Whether you have past experiences being in therapy or are a first-timer you may have questions
about our services and Sage Counseling.
We provide answers to the most commonly asked questions below.
What happens if I have an emergency?
Sage Counseling does not provide 24-hour crisis hotline services. Should you have a mental health or substance use-related emergency, please visit your nearest hospital emergency room or call 911.
Where is your office and when are you open?
Sage Counseling offices are conveniently located in Newtown Square at 3625 Chapel Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073 in a building at St. Alban’s Church. Specific directions appear under Contact Us. We have office hours in Newtown Square Monday through Saturday. Our hours span early morning to late evening times and vary by therapist.
If I call or email you how long will it take to hear back from you?
A Sage Counseling mental health therapist will call or email you within 24 hours. You may send a message to our company email address at info@sagecounselingpa.com or to your own therapist. Email is the quickest and most confidential way to reach us.
Can I just text you instead?
No. Texting is not a confidential way to communicate with us. Again, please call or email your therapist if at all possible.
What is therapy and how does it work?
Our brains are shaped by our past and current experiences and sometimes they get ‘stuck’ in ways that keep you from having the life and relationships that you want. Talking with a skilled and supportive therapist engages you and creates lasting changes to your brain in how you think, feel and act so you can develop healthier ways of living. Hundreds of research studies show that regardless of the type of therapy used in sessions that a collaborative relationship between you and your therapist – called the therapeutic alliance – is the most important factor in successful treatment. This means that the most effective aspect of therapy is a positive working relationship between you and your therapist.
How long will I be in therapy and how long will it be before I feel better?
How long you can expect to be in therapy depends on your history and current circumstance, your goals for therapy and other factors. We offer brief and long-term therapies. You and your therapist will discuss your progress often and mutually decide when treatment should end.
How long is each session and how frequently do I need to attend?
The initial assessment session for individuals is 60 minutes and the sessions that follow are 50 to 60 minutes long. The initial assessment session for couples and families is 90 minutes. It is ideal to commit to attend weekly sessions for the first six weeks. It is important to discuss the frequency you desire, however, the regularity and consistency of your attendance is extremely important. After the first six weeks we will talk with you about how treatment is going and mutually decide if you should continue to meet with the therapist assigned to you. You can choose to attend weekly sessions or less frequently. We believe that the frequency of sessions should be based first and foremost upon your particular needs.
What can I expect in the first session?
Prior to the initial session, we would appreciate it if you would complete the forms found on the scheduling page. If this is not possible, we ask that you arrive 15 minutes early to complete these forms. After the forms are completed, the therapist will meet with you for an hour or 90 minutes if you are attending as a couple or a family to discuss your background and reasons for wanting to come to therapy. Before the end of the session, you and your therapist will talk about whether or not you would like to move forward and set up another appointment. Please be aware that we require payment of the first session in advance before we can confirm your appointment.
How much do you charge for therapy?
Sage Counseling believes that high-quality therapy should be affordable. The first session is $125 per hour for individuals and $150 an hour for couples and families. The hourly rate for subsequent sessions for individuals, couples and families is usually less than $100 per hour. If this rate is not possible for your financial circumstances please discuss this rate with your therapist. Short-term, time-limited programs including such as anger management, stress management, marijuana counseling, DUI education or court-mandated programs are $125 per hour.
What if I want therapy but still can’t afford it?
Sage Counseling participates in Open Path Psychotherapy Collective which is a network of therapists who have agreed to provide treatment for a limited number of individuals at a rate not to exceed $50 an hour. A one-time membership fee is required. For more information, please contact www.openpathcollective.org. Speak with us if you are interested in participating in Open Path at Sage Counseling to see if we are currently accepting new clients for this program.
Do you provide therapy remotely?
In-person therapy is the gold-standard for treatment but we understand that there are circumstances that warrant providing client services remotely. We offer clients teletherapy using on-line video conferencing via a HIPAA-compliant web-based platform called www.doxy.me. Typically, remote therapy is used short-term and/or alternating with regular in-person appointments. If you are interested in obtaining therapy using your home computer or mobile device, please discuss this option with your therapist.
What if I need to cancel a session?
Please call us 24-hours in advance if you need to cancel a session or you will be billed the full fee. We realize that life is unpredictable and things that happen at the last-minute can keep us from attending sessions as planned. In such cases, please call 484-427-4673 or email your therapist as soon as possible and we will take your circumstances into consideration. In terms of inclement weather, your safety is important to us and we ask that you do not travel if you don’t feel safe. You will not be billed for canceling due to inclement weather, but please notify us by phone or email as soon as possible, preferably, 24-hours in advance. Please note that if you reschedule your appointment for the same week that we will waive the cancellation fee.
Do you accept health insurance?
Sage Counseling does not accept all health insurances at this time. If we do not accept your plan, we will provide an itemized invoice which you can submit to the insurance company. Reimbursement varies per policy.
How can I make a payment?
Sage Counseling therapists will accept cash, check or credit card. Checks should be made out to Sage Counseling, LLC. Payment is due each session. There is a $35.00 charge for returned checks. We do not accept health insurance, but we can provide monthly statements that you can use to seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier.