Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in North Carolina | Therapy FAQs for Online Counseling
About Your North Carolina Therapist
I have extensive education, clinical training, and more than a decade of experience providing evidence-based therapy to adolescents, college students, and adults across North Carolina.
I have 2 undergraduate degrees from Virginia Tech, including Psychology and Sociology concentrating in Women’s Studies
I graduated with a Masters in Clinical Health Psychology from Appalachian State University (ASU).
Independent licensure as a Licensed Psychological Associate in North Carolina.
I have practiced psychology in Winston-Salem, North Carolina over a decade.
Founder and owner of Tranquil Talk Therapy, PLLC.
Tranquil Talk Therapy is celebrating over 5-years of business.
Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of clinical settings, including:
College counseling centers
Hospital and healthcare settings
Private practice therapy
I have completed thousands of direct clinical hours and have over 10 years of experience helping individuals manage anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, relationship concerns, and academic burnout. I provide online therapy for adults and college students throughout North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Boone, Clemmons, Lexington, and Mount Airy.
My approach to therapy is evidence-based, compassionate, and tailored to each client’s individual needs and goals.
How do I find an in-network provider in Winston-Salem, NC?
If you’re looking for someone who is in-network, I recommend the following:
Go to your insurance directory and search for all in-network behavioral health providers
Determine if you’re looking for in-person or telehealth
Search the filter for your presenting concerns (e.g., anxiety)
Look at each providers website to determine their scope of practice
I provide online therapy for adults, parents, college students, caregivers, and healthcare providers throughout North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Asheville. Many of my clients report experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout, and overall stress.
Does insurance cover online therapy in North Carolina?
Yes! Almost all insurances cover teletherapy. Check with your insurance to see which providers are considered in-network telehealth providers.
I am in-network with:
Aetna
Aetna State Health Plan
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Meritain Health
Medcost
How soon can I get an appointment with a therapist in Winston-Salem, NC?
I respond to all email inquiries within 24-hours. In most cases, I can schedule clients within a week.
Given that co-payments are often minimal, I like to schedule for a 60-minute session to best determine if we are a good fit. This session will be filed to your insurance.
If we are a good match, we will schedule ongoing therapy sessions. If we aren’t a good fit, I will refer you to one of my amazing colleagues in Winston-Salem, NC who may better fit your needs. It’s really that easy!
Finding the right therapist shouldn’t feel overwhelming. My goal is to make the process simple, supportive, and stress-free from the very beginning.
What happens in the first online teletherapy session in North Carolina?
Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve never worked with a therapist before. During your first online therapy session, we will spend time getting to know each other and talking about what brings you to counseling.
I’ll ask questions about your current stressors, emotions, relationships, work, health, or other concerns affecting your daily life. We will also discuss your goals for therapy and what changes you’d like to see over time.
The first teletherapy session is relaxed and conversational. There is no pressure to share everything immediately. My goal is to create a supportive, comfortable space where you feel heard and understood.
As we continue working together, we will identify patterns, build coping skills, and help you move toward the direction you want your life to go. I provide online therapy for adults across North Carolina using secure and confidential telehealth services.
What are signs you might need therapy?
Many people wonder whether therapy could help them, especially during stressful or overwhelming seasons of life. Common signs you may benefit from therapy include feeling anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, socially isolated, depressed, burned out, or stuck in unhealthy patterns.
You might notice:
Increased stress, anxiety, or irritability
Difficulty managing emotions
Relationship or marriage problems
Feeling disconnected from friends or family
Trouble focusing at work or school
Loss of motivation or enjoyment
Using unhealthy coping skills such as excessive screen time, alcohol, smoking, or emotional eating
Feeling emotionally exhausted or unable to “bounce back”
Sometimes people seek counseling because of a specific life event, while others simply recognize that something doesn’t feel right and want support creating positive change.
Therapy can help you better understand yourself, improve coping skills, strengthen relationships, and feel more emotionally balanced. I provide online therapy for adults across North Carolina experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship stress, and life transitions.
You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable to benefit from therapy. Many people start counseling simply because they want their life to feel healthier, calmer, and more fulfilling.
How long does therapy usually take?
One of the most common questions people ask is, “How long does therapy take?” The honest answer is: it depends.
The length of therapy varies based on your goals, symptoms, life circumstances, and the concerns that bring you to counseling. Some people come to therapy for support during a stressful season of life, while others want deeper, longer-term work around anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship issues, or long-standing emotional patterns.
In general, many people begin noticing meaningful progress after several sessions, though therapy often takes time and consistency. As a starting point, I typically recommend committing to around 10 therapy sessions so we have enough time to build momentum, identify patterns, and begin making lasting changes.
Some people need fewer sessions, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. The pace of counseling depends on your goals, how often we meet, and the work you put into therapy between sessions.
I provide online therapy for adults across North Carolina and tailor treatment to your individual needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
What is the difference between in-network and out-of-network therapy?
When a therapist is in-network with insurance, it means they have signed a contract with a health insurance company agreeing to accept a negotiated reimbursement rate for therapy services. In-network therapists also file insurance claims directly on your behalf, which often helps reduce your out-of-pocket costs for counseling.
An out-of-network therapist does not have a contract with your insurance company. In those cases, clients may pay privately for therapy and, depending on their insurance plan, may be eligible for partial reimbursement through out-of-network mental health benefits.
Choosing between in-network and out-of-network therapy depends on your insurance coverage, budget, and preferences for specialized care.
I currently provide in-network online therapy services in North Carolina with:
Aetna
Aetna SHP
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
Meritain Health
MedCost
If you are unsure whether your insurance covers therapy, I recommend contacting your insurance provider to ask about:
Mental health benefits
Copays and deductibles
Telehealth therapy coverage
Out-of-network reimbursement options
I provide secure online counseling for adults across North Carolina and can help answer questions about insurance coverage before your first therapy appointment.
What is the difference between a psychologist, counselor, and therapist?
Wow. You want to start a rumble between professions. In general, there’s really not much of a difference between counselors, psychologists, and social workers, but we all are licensed by different groups and have different sets of rules to follow. Our training is also a little different, with different groups proposing different focuses on the origin of suffering and ways to treat it.
I am a psychologist with over a decade of clinical experience. Generally speaking, psychologists’ training focuses on ensuring accurate diagnosis by way of testing and self-report measures. Psychologists also heavily emphasize Evidence Based Practice (EBP) in graduate school. In our work together, I will sometimes administer a self-report measure to assess our progress and will use EBP to guide our treatment plans.
Overall, research shows there’s no difference in clinical outcomes between the different mental health fields. Just make sure you pick someone who actually holds a license in the state of North Carolina and has formal training in mental health.
Why choose a small private practice over large online therapy platforms?
When you choose to work with a provider in private practice, you are making a declaration that you value fair wages. Large corporate therapy groups often underpay their graduate degree holding clinicians (sometimes as little as $20 an hour).
Furthermore, you are choosing to work with a provider who values confidentiality and HIPAA. There are some large online therapy groups who have been accused of reviewing therapy notes for various unethical reasons. At Tranquil Talk Therapy, all therapy notes are maintained by me, with no one having access to these notes but me (and your insurance if they request to see them). I take confidentiality very seriously.
Lastly, when you support a local small business you are investing in your community. On average $68 of every $100 spent at a small business will stay in the community. I am personally committed to supporting small businesses in Winston Salem, North Carolina. By supporting my business, I can help support the dreams of others in the community.