Restoring Balance. Renewing Hope.

Overview of Services: Counseling is a collaborative process where we work together to explore challenges and support you in achieving your personal goals. For therapy to be most effective, your active participation is essential. I provide a supportive and guiding relationship, drawing on extensive training and personal exploration to understand the complexities of human experience and psychological growth. There are many approaches to psychotherapy, and I am committed to tailoring my treatment to align with your unique goals, needs, and preferences.

Benefits: Engaging in psychotherapy offers a range of benefits. Sometimes, simply feeling heard and understood can be incredibly valuable. Therapy provides a supportive space to explore challenges, gain new perspectives, and discover potential solutions. The impact of therapy depends on your level of engagement and willingness to apply what you learn.

Some potential benefits include: gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and your goals, developing healthier relationship skills, managing difficulties such as depression or compulsive behaviors, and finding resolution to the concerns that brought you to therapy. While therapy can be a powerful tool for growth and healing, outcomes vary, and unexpected changes may arise along the way.

Risks: Counseling is a deeply personal journey, and it’s important to be aware of potential challenges that may arise along the way. At times, therapy can bring up difficult emotions such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, or loneliness. You may also recall painful memories as we work through past experiences.

As you grow and make changes, your relationships—especially with family, friends, or colleagues—may be affected in different ways. Some relationships may experience temporary tension as you navigate personal growth. In some cases, things may feel more challenging before they improve. These experiences are a natural part of the healing process.

While therapy can be a powerful tool for change, it’s important to acknowledge that outcomes can vary, and progress may look different from what you initially expected. My goal is to support you through this process with care and guidance, helping you move toward greater well-being.Top of For

Confidentiality: Counseling, assessment, and associated services that are related to diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment services provided by licensed professionals are confidential and protected under Texas state law. The law protects the privacy of all communications between a client and a licensed professional. In most situations, information regarding your treatment can only be released to others with your written permission. However, there are legal limits to confidentiality and times when a licensed professional is obligated to disclose pertinent information, as necessary, to the appropriate authorities/agencies/individuals:

• If your therapist suspects that you pose a harm to yourself or others.• If you report that a child, elderly person, or anyone else who cannot otherwise protect themselves has been or is being neglected, or physically or sexually abused.

• Ordered disclosure by state or federal courts.

Additional limits to confidentiality include:

• In the case of minors, parents or legal guardians have access to their child’s records, unless emancipated.

• Family or group counseling is not legally private and can be subpoenaed.

• Provisionally-licensed therapists are required to discuss their cases with their supervisor, who is equally bound to protect client confidentiality. My supervisor Is Cynthia Nava, and if I feel the need to discuss anything pertaining to your therapy I will keep your name anonymous.

• Therapists may, upon occasion, discuss their cases anonymously with peer professionals for the sole purpose of improving the quality of services provided to the related client.

You are protected under the provisions of the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which insures the confidentiality of all electronic information about you. When communicating with me via email, it is necessary to understand that email is not completely confidential. All emails are retained in the logs of the internet service provider. While under normal circumstances no one looks at these logs, they are, in theory, available to be read by the system administrator(s) of the internet service provider.

Credentials

Thank you for trusting me with your care! As an LPC-Associate, I am committed to providing compassionate, high-quality counseling to support your journey toward healing and growth.

I have completed a rigorous master’s degree in counseling, which included extensive training in therapy techniques, assessments, and diagnostics, along with a minimum of 700 hours of hands-on counseling experience before graduation. After earning my degree, I passed a national licensing exam to become a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate).

At this stage, I am in my clinical supervision period, similar to a doctor in residency. Over at least 18 months, I will complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience. During this time, I work closely with my supervisor, Cynthia Nava, M.S., LPC-S, an experienced clinician who provides guidance and oversight to ensure the highest standard of care.

Cynthia can be reached at Willow & Sage Counseling

Phone: 713-955-4868

Fax: 832-240-3836

www.willowandsagecounseling.com

When you work with me, you receive not only my knowledge and experience but also the added benefit of my supervisor’s expertise. My goal is to create a warm and supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered.

If you have any questions about the counseling process, supervision, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m here for you!

Therapeutic Relationship: The client-therapist relationship is a professional one, built on trust, respect, and clear boundaries. While it is natural for a strong emotional connection to develop during therapy, maintaining professional boundaries is essential to creating a safe and effective therapeutic environment. For this reason, our relationship will remain within the context of therapy, and I am unable to engage in social or personal relationships outside of our sessions. These boundaries ensure that our work together remains focused on your growth and well-being.

Time Parameters: Appointments are scheduled for 55-minute sessions. If you arrive late, we will still need to conclude at the scheduled time to respect the appointments of other clients. In some cases, such as couples or family counseling, longer sessions of 80 or 110 minutes may be beneficial. If extended sessions are appropriate, we will discuss and determine the best approach together during your initial consultation.

Fees: As a Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate, working under supervision with Cynthia Nava, I offer a competitive rate, which I refer to as an investment. Sessions are 55 minutes and $105.

If you are paying out-of-pocket, or opting to use your out-of-network insurance, please note the following about your rights to obtain a Good Faith Estimate: You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, healthcare providers need to give their clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services, outlining the estimated cost of healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a 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.

Free Initial Consultations: I offer a free, 15-minute initial consultation. This initial consultation is an opportunity to investigate therapy as an option, meet me, discuss your therapeutic goals, and contract for therapy should we agree that an effective alliance can be formed. Formal therapy is not conducted during an initial consultation. As such, a consultation is not suitable for those seeking immediate counseling.

Payment: Payment is due at time of service delivery. If more than one session is delinquent with regard to fee payment, termination or suspension of services may result. A service charge of $25 will be charged for each check returned to Woodlands Haven.

Cancellation: Sessions must be cancelled with at least 24 hours ' notice. Clients will be financially responsible for a fee of $25 for any session cancelled with less than 24 hours notice or missed without prior notification (no-show).

Termination: Counseling is voluntary. We both reserve the right to transfer/terminate services at any time, for any reason.

Continuation of Care: If therapy ends before you have reached your stated goals, I will make every effort to support your continued care. This includes providing referrals to at least three alternative counseling options that align with your psychological needs and financial situation. These referrals will be given to you in writing and sent to the address on file to ensure you have the resources needed to continue your journey toward healing and growth.

Grievance/Complaint: If you have any issues or concerns regarding any aspect of your experience with Woodlands Haven, you are invited to inform my supervisor, Cynthia Nava, LPC-S, so that a satisfactory solution may be obtained.

To file a formal complaint against a licensed professional, you may also contact the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors: (512) 834-6658.

Emergency/After-Hours: If you have a life-threatening crisis, please call 9-1-1. Help is also available 24hrs at the Crisis Hotline (472-HELP) or Psychiatric Emergency Services (454-3521). Woodlands Haven is not equipped to be of service after normal business hours.

Other Fees:

• Documentation for Court Orders and Attorneys: I give 15 minutes free for documentation, but that thereafter there is a charge of $2.00 per minute.

• Court appearances or depositions. My hourly rate is $105, and billed in 15 minutes increments after the first hour.

• Letters for emotional support animals, disability and FMLA paperwork: I understand that letters for accommodations, such as FMLA or disability, can be an important part of accessing necessary support. While I do not provide letters for emotional support animals, I may be able to provide documentation for FMLA or disability under certain circumstances. However, I can only make this determination after several sessions (5-6), ensuring that my professional recommendation is based on a thorough understanding of your needs and well-being. My goal is to provide ethical and informed support that aligns with your best interests. If you have any questions, I’d be happy to discuss this further during our sessions.

Informed Consent