FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Because finding the right therapist may not always happen on the first try, a consultation can be helpful to determine the right “fit.”  If I end up not being that right person for you, I will do my best to connect you with the one who is!

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Give me a call at 706-340-6944 or send me an email at shannon@lagomcounseling.com. I look forward to talking with you.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

I use a warm, person-centered, and judgement-free approach, which means that I see YOU first, not your problems. My ultimate goal is to provide you with the platform and confidence to find your voice, so that you have the autonomy and courage to be exactly the person you want to be.

WHAT IS AN LCSW? DON'T I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR?

LCSW is an acronym for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Basically it indicates a person who has a Master’s degree in Social Work, and has proven to the state board that they have experience and knowledge in the field. I’ve been working in the field of social work for 10 years now, with experience in domestic violence, addiction, and sexual trauma.

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No, I’m not a doctor, and yes, there is a chance that I can’t meet all of your needs. For example, I can’t prescribe you medication. If we find in our sessions that you have a need (like a prescription) that I can’t meet for you, I will connect you with the appropriate resource.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? CAN I USE MY INSURANCE?

Whether or not you choose to use your insurance or pay out of pocket is completely up to you. I would recommend speaking with your insurance company to figure out what your copay/deductible is to aid in your decision. My out of pocket cost is $80; some copays are equal to this and may not be worth the effort.

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Accepted Insurance:

Aetna, Aetna GEHA, Aetna Meritain, Cigna, Cigna-EAP, Friday Health Plans (GA), Optum - Carveout, Optum VA, Optum/United-EAP (GA), Oscar Health Plan, United All Savers, United GEHA/Shared Services, United Healthcare (GA), United Healthcare Golden Rule, United Oxford (GA), United Student Resources (GA), United Surest, United UMR

I'M AFRAID OF BEING JUDGED IN THERAPY.

I honestly have no interest in judging you. I consider myself an “ally-in-training” for the LGBTQ community and for people of color, meaning I don’t pretend like I know everything and I don’t pretend to always get it right. I’m going to screw up sometimes and I sincerely hope that I get called out on it so that I can be better.

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As a therapist, part of my job is to support you from where you are. The long and the short of it is — if it’s important to you, it’s important to me.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY FINDING OUT WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.

One of the cool things about my job is that I’m essentially a professional secret keeper. Your mom, your partner, your teacher, your boss — none of these people have rights to your information. There’s only a few reasons why I might be forced to break confidentiality:

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1. I believe you’re a threat to yourself. This doesn’t mean that if you say, in exasperation, “I wish I was dead,” that I’m going to immediately call the paddy wagon for you. It means that if I really, truly believe you’re in danger of hurting yourself, I have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect you and connect you to a higher level of care.

2. I believe you’re a threat to someone else. Again, saying “I could just kill her” is often used colloquially and doesn’t necessarily mean that you intend to kill someone. But I will start asking questions, and may be forced to involve other people, such as law enforcement.

3. I believe that you’re putting a child or a dependent person in danger. This includes any minor who is under your care, or an adult who is incapable of making decisions for themselves.

4. You subpoena me to court.

5. You sign a release of information to a specific person for a specific purpose. For example – I’m going to ask you to sign a release for an emergency contact of your choosing. This is so that if there is an actual emergency (“Hey, Ann’s arm fell off and we’re waiting for the ambulance, thought you’d like to know.”) I have someone I can contact. This doesn’t mean that this particular person has free access to all of your info; it means that I can disclose specific information for a specific purpose and nothing more.

WHY TELEHEALTH?

Telehealth is a great option for many people because it offers a great deal more flexibility. You can do it from the comfort of your own home, and since I'm doing so as well it allows me to be more flexible on the times I'm able to offer. 

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Another thing that's kinda neat about telehealth is that you can be anywhere in the state as long as you're in a state where I'm licensed (Georgia and South Carolina). This makes services more accessible to rural areas or folks who would not be able to access therapy otherwise.

HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE? HOW FREQUENTLY DO WE HAVE SESSIONS?

Each session is an hour, though depending on your need for the day we may wrap up anywhere from after 45 minutes to that hour mark. Talk with me if you have any special requests, such as shorter or longer sessions.

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How frequently we meet is based on a couple of things. If you're using your insurance, your insurance provider may have some limitations on how often (and for how long) you're able to receive services. Check with your provider to be sure.

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Outside of that, the frequency is usually something we discuss but is ultimately up to you. Many people decide to begin with weekly sessions and over time decrease to every two weeks or once a month; some people want weekly sessions consistently; I've even had clients who meet with me twice a week. Talk to me about your needs and we'll go from there.

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

Life happens. Sometimes (let's face it, usually) at the most inopportune moments. If for some reason you're unable to make a session, all I ask is that you let me know as soon as possible. I do not, however, require a certain amount of time notice or charge a no-show/late cancellation fee.

WHERE SHOULD I BE FOR MY SESSION?

It's best if for your session you have a quiet, private space free of distractions so that we can truly focus on your needs. If that place needs to be in your car or outside that's fine; I do ask, however, that sessions not be held while a person is driving.

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Also please remember that a strong Wi-Fi connection is helpful; if we keep breaking up/losing signal it'll make for a much rockier session!