Anna Tyrrell & Associates

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a wait list?

No. Generally, I do not have a wait list. Many of my clients direct the course of their counseling, so treatment tends to be short term. In addition, many clients prefer to schedule bi monthly or monthly rather than weekly. I find this allows me to have more availability for new clients.

Do you have evening appointments?

Yes. I am available Monday, Tuesday, and Friday evenings and Saturdays.

What services do you provide?

I provide child, family, marriage, and adult individual counseling; divorce, custody/visitation, and family mediation; and training services.

Do you accept insurance?

No. I have a self-pay practice. This allows me to have a sliding fee scale, to ensure treatment is client driven, and to allow for increased confidentiality.

What are your fees?

$80.00 an hour for counseling services. I have adjusted rates based on family income.
$40.00 to process the PREPARE/ENRICH couple inventory. (Couples are expected to attend some counseling sessions to review and address the outcome of the inventory.)
$100.00 per hour for mediation services with a $400.00 retainer to begin. Retainer balances not used will be refunded.

What do the letters after your name mean?

M.Ed. means I have a Masters in Education. I graduated from Cleveland State University, the counseling program and coursework is out of the Education Department.
LSW is Licensed Social Worker. I have been licensed in Ohio since 1985.
LPC is Licensed Professional Counselor. I have been licensed in Ohio since 1997.

What age children do you work with?

All ages. For children under 3 years old, most of the counseling is done with strong parental involvement.

How will I know how my child is doing in counseling if counseling is confidential?

All clients develop an ISP - an Individual Service Plan -, which outlines the goals they plan to accomplish in counseling. These goals are addressed regularly and parents are given regular updates regarding a child's progress toward these goals. This is done in a way that does not compromise confidentiality. Other communication between parents and the counselor is made to facilitate the child's progress and/or strengthen family relationships.

What are the advantages of paying for counseling myself, if I can just have my insurance pay?

There are a number of advantages to paying for counseling yourself.

1. One benefit you may not realize is that in order for your insurance to pay for counseling services, the counselor must provide the insurance company with a diagnosis. For many people, they are seeking counseling to deal with life situations or stresses, such as divorce, communication or relationship problems, marriage problems, parenting issues, or childhood issues. Struggling with such life hurdles may not mean that a person is suffering from a mental illness. When you pay for your counseling the counselor is not obligated to provide a diagnosis.
2. For some counseling services, such as marriage counseling, many insurance companies do not pay for the service. Therefore you would need to pay on your own.
3. To seek counseling from a counselor who generally bills insurance, that counselor may not be able to adjust her/his fees due to the agreement they have with insurance companies.
4. Your insurance may only pay for a limited number of sessions per year. This may require you to pay full fee for extended counseling with a counselor who is unable to adjust fees due to the arrangement they have with your insurance provider.
5. Depending on your insurance plan, some managed care plans require a counselor to submit your treatment plan for approval before providing reimbursement. The managed care company may approve a limited number of sessions, with additional sessions allotted based on progress toward treatment goals or requests from the counselor. Managed care companies vary in how many sessions they will approve at a time.
6. Due to the need to report diagnosis, treatment plans, and or progress of treatment to insurance companies, and computer billing, your confidentiality may be compromised when using your insurance. This is not a concern when you are paying for counseling services yourself.
7. Paying for your own counseling often contributes to a greater commitment or motivation to work toward treatment goals to alleviate the need for counseling.

Learn more about how Anna Tyrrell & Associates can help you.