FAQ

Our standard fee is $250 for the first two sessions, and $225 for subsequent sessions with our licensed therapists. Our intern, Haley Keizer’s standard fees are $60 per session. We require that you provide us with credit card information to keep on file, in order to confirm your first appointment.

You, as the client, are fully responsible for payment of the fees. If you have insurance and we are in network with your insurance company, we will bill your insurance policy as a courtesy to you – we cannot guarantee your services will be covered by your insurance company and recommend you contact your insurance directly to ask about your benefits.

In the event that our fees change, you will be given a 30 day notice.

A standard therapy session is 53 minutes long. Please note, that if sessions go longer than normal, there may be an extra charge, and extended session charges may not be covered by insurance.

Balances are charged on the day of the appointment or, if we are billing your insurance for you, payment is due two days following the date that your insurance claim processes. We will send you an email notice of the date we will be running your balance against the card you have on file with us. If your card declines, you will be charged a $15 declined card fee and given a 2-week grace period to pay your bill before we pause treatment. All balances not paid within 30 days will accrue $25 late payment charges for each 30 days they remain unpaid. Please discuss any questions or concerns with us.

• We schedule our appointments so that each patient receives the right amount of time to be seen by our counselors. That’s why it is very important that you keep your scheduled appointments and arrive on time.
  As a courtesy, and to help patients remember their scheduled appointments, Ensō Mental Health sends email, text, or voicemail reminders approximately 1-2 days before your appointment time.
• If your schedule changes and you cannot keep your appointment, please contact us right away so we may reschedule you, and accommodate those clients who are waiting for an appointment. We require that you give us at least 24 hours notice.
• If you do not cancel or reschedule your appointment with at least 24 hours notice, we will assess a $100 no-show/late cancellation fee to your account. This fee is not reimbursable by your insurance company. You will be billed directly through the credit card you provided to be kept on file.
• After repeated no-shows or late cancellations, our practice may decide to terminate its relationship with you.
• If there is inclement weather or you are sick, please call us to utilize telehealth services in order to keep your appointment. Your health and safety is important to us, and in the case of illness, we would prefer to minimize exposure to ourselves and other clients.
• If there is an emergency that you couldn’t have known about with 24 hours notice, please call as soon as possible to reschedule and you will not be charged a fee. You must call to have the fee waived.

We are in network with the following insurance panels:

• Wellmark/Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Sanford Health Plan
• Avera/Dakotacare
• HealthPartners
• South Dakota Medicaid
• Medicare

We will bill you directly for services if you have an out of network insurance and we will provide you with documentation to aid you in requesting reimbursement from your insurance company for out of network benefits.

Understanding the Counseling Process

Counseling and psychotherapy is practiced in a variety of ways depending upon the setting, presenting issues of the client, theoretical orientation of the counselor, and other factors. However, the following information is offered to give you a better idea of what to expect. If You
have any questions concerning this information or anything else related to the counseling process, please don’t hesitate to ask us – we value open and honest communication.

Counseling

• Counseling is a “conversation with a purpose”
• Counseling is not “advice giving”… YOU are the expert on you, not the counselor
• The counselor strives to meet the you where you are… to see the world through your eyes and understand your experience
• Counseling is about helping you:
  • Learn about yourself (insight, understanding)
  • Become more self aware (self-talk, environment)
  • Use what you learn to make real and significant changes in your life
  • Reduce unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms that are negatively impacting your life

The Process of Change

• Change takes time and can be difficult… you didn’t become the person you are today overnight, and it will take some time to make significant and long lasting changes – trust the process
• Because change can come slowly, the focus on counseling is on making small, realistic, and achievable changes
• Change is a process that involves stages: pre-contemplation, contemplation, planning, action, maintenance – your counselor will help you identify what stage you’re in and how to move to the next stage
• Setbacks are a part of the change process and are to be expected

Change is often about changing your perspective… you cannot control all the events in your life, but you can control how you react to them
Real change is accomplished from the client’s efforts and hard work… it requires taking what you learn during the counseling session and applying it in your life.

The Counseling Process

• Counseling is a process that involves the client’s active participation and full commitment to the therapeutic process
• The focus of counseling is on:
  • How you see yourself
  • How you see your world
  • How you see yourself in your world
• The goal of counseling is determined by the client and counselor usually during the first therapy session
• Various therapeutic techniques are used to help you gain insight and achieve the established goal(s) of counseling
• “Homework” is assigned periodically to help you address a specific issue and/or to keep you fully engaged in the counseling process between sessions