Frequently asked questions

What issues can you help me with?

My areas of expertise include life children’s counseling, PTSD, personality disorders, depression, anxiety, grief, identity issues, low self-esteem, ethnic issues, and anger/behavioral management. My professional experience includes years of providing therapy to a range of ages, emotional and intellectual abilities. I also have experience in couples/family counseling including topics of pre-marital counseling, intimacy, communication and gender roles.



How should I prepare for my first session?

In order to get the most out of your therapeutic journey, it is important to come open minded and will for growth. While some people find it helpful to bring notes and questions about things of concerns.

During your intake session, we will spend the first part of therapy going over paperwork so that you are aware of your rights and the polices/procedures of this therapeutic process. Following that paper work and patient right’s portion, we will work together so that I can understand your areas of concern and may cover family dynamic, sources of stress and what you hope to gain from therapy so that treatment goals can be developed. Goals are created collaborative and they will help serve as a guide for us as you board the ride of self-exploration, self-healing and coping skills with me as your guide.



Will you prescribe medication?

As a licensed professional counselor, I do not and cannot prescribe medication. Only licensed physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners under supervision of a licensed physician can prescribe medications. If you believe that you need medication, I will compile a list for you with psychiatrists that I believe may be able to treat you best.



Do you accept insurance?

Asha M. Creary is an in-network provider for BCBS (Blue Choice PPO), Optum, Lyra Health, Modern Health, Beacon, ComPsych (Managed Care), Magellan Health, Cigna, MultiPlan, Superior, Sendero Health, TRICARE (Humana) and Traditional Medicaid. If you have this insurance, we will process all the paperwork required for reimbursement of services. I recommend searching for a list of providers that have me listed as a provider prior to scheduling an appointment.

Mary Jay Goerger accepts Cigna and Private Pay

Aubrey Harris accepts private pay

Ronnie Bledsoe accepts private pay

*We accept co-payments via the patient portal which accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

If you have an “out-of-network” or “non-participating provider” benefit, we can provide you with a monthly receipt or superbill to submit to your insurance company for either partial or full reimbursement, depending on your plan. We can also bill your insurance company directly as an out-of-network provider. It is best to contact your insurance company directly to see if this benefit is offered.



How long will I be in therapy?

Every therapeutic journey is specific to that client so the number of therapy sessions is dependent upon the client and the goals that he/she would like to attain. Following the intake session, I will be able to give you a better idea of the time that it will take to reach your therapeutic goals. Your goals for therapy, the intensity of the issues and your openness to therapy are key factors for determining the length of therapy.

In an effort to ensure that your therapeutic goals are being met as quickly and effectively as possible, I will review them with you and assess your progress. It is also very important to work towards meeting the treatment goals in between sessions.



What is an LPC or Licensed Professional Counselor?

An LPC is someone who holds a full standard license with an advanced degree with emphasis in a mental health specialty. As an LPC, I possess a Master of Education Degree in School Counseling and have successfully passed the National Counselor Exam (NCE).



Don't see the answer to your question?

If you cannot find the answer to your questions, please feel free to contact me with any question that you may have.



Where can I access my client portal?

Clients can access the portal through Therapy Appointments https://portal.therapyappointment.com/index.cfm/public:auth?fw1pk=1



Do you offer virtual or online counseling?

We offer virtual counseling for individuals in the state of Texas. *due to the current pandemic, we are offering virtual sessions only through January 31, 2021



What happens if you are servicing someone I know?

If it so happens that two clients whether spouse, partner, friend and/or parent begin a therapuetic relationship, the therapist has to align with their code of ethics and possibly refer either one or both parties out to maintain confidentiality of services. If clients make any mention of sharing that the therapist is seeing another client under the therapist care, they will be immediately referred out.



Do you write emotional support animal letters?

Due to the ethical dilemmas and limitations of clinicians, we currently do not write ESA letters. Please refer to the additional information below. The ACA Code of Ethics C.2.a Boundaries of Competence states that counselors only work within their boundaries of competence based on education, training, supervision, experience and credentials. As Licensed Professional Counselors, the assessment of DSM 5 diagnoses for human clients is within the scope of practice; however, the added practices of animal behavior, animal behavior assessment, or Human-Animal Interventions and Interactions are not. Emotional Support Animals may, in some specific circumstances, provide benefits to humans to ameliorate identified symptoms often associated with a DSM 5 diagnoses; however, because of the potential risks and unanticipated outcomes, the Human-Animal Interactions in Counseling (HAIC) strongly suggests that counselors abstain from writing letters for persons seeking counseling or assessment for the purpose of obtaining an ESA recommendation letter. The counselor must have a thorough knowledge of the local, state, and federal laws and policies surrounding ESAs and appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes with the subject of therapeutic human-animal interactions. This includes working with animal trainers, behaviorists, or veterinary behaviorists to ensure that the clinician remains within their scope of practice.



What happens if I am late or miss an appointment?

15 minutes after your scheduled time, your appointment will be cancelled and you will be responsible for the no show fee. After 2 late cancellations, your services may be terminated.



What happens if I have an outstanding balance?

If you have an outstanding balance, your patient portal will be disabled and you will not be able to schedule an appointment until you have covered your outstanding balance. After 120 days of the non-payment of balances, balances may be placed in collections or be taken to small claims court to obtain balances for services rendered.



What are the rates for therapy with Crave Counseling?

Each provider has their own rates and you should visit their bio page within the website to get their rates. Copay information is based on your insurance plan and you should check with your insurance company to verify your copay information.