What is the prevalence of mental health issues in our state of Maryland?
According to March 2025 statistics by NAMI, The National Alliance for Mental Health, 1 in 5 adult Marylanders experience a mental illness each year, and 1.5 million Marylanders live in areas without enough mental health professionals. This is why we at Tau Counseling are committed to improving access to quality care across Maryland by accepting insurance and by using telehealth to reach everyone who needs help. https://www.nami.org/wp-conten...
What is psychotherapy?
Talking to someone who can validate, challenge, question and encounter life's meaning with you in order to facilitate positive change. Therapy makes the subconscious conscious so that you can become more self-aware and insightful about your moods, behaviors and relationships and identify areas of change and growth.
Can I book an Intake Session?
Book an appointment by phone, email or online here. You can also book a session directly on each Therapist's picture here.
What are your fees?
We are in-network with most major insurance carriers!! We will verify your insurance coverage when you enroll and determine what they charge for your deductible, copay, and coinsurance so you will know ahead of time what to expect.
If you are not using insurance, our out-of-pocket fee is $145-$175 (check each therapist for their rate).
If you are using your insurance policy's out-of-network benefit, we can also help you with that by providing Superbills for each session that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement..
What is skills training?
Some treatment modalities, such as CBT, DBT, and mindfulness, are rich with very practical tools and skills. Some of our sessions may include a skills training portion with homework to try.
How can Therapy Help me?
One of the definitions of "therapy" is to make the subconscious conscious so that we can intentionally make positive changes and create growth. A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, motivation, perfectionism, and creative blocks. Many people also find that therapy can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
- Getting out of your own way so you can thrive!
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why do people go to therapy, and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. For some, it is a long-term commitment to treat a persistent mental illness that responds well to ongoing outpatient support and treatment. For others, it is a temporary or periodic intervention to get through difficult times. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts, and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much-needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives. And still others may have received messages from loved ones that they notice something that the person does not, and it is affecting those relationships.
What is Therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly or bi-weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process, such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors, or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your therapist, you can learn whether a referral to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner would be what's best for you. In some cases, a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
YES!! We are in network with most major insurance companies in Maryland!!
We DO NOT at this time accept Medicaid or Medicare. We do have one practitioner who accepts UHC Medicare Advantage.
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is my co-pay or co-insurance amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover per year?
- How much does my insurance reimburse me for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Are my sessions confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and a therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney, family member), but by law, your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, there are legal exceptions to the HIPAA Confidentiality Law. State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders requires therapists to report to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
Do you use EAP benefits?
Yes!! We can use your Cigna or Aetna EAP benefits to get you started. And rest assured that the content of your sessions remains confidential. We just need a letter from your EAP provider or a screenshot of the EAP letter showing your approval number, date range, and number of sessions approved.
