainty about whether their specific type of custody arrangement requires documentation, difficulty locating or obtaining their complete custody documents, questions about what happens when custody agreements are currently being modified, concerns about how to handle situations where the other parent may not be aware of the therapy, and questions about what information the other parent will be entitled to receive about treatment. We have experience working with all types of custody situations and can help you navigate the documentation process.

We want to emphasize that our goal is to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible while maintaining our legal and ethical obligations. We are not here to create barriers to your child receiving care—we are here to ensure that care can proceed smoothly within the proper legal framework. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this requirement or frustrated with the process, please share that with us. We can often provide resources, suggest solutions, or simply offer reassurance that many families have successfully worked through this same process. Your child's mental health and well-being are our priority, and we are committed to supporting your family every step of the way.