Professional counseling, also known as therapy, is a process by which a person (referred to here as a client) meets with a counselor (sometimes referred to as a therapist) to discuss an event or issue that either needs some attention or is troubling, stressful, or painful to the client. Together, the client and counselor discuss the issue and how it affects the client, look at beliefs, thoughts and behaviors that may contribute to the situation, and explore ways to help resolve it. During counseling, clients identify goals and potential solutions to bring about change. Always remember that counseling is a voluntary process to which a person consents. 

Professional counseling is intended to help a person heal. It can help a person feel relieved, empowered, and confident. People seek counseling for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:

• problems on the job or in school
• relationship, family, or interpersonal matters
• a recent crisis
• a divorce or loss of a relationship
• the death of a loved one
• low self esteem
• difficulty with communication and coping skills
• difficult feelings such as extreme sadness, anxiety, worry, or feeling disconnected 
• a traumatic event 

We  accept  private pay payments on our website and insurance.

INSURANCE ACCEPTED: Aetna * Optum/ United Health Care* Carefirst BlueCross Blueshield* Cigna

FEES:

Consultation: Free  for 15 minutes

Intake: $150  for 1 hour

Individual Therapy: $125 for 60 minutes 

Group Therapy 1 hour: $50

Your counselor will explain to you, prior to beginning the counseling relationship, all financial arrangements related to professional services. Our office will verify your benefits and bill your insurance as a courtesy; however, clients are responsible for all co-pays and deductibles at the time of service. We encourage you to become familiar with the mental health benefit associated with your health insurance plan. It is your responsibility to understand plan limitations

There are a limited number of spots available at a reduced rate. Reduced rates are offered to those individuals who do not have health insurance. The practice is a proud provider of Open Path Collective, which aims to provide more affordable mental health services. 

We offer individual, and group counseling for people ages 13 years and up. We work with people from various backgrounds and circumstances and in different stages of life. We provide culturally-relevant and quality mental health services that incorporate wellness practices for the mind, body, and spirit because we believe that all aspects of our health are connected. 

 We help people with: 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Coping Skills
• Mindfulness
• Self Esteem
• Stress
• Mood Disorders

 APPROACHES

• Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical (DBT)
• Group Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Multicultural
• Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

DBT skills group is not a process group, it's more like a class.  Joining a DBT group is similar to taking a class, except without the pressure of tests and grades. 

You will be learning a new skill each week and have homework to help you try out the tools in your life. 

Click request appointment. This allows you to schedule an appointment on our easy scheduling platform. You’ll be sent a link for the scheduled virtual appointment with a licensed professional counselor.  

In order for counseling to be helpful, you and your counselor must establish trust. It may take a few sessions for you to become comfortable with your counselor and to start talking freely about your concerns. This is fine and normal. 

In the beginning, your counselor will ask you questions to help you define the reason why you seek counseling and to help you set goals. As you move through the process, less questions will be asked and you and your counselor will establish your own way of communicating with each other. 

Counseling is a dynamic process that is built on interaction. As such, feel free to ask questions and express your needs to your counselor at any point during the process. The more open you are, the more comfortable you will feel. Your counselor is there to support you and to help make the process a meaningful one for you.

You will complete the new client intake paperwork before your first appointment. The documents will be sent to you via your client portal. You are able to complete it online. If you have documentation from other providers (i.e., psychological, psychosocial or clinical evaluations, treatment plans, etc.) you can upload those to your client portal.

In order for your counselor to get to know you and determine how you will proceed in the process, expect to talk about the concern(s) that brought you into counseling, as well as your background information and personal history. Share on a level that feels comfortable for you. 

Many people find they feel better and achieve greater progress with frequent appointments, especially in the beginning. Your counselor will likely suggest that you meet weekly. As you experience progress towards your goals, you and your counselor may decide to meet less frequently, but often enough to maintain your progress. Once your goals have been accomplished you may decide to schedule appointments periodically for check-ins. The decision is yours; either way, we are here for you and encourage you to discuss the frequency of your appointments with your counselor at any time during your process. 

Yes, that is, for the most part. HIPAA laws are in place to ensure that client-counselor conversations are private and confidential. Even the fact that you are in counseling is kept private. Licensed clinical social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals have a set of professional ethical standards that have to be followed. In rare instances, when the safety of a client or another person is at risk, counselors are mandated to disclose specific information to appropriate authorities or parties. You will be given written information about HIPAA, and your counselor will discuss these matters with you, before you begin counseling.  

All of our services are provided via telehealth to client’s in Alaska and Maryland. 

We offer evening and weekend appointments. Schedule an appointment on our easy scheduling platform https://starburstcounselingwellness.clientsecure.me/.   

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, you must notify our office 48 hours before your scheduled appointment time. Please note, if you do not reschedule your appointment with 24 hours notice, you will be charged the entire amount of the session as a NO SHOW fee.

We understand that life can be busy. Therefore, we provide a 15-minute grace period for all therapy appointments. We request that you phone in advance of your anticipated late arrival. Please be aware that If you arrive 15 minutes into your scheduled appointment time, your appointment will still end at the original time it was scheduled to end. If you are late beyond the allotted grace period, you may not be able to be seen and you will be charged a $25 NO SHOW fee. 

Under the law, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, see your Estimate, or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Starburst Counseling & Wellness LLC

PO Box 2995 # 20045 Annapolis, Maryland 21401

443-819-0989

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE This notice went into effect on 8/1/2021

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. 

PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:
I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

• Make sure that protected health   information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
• Give you this notice of my      legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
• Follow the terms of the notice   that is currently in effect.
• I can change the terms of this   Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you.      The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my   website.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:
The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

1. Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep      “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any      use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use      or disclosure is:
       a. For my use in treating you.
       b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to      help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual      counseling or therapy.
       c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
       d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my      compliance with HIPAA.
       e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the      requirements of such law.
       f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to      the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
       g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
       h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of      others.
2. Marketing Purposes. As a      psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing      purposes.
3. Sale of PHI. As a      psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my      business.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION.
Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

1. When disclosure is required by      state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is      limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
2. For public health activities,      including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing      or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
3. For health oversight      activities, including audits and investigations.
4. For judicial and administrative      proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order,      although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing      so.
5. For law enforcement purposes,      including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.
6. To coroners or medical      examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
7. For research purposes,      including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who      received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of      therapy for the same condition.
8. Specialized government      functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions;      protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or      counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those      working within or housed in correctional institutions.
9. For workers’ compensation purposes.      Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may      provide your PHI in order to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
       10 Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may      use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an      appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you      about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits      that I offer.

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.

1. Disclosures to family, friends,      or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other      person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your      health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to      consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

1. The Right to Request Limits on      Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use      or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations      purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no”      if I believe it would affect your health care.
2. The Right to Request      Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the      right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans      for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely      to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for      out-of-pocket in full.
3. The Right to Choose How I Send      PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way      (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different      address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.
4. The Right to See and Get Copies      of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get      an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information      that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a      summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of      receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based      fee for doing so.
5. The Right to Get a List of the      Disclosures I Have Made. You have the right to request a list of instances      in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment,      payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an      Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of      disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give      you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request      a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you      make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a      reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.
6. The Right to Correct or Update      Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a      piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the      right to request that I correct the existing information or add the      missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you      why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
7. The Right to Get a Paper or      Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of      this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by      e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail,      you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

Acknowledgement of Receipt of Privacy Notice

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information.