The period of time is open-ended and unique to each individual given the specific goals and needs they'd like to work on. Generally the period could be weeks, months, or longer. On average, we see our clients for 6 months. For clients who are seeking support for a more acute stressor in their lives, therapy may last for a few months. For others who are looking to examine deeper patterns or who are seeking greater support, the process may take longer.

Research shows that therapy is most effective when it is on a weekly basis in order to deepen and advance your work and affect the change you desire. Meeting less frequently will result in change that occurs more slowly. With most clients, we aim to be flexible and we will tailor the frequency of the work to meet your needs.

If finances are an issue, you can discuss with your therapist if it would be appropriate to meet every other week for bimonthly (twice a month) sessions rather than the standard two.

Another option is to consider working with one of our residents, if we are training any at this time. Their fees are significantly lower, and all of their work is supervised by senior clinicians.

Lastly, you may also choose to go with another therapist or practice who uses a sliding scale, such as the Women’s Center or the George Mason Center for Psychological Services.

Therapy sessions are 45-55 minutes in length.

No, we do not do balance billing due to federal regulations. Balance billing is where a doctor submits a claim for you, then charges you the difference between what your insurance paid and their full rate. Instead, all patients must pay the full rate up front. We are happy to then file paperwork for you so that the reimbursement from your insurance company goes directly to you.

Absolutely — everything you discuss with your therapist is completely confidential with a few exceptions including 1) immediate threat of harm to self or others, 2) suspicion of child or dependent elder abuse, and 3) court subpoena. You and your therapist will discuss this during your first session along with other office policies and any questions you may have.

Therapy is a financial and time commitment. It is an investment in yourself and in your ability to examine long-standing patterns in order to change and practice new, more effective thoughts and behaviors. Such change isn’t easy, but it can profoundly impact your quality of life, including your sense of self, relationships, work, and health. We all invest in education, our homes, physical health, and our careers. Here at hope+wellness, we believe that therapy is one of the most important investments of them all — in yourself and overall well being. When you feel centered, grounded, and comfortable in yourself and in who you are, the rest of your life can fall into place.

This is a great question as many studies underscore the important role that the therapeutic relationship plays in successful outcomes. We encourage you to meet with different prospective therapists in your local area to get the information you need to make your decision. You can use our initial in person consultation session to ask questions and get a sense of what would be like to work together. If you're interested in learning more about the importance of the therapeutic relationship, check out this article.

The first 1-3 meetings are consultation sessions. They differ from a typical therapy session because it is a time for your therapist to collect your background information and for you to discuss potential goals for therapy together. These first sessions are a time for you to see if it feels like a good fit to work together with your therapist. During this time, you and your therapist will decide if it feels right to continue to move forward in therapy and on the rest of the therapeutic journey. These consultation sessions are fully paid and not complimentary. Therefore, if you would like to ask any questions prior to the first session or see if you feel like a good fit with your therapist in advance of the session, you can schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation call in advance, email us at info@hope-wellness.com.

At Hope+Wellness, we believe in tailoring therapy for each individual. Some clients find it therapeutic to talk about their feelings and to explore patterns. Others seek a more active approach, involving interventions, exercises and thoughtful actions to implement outside of therapy. We try to meet each client where they are at and are able to incorporate different approaches if this is what you are looking for as part of therapy. Overall, it is important to consider that you will get out as much as you put in to your work together with your therapist.

Our policy is to have the permission of both parents before evaluating or treating a child, unless the presenting parent can demonstrate that he/she has sole legal custody or sole medical decision-making authority.

In cases of a divorce, custody, legal issues, or a missing parent, please notify us in advance of making an appointment. We’re happy to help answer any questions you may have in seeking help and support for your child.

We’re glad you found us. We are an open and affirming practice, and welcoming of everyone regardless of race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or ability. We are woman and minority owned and passionate about diversity. It can be tough to find a therapeutic fit sometimes given each of our unique life backgrounds and preferences. We individualize care for each person given their unique, specific needs and life circumstance, and work with individuals across the lifespan, including women, men, children, teens, young adults, and adults.

We conduct online video therapy using secure internet connection and video telemedicine software that is HIPAA-compliant. A link to the video therapy session will be sent to you prior to your appointment. We recommend that our clients participate in their online video sessions in a closed, private room to ensure privacy.

We do not write letters for support animals, marijuana, or deportation. We do not have expertise in these areas and recommend you look elsewhere if you are seeking these services.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

• 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, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

Dr. Victoria’s own family life was significantly affected by bipolar disorder, a genetic illness with multiple members affected. Hope+Wellness represent the two things we held fast to in life’s most difficult times. We believe that hope isn’t something in the future. Hope is real and it’s present now.

Click here to make an appointment online, or email us at info@hope-wellness.com. We're happy to help answer any questions you might have!