Fees & FAQs

Our Fees

Jena’s rate:$225 per 50 min session

Nina & Regine’s rates:$175 per 50 min session

Limited number of sliding fee slots available.

All fees are due at the time of service. Standard sessions are 50 minutes for both individuals and couples. Extended therapy sessions are also offered. Payment is due at time of service, and online storage of credit card information for automatic, recurring processing is the required payment method. Smyrna Couples Counseling accepts debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express) and HSA/HRA/FSA cards. Please note that 24 hour advance cancellation of scheduled appointments is required in order to avoid being charged for the full session fee.

Smyrna Couples Counseling is not an “in-network” provider for any insurance companies and does not bill insurance companies directly; however, you may have an “out-of-network” benefit which allows you to see any therapist, pay directly, and then be partially reimbursed by your insurance provider. Your therapist can provide you with a statement so that you have documentation to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many insurance companies will cover 50-100% of my fee as an “out-of-network” provider. However, most insurance companies will not cover couples counseling.

Insurance

DETERMINING OUT-OF-NETWORK INSURANCE BENEFITS

The best way to determine what portion of our fees may (or may not) be reimbursed by your insurance company is to contact them directly by calling the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card (there is often a separate phone number for mental health or “behavioral health” services information). When speaking with your insurance company, you will want to ask them the following questions: 1) What are my “out-of-network” outpatient mental health benefits? How much of each therapy session will your insurance provider reimburse (this is typically a percentage)? 2) Must I meet a deductible (the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company will start to reimburse you) before my benefits will begin paying for out-of-network providers? Have I already paid any of this deductible? 3) Are there any limitations to services (e.g., only a certain amount of money allowed for mental health reimbursements, a limited number of sessions, reimbursement only for certain types of diagnoses, etc.)?

About Smyrna Couples Counseling

Are you accepting new clients right now?

Yes, we are currently accepting new clients. Follow these simple steps:

Email us or call us to schedule a free, 20-minute phone consultation.
Complete the free, 20-minute phone consultation to ensure it's a good fit.
Schedule your initial session with your new therapist.

Do you offer virtual therapy & in-person therapy?

Yes, for residents of Georgia only. Virtual sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

How do I start working with you?

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

Will you respect my religious or spiritual beliefs?

Yes. At Smyrna Couples Counseling our role is to incorporate your worldview into the therapy process. We respect and honor you or your beliefs. We will do our best to incorporate your belief system into our work together.

We use clinical, evidence-based interventions that are compatible with diverse belief systems. Many of our clients are Christian; many are atheists or agnostic; some belong to other spiritual or religious traditions, such as Buddhism or Hinduism. We affirm you and your worldview, and want to be here to support you, whether you identify as atheist, agnostic, spiritual, or religious.

Do you work with clients of color? How about interracial relationships?

Yes, our team at Smyrna Couples Counseling is diverse and holds a commitment and expertise around working with communities of color as well as interracial relationships.

Do you support members of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Yes, you can expect LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy. We have experience and training specific to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community - that includes affirmative care for those who have been historically marginalized due to their gender, sex, or sexuality. This is a place where you are not just welcome, you're affirmed.

About Therapy

How do I choose a therapist?

Finding the right therapist is a very personal decision. Once you have identified someone, check out their web presence for information on their education and methods for therapy. Then, you’re ready to call for a consultation. Pay attention to how the therapist makes you feel when you talk to them. Ask questions about how they work with clients as well as their qualifications to work with your concerns. Trust your instincts and then set an appointment.

Fortunately, we have connections with many excellent therapists in the area, and we’re willing to support you in finding the right person for you if, for whatever reason, we are not a good fit.

At Smyrna Couples Counseling, we 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 our website to learn more about us, our individual backgrounds, and our 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.

Why would I pay for therapy when I can talk to a friend for free?

A wise and trusted friend can be helpful when crises come about, but there are times when you may feel that you can not share ALL of how you're feeling. A trained professional can be a better option. At Smyrna Couples Counseling, our therapists maintain a nonjudgmental, supportive stance that will allow you to feel comfortable and safe.

What if my partner won't come to therapy?

You have a few options, which depend on the reason your partner is not interested in joining you for therapy. If your partner is ambivalent about the relationship itself and is considering separation/divorce, you may be a good fit for Discernment Counseling.

If, however, your partner is simply unsure about the need for 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 relationship therapy. Regardless, we are happy to provide a phone consultation to help you explore your options.

How long will I be in therapy?

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 intimate partners who seek therapy 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. We strive to help people in as brief a period of time as possible while respecting the complexity of the issues. During the course of our work together, we provide professional recommendations 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.

Is online therapy effective?

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 relationship therapy, but the research that is available is promising. In our experience, especially after the pandemic we’ve found that many people prefer telehealth. Why?

It's convenient: you don't have to commute to our office, which saves you time.
You're in your own environment, which is comforting for many people (especially if you have pets!).
You're less likely to need a babysitter.

What technology do I need for online therapy?

You will need a few things to ensure your online sessions are successful:

A computer, tablet, or smartphone
A stable internet connection
A private location

About Rates & Scheduling

Can we meet in the evening after work / early morning before work?

We meet with clients during the following time slots, Monday - Saturday:

Mon: 10am - 5pm (Jena’s Schedule)
Tues: 11am - 7pm (Jena’s Schedule)
Wed: 10am - 8pm (Jena & Nina’s Schedules)
Thurs: 10am - 8pm (Jena & Nina’s Schedules)
Saturday: 10am - 5pm (Nina’s Schedule)

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

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

What if I need to reschedule?

No problem. If you cancel or reschedule your session with at least 24 business hours’ notice, there is no fee. If you cancel or reschedule within 24 business 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 we set aside a specific time just for you. We work with individuals & couples, so it’s often difficult to coordinate with couples to use that time slot with such short notice.

Do you have a reduced rate or sliding scale?

Yes, we have a reduced rate/sliding scale. Please discuss this directly with your therapist as there are a limited number of slots available for sliding fee scale.