Frequently Asked Questions
Starting therapy—or reaching out for supervision or consultation—often comes with questions. Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about working with Grace Out Loud Therapy & Consulting.
If you don't see your question here, you're always welcome to reach out.
How do I get started?
The first step is to schedule a free consultation. This gives us an opportunity to briefly discuss what brings you to Grace Out Loud, what you are looking for, and whether working together may be a good fit.
If we decide to move forward, you will receive information about scheduling, required paperwork, payment or insurance, and what to expect before your first appointment.
What happens during the free consultation?
The consultation is a brief conversation—not a therapy session. It is an opportunity for you to share a little about what you are looking for, ask questions, learn more about my approach, and determine whether Grace Out Loud feels like the right fit for you.
Finding the right therapist matters. You are welcome to use this time to ask whatever you need to make an informed decision about beginning therapy.
Do I have to be a current therapy client to participate in a group?
Not necessarily. Eligibility depends on the particular group.
Some groups may be open to the broader community, while others may have specific participation requirements. Details will always be included with the group announcement and registration information.
Do you incorporate faith or spirituality into therapy?
Not with every client. Faith and spirituality can be incorporated into therapy when they are meaningful to you and you would like them to be part of the work.
You do not need to share any particular faith tradition—or have a spiritual practice at all—to receive services at Grace Out Loud. Your beliefs, values, and worldview will be respected.
Do you offer self-pay therapy?
Yes. Self-pay options are available for clients who do not wish to use insurance or whose insurance is not accepted.
Please reach out for current rates and availability.
Do you offer in-person or virtual appointments?
Grace Out Loud is a virtual practice. Therapy sessions are provided through secure video conferencing, allowing you to participate from a private location that works for you. In-person consultations/supervision are available in the state of North Carolina.
What states can you provide therapy in?
I am licensed to provide clinical social work services to clients located in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
For therapy, your physical location at the time of your appointment matters. If you are traveling or temporarily located somewhere outside of the jurisdictions where I am licensed, please let me know before your session.
How long are therapy sessions & how often will we meet?
Most individual, couples, and family therapy appointments are approximately 60 minutes. Group session length varies depending on the specific group or program.
Many clients begin with weekly or biweekly sessions. Frequency depends on your needs, treatment goals, availability, and clinical recommendations.
We can discuss what schedule makes the most sense for you and adjust the frequency of sessions as your needs change.
Do you accept insurance?
Insurance participation varies by plan and location, so coverage and benefits should be verified before beginning services. Grace Out Loud is currently in-network with the following insurances providers:
Aetna (DC, MD, VA, & NC)
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (MD, DC, VA)
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid Atlantic (MD, VA, DC)
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Carelon Behavior Health (NC, VA, MD, DC)
Ascension (SmartHealth) (MD)
Cigna (MD, VA, DC, NC)
Who do you work with? What types of therapy do you offer?
Grace Out Loud provides therapy for adults, couples, and families navigating anxiety, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, stress, boundaries, identity, self-worth, and the many complicated experiences that come with being human. I do not provide individual therapy to children.
Services include: individual, couples, family, or group therapy.
Treatment is individualized rather than built around a single therapeutic model. Depending on your needs and goals, our work may incorporate cognitive-behavioral, emotion-focused, narrative, strengths-based, relational, and other evidence-informed approaches.
What is your approach to therapy?
At Grace Out Loud, you are not viewed as a problem to be fixed. You are a person with a story that deserves to be understood.
Therapy is collaborative, compassionate, honest, and grounded in the belief that meaningful change can happen without shame. You can learn more about this philosophy on The GOL Approach page.
Do I have to be in crisis to start therapy?
Not at all.
Therapy can help during periods of significant distress, but it can also be a space for reflection, prevention, growth, relationship work, decision-making, or simply understanding yourself more deeply.
You do not have to wait until things become unbearable to ask for support.
What is Headway?
Headway is a platform Grace Out Loud uses to support insurance billing and related administrative services. If you plan to use insurance, you will be asked to create and maintain a Headway account, complete required forms, provide insurance information, and keep a valid payment method on file for applicable copays, deductibles, or other client responsibility.
Is therapy confidential?
Confidentiality is an essential part of therapy. Information shared in therapy is generally kept private, with certain legal and ethical exceptions. These may include situations involving imminent risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect when reporting is legally required, or other circumstances required by law.
The limits of confidentiality will be reviewed with you before treatment begins. Additional information is available in the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.