Research shows that the most important factor in positive therapy outcomes is the therapeutic relationship between client and counselor; to this end, telehealth allows for clients to connect with a counselor who is a good fit for them, but might not be in their geographical location.

It also allows clients to have control over where they physically attend their sessions so that they feel a greater sense of comfort and safety.

Studies have shown telehealth services to be equally effective as in person counseling.

The flexibility of telehealth also reduces the number of barriers for attending sessions, which means that clients are more likely to be able to keep regular appointments and make greater progress.

Appointments, client information, notes and credit card information are all completed using a HIPAA compliant platform, such as TherapyNotes, Zoom or doxy.me/tiffanyotoole. It should be noted that platforms such as Skype, FaceTime, etc. ARE NOT considered HIPAA compliant and will not be utilized to deliver telehealth services.

Sessions will take place in a quiet, confidential space for both parties and no other individuals will be allowed in the room during sessions; including children.

In addition, I wear headphones during sessions and use a sound machine to drown out background noises. This helps to increase confidentiality and reduce distractions.

A final note on confidentiality and using insurance to pay for sessions. There is a greater possibility of confidentiality breach due to the increased number of persons managing claims and mishandling of information when claims are processed.

All services are provided online, meaning that you will need a smartphone, computer or tablet to participate in the sessions. This also means that you can attend the sessions from wherever you feel most comfortable and have privacy (i.e. home, office, car).

This time is set aside for you to focus on yourself, same as if we were meeting in person. I want to help you get the most out of our time together and this requires both of our full attention. As a result, no other individuals will be allowed in the room during your session, including children.

My cancelation policy requires 24 hours notice to cancel/reschedule a session. For less than 24 hours notice, or a no show, the credit card you have on file will be billed for the full session amount.

Due to state licensing requirements, at the start of each session, clients will need to confirm that they are physically in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida or California and provide a location address in case there is an emergency and I need to send help.

This varies person to person. Some people attend short term therapy (8-12 sessions) and then chose to terminate. Other people prefer to engage in long term therapy where they typically engage in weekly sessions, then after their symptoms lessen they space out sessions to every other week and eventually monthly sessions for on-going maintenance.

No, as a licensed counselor, I do not prescribe medication. A prescriber is a medical professional, such as a psychiatrist, primary care physician or nurse practitioner.

Therapy provides you an opportunity to speak to a third party person who doesn’t have any emotional ties to your life and can give you unbiased feedback and support. The therapist acts as a mirror, reflecting behaviors, thoughts and feelings to help you increase awareness, insight and identifying areas that you would like to change.

Therapists do not tell you what to do with your life but help you take alternative perspectives, think about things differently and empower you to be more proactive and less reactive in your daily life.

Some of the possible consequences of having a mental health diagnosis in your medical record include:

Loss of employment and/or repercussions of a diagnosis in situations where you may be required to reveal a mental health disorder diagnosis on your record. This includes but is not limited to: applying for a job, financial aid, and/or concealed weapons permits.

A psychiatric diagnosis can be brought into a court case (i.e.: divorce court, family law, criminal, etc.).

However, it’s also important to note that at times, having a diagnosis can be helpful. These situations include a child needing extra services in the school system or a person being able to receive disability.