Frequently Asked Questions

Therapy, also known as counseling, is a form of treatment for mental health conditions that involves communication, emotional processing, and improved self-awareness with the support of a licensed professional. The goal of therapy is to help individuals overcome challenges and improve their overall mental health and wellbeing. Depending on the individual's specific needs and goals, therapy can be short-term or long-term and can involve varying degrees of emotional difficulty. While therapy can be challenging at times, it can also be incredibly rewarding and transformative for those who are committed to the process. At Spark + Pivot, our team is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy services to help you achieve your goals and live your best life.

We believe that therapy is a unique and personal journey for each individual. Our therapists use evidence-based practices tailored to your specific needs and goals. During your first session, you and your therapist will discuss your history, current concerns, and what you hope to gain from therapy. From there, you will work together to develop a treatment plan and establish goals for your therapy. Your therapist will provide you with tools and resources to help you cope with challenges and improve your mental health. Sessions typically last 50 minutes and can be scheduled weekly or bi-weekly. We encourage open and honest communication with your therapist throughout the process to ensure that your therapy experience is positive and effective.

There are 5 typical stages of readiness as it relates to pursuing change and personal growth (see table below for details). It is helpful to consider where you may be within these stages, but it is important to remember that as you pursue change you may go in and out of stages as you face different challenges and develop new skills. Meaning, change is rarely as linear as a change model may suggest. If you are researching therapists or coaches, chances are you are ready. Source: Hilton Head Health

Coaching and counseling are often confused with each other, but they are distinct practices. Counseling typically focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and PTSD. Counselors are trained to help individuals understand their experiences and emotions in order to find relief and healing to accomplish goals. Depending on the presenting issue, a Counselor may focus on the past or present, but will always have a goal for improving the client's outcomes for the future. Coaching, on the other hand, is a process that helps individuals reach their personal and professional goals with less emotional vulnerability. Coaches work with individuals to identify their strengths, overcome obstacles, and develop strategies for success. While coaching can involve discussing emotions and personal challenges, it is not intended to diagnose or treat mental health conditions, and in cases where trauma is identified, the coach will refer to a counselor / therapist. At Spark + Pivot, we offer both counseling and coaching services, depending on each individual's needs and goals. Our licensed counselors provide evidence-based treatments to address a range of mental health concerns, while our coaches help individuals achieve professional growth.

Culturally-sensitive counseling refers to a therapeutic approach that takes into consideration a person's cultural background, values, beliefs, and experiences when providing mental health services. It recognizes that the way people view and cope with mental health issues may be influenced by their cultural identity, social context, and historical experiences. Culturally-sensitive counseling involves developing an understanding of the client's cultural worldview, communication style, and unique needs, and tailoring the therapy to meet those needs. It also involves acknowledging and addressing cultural barriers that may prevent individuals from seeking or receiving mental health services. We strive to provide culturally-sensitive counseling services that are inclusive, respectful, and empowering for clients from diverse backgrounds. Cultural factors may include (but are not limited to): language, spirituality/religion, regional background, ethnicity, race, affectional/sexual identity, and gender identity. Helpful resources on this topic: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/culturally-sensitive-therapy# https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ACA%20Digests/ACAPCD-24.pdf https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2023-01-17/what-it-means-to-have-a-culturally-responsive-therapist-why-it-matters-group-therapy

Trauma-informed care is an approach to mental health services that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma on an individual's life. Trauma can be defined as any event, experience or situation that is emotionally painful, overwhelming, or distressing, and has the power to affect an individual's physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Trauma-informed care is a framework that prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment, and is designed to help individuals feel respected, heard, and supported throughout the process of healing and recovery from trauma. At Spark + Pivot, we believe that trauma-informed care is essential to providing effective mental health services, and we strive to incorporate this approach into all aspects of our work. Helpful articles about this topic include: https://www.acesaware.org/ace-fundamentals/principles-of-trauma-informed-care/ https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/childrens_mental_health/atc-whitepaper-040616.pdf https://ct.counseling.org/2023/10/prioritizing-trauma-informed-care/

Intake sessions are 80-minutes and cost $200, and existing patient appointments are 50-minutes and cost $150. We believe in providing affordable and accessible care to all those who need it, so we offer a sliding scale fee based on income, with a minimum fee of $69 per session. Please contact us for more information on our fees and payment options.

We offer individualized career counseling services tailored to fit your unique needs and goals. To get a better idea of pricing, schedule a free consultation or contact us. During the consultation, we will discuss your particular needs and goals and work with you to create a personalized career counseling plan that fits your budget. To get an idea of typical pricing: Intake sessions are 50-minutes and cost $150. If career assessment would be a helpful part of your career counseling process, Megan will work with you to determine which type(s) of assessment(s) are most appropriate. Assessment (including administration, analysis, and a 80-minute interpretation session) ranges between $300-$500 depending on your goals. Client appointments are typically 50-minutes and cost $150. Megan can also structure career counseling intensives in which we work in larger blocks of time (2- to 6-hours) to tackle a broader scope of career counseling tasks. Please contact Megan directly if you are interested in learning more about that option.

Megan DuBose, MS, LPC Associate (Under the supervision of Kelley Akins, MS, LPC-S) is qualified to work with adult clients in Texas who are coping with a myriad of mental health challenges. She has treated clients coping with anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and disorders involving psychotic features (hallucinations and delusions). Given the strong correlation all of these diagnoses have with trauma and adverse childhood events (ACEs), Megan assesses for traumatic history and takes a trauma-informed approach to therapy. Whether you are grieving the death of a child; processing new awareness of abuse or neglect you experienced as a child; navigating a divorce; or suffering from crippling anxiety or PTSD that is affecting your work, Megan has experience and formal training to support you in a safe and affirming way. Additionally, Megan is an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, providing a safe and sensitive therapeutic approach for those navigating identity transitions, relationship challenges, family issues, and systemic barriers in work.

No, currently Spark + Pivot does not participate in insurance programs. Our approach is to provide mental health services without the constraints of insurance company requirements and diagnoses - and to keep your records confidential. We will provide you with a superbill each month that provides information that is typically required to see "out of network" benefits with your provider. If you are interested in out-of-network reimbursement, please contact your insurance provider for more information. Here are some questions you can ask them: Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits? Is any pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed? If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion? Do I have a deductible and if so, what is it? What I need to submit for reimbursement” Understanding your benefits and applying for reimbursement is your responsibility. Additionally, you may use flexible savings accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) to pay for our services.