Frequently asked questions

Appointments and Scheduling

How do I schedule an appointment with you?

When you first get to this website, a screen should pop up asking how we can help you. If you closed out that screen and need to bring it up again, it's the two chat bubbles at the bottom right of your screen. This will give you a chance to put in what you're looking for help with and whether you're paying with insurance/private pay and will even verify your benefits* for you. Then you'll be able to schedule your first appointment. *[Benefits will simply be taken from your insurance company website. I cannot guarantee payment by your insurance, that is between you and them, and you will be responsible for paying your fees.]



Can I see you in person?

No. I no longer have a physical location, I do telehealth exclusively. It's normal for clients to feel a bit hesitant about it, but most of my clients have enjoyed it. I encourage you to give it a try.



What if I'm in crisis?

What to do if you are in crisis



How do I refer someone to you?

First, thanks for your interest in sending someone my way! That's the highest endorsement you could possibly give me. The best way to refer me is to send clients to this website, the location of which is https://DavidFlowersTherapy.com.



What are your days/hours of availability?

Monday and Wednesday, starting at noon, ending at 8 (last client at 7). One-hour break at 4. Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 10 am, ending at 4 (last client at 3). One-hour break at noon.



Payment

What insurances do you accept?

Here are all the insurance companies I work with. If it's not listed here, I don't take it.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Care Network Blue Cross Complete (Medicaid) Meridian (including Medicaid) Magellan (including Medicaid) McLaren (including Medicaid)") State of Michigan (sometimes called "straight") Medicaid Beacon Behavioral Optum Priority Health



What if I want to see you but you don't accept my insurance?

Let me know your situation and I can work with you, including a possible reduced cash-pay rate and sending you a list of other providers who may take the insurance you have.



What forms of payment do you accept?

Credit/debit cards; cash; personal check (if I've seen you more than three times); HSA; and of course insurance if I accept insurance from your provider.



How do you do billing?

If you pay cash, your default card will swipe automatically at midnight the day of every session for whatever you owe. If you're using insurance, your card will swipe for the amount of your copay (if any), then you'll get monthly statements from my biller with anything you happen to owe from that point. The bill will tell you how to pay.



Will you be accepting [insert your preferred] insurance company?

No way of telling. My billers are constantly setting me up with new insurance companies to work with, but there's no way to know what will come through when. I don't recommend you waiting to get help until I accept your insurance.



What if I have a question about my bill?

Text me on Spruce and ask me to send you the phone number for my biller, and they'll handle it for you.



Treatment

What is your specialty?

Couples counseling. 81% of working therapists say they work with couples, but only 11% have sought specialized training in couple counseling. Working with couples is a completely different thing than working with couples. Special training is essential, which I have received in the past, and am continually seeking more of. View my approach to helping couples



Can I see you for couple counseling without my partner?

Yes. Sometimes you'd be surprised how effective couple counseling can be done when only one partner is even interested.



Do you work with clinical issues like anxiety and depression?

Yep. Fill out an inquiry form and let me know what you're seeking help with, and I'll let you know if I might be the right person for you.



Do you work substance abuse issues?

Not really. Bring up the widget on this site (bottom right corner, the double chat bubbles) to input the issues you're seeking help with and it'll let you know if I can help you, or if I'll be sending you a list of referrals.



Do you work with multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder)?

No.



Do you work with children?

I will sometimes work with teenagers age 15 and up. It depends on the nature of the issues. I do not work with children under 15.



Do you work with psychosis?

Not generally, though sometimes depression and bipolar can lapse into psychosis.



Will you be my therapist from now on?

Therapy is not meant to be a lifelong thing. For most people a time will come when you meet your treatment goals and it's time for us to wrap up. I will discuss this with you as we go. Further, there are some circumstances where I am ethically required to terminate therapy with you, such as if you're having suicidal thoughts that progress to a point where I don't feel our once-weekly teletherapy meetings are providing the level of care you need. In these cases I will explain the situation to you as clearly as possible and refer you to a higher level of care. This may be a therapist who can meet with you in person, or can meet with you more often/consistently than I can. Depending on your situation, I may refer you to an intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization program. In any case, if this happens it will be up to you whether or not you follow my recommendations. But I'd recommend it!



Portal Issues

Schedule appointment -- New Client

1. Click Book Now at top right of any page on my website 2. Select New Client 3. Work through the prompts, and you're all set



Schedule appointment -- Existing Client

If you are already one of my clients (this means you have scheduled at least one appointment on my portal before), but don't remember how to schedule another appointment... 1. Click Book Now at top right of any page on my website 2. Select Existing Client 3. Work through the prompts, and you're all set



I didn't get the link to fill out my paperwork

1. Go to https://davidflowers.clientsecure.me 2. Select Existing Client 3. Submit your email address 4. Check your email Inbox for a link from me 5. Click on that link to go to the portal and do your paperwork



Onboarding Issues

I didn't get the link to fill out my paperwork

1. Click Book Now at top right of any page on my website 2. Select Existing Client 3. Submit your email address 4. Check your email Inbox for a link from me 5. Click on that link to go to the portal and do your paperwork



What does the onboarding process involve?

Onboarding (getting "registered" with me for an initial appointment) involves three steps: 1. Create your Spruce account 2. If you are seeking couple counseling, use Spruce to send me your partner's full name, email address, and cell number, because they'll need to do the full onboarding process as well. 3. Complete and submit your intake paperwork by clicking on the link I will send to your email Inbox. All three of these steps must be completed at least twelve hours before your initial appointment, or that appointment will cancel and you will be able to schedule for when you can have the paperwork finished.



Do I have to have a Spruce account to see you for therapy?

Yep. It's how I communicate with my clients. If you don't want to use Spruce, contact me and let me know you need me to send you my list of referrals. Even if you won't be seeing me as a counselor, I will still help you find someone.



I'm not a very techy person. What if I can't get through the onboarding process?

I understand technology isn't for everybody! But it is how I do business. All clients must do all onboarding steps as directed here. If you make an appointment but are struggling to get through the process, please let me know and I will be glad to either help you with it, or get you a list of referrals. Every office will require different things to get you set up for your first appointment.



Insurance

Will you be accepting [insert your preferred] insurance company?

No way of telling. My billers are constantly setting me up with new insurance companies to work with, but there's no way to know what will come through when. I don't recommend you waiting to get help until I accept your insurance.



What do I do after I have verified my insurance benefits?

Snap a picture of the completed form, then send it to me in Spruce by clicking on the + sign below the text message field.



What insurances do you accept?

Here are all the insurance companies I work with. If it's not listed here, I don't take it.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue Care Network Blue Cross Complete (Medicaid) Meridian (including Medicaid) Magellan (including Medicaid) McLaren (including Medicaid)") State of Michigan (sometimes called "straight") Medicaid Beacon Behavioral Optum Priority Health



Will you verify my insurance benefits?

No. As a sole practitioner, I cannot spend the necessary time to verify benefits for my insurance clients. Use this form to make it as easy as possible to call your insurance company (use the 800 number on the back of your card) and verify your benefits. The advantage to doing this yourself is I find my clients understand their benefits far better when they speak to the insurance company themselves. You can also just choose to do your first session, have us bill it out, and see what comes back from your insurance company. This is fine with me, as long as you understand that if your insurance company doesn't end up covering your counseling, you will be responsible for my full session fee.



Social Media

Can I be your friend on Facebook?

No. I do not have clients as friends and contacts on my social media accounts. I have a Facebook page for my counseling practice and invite you to join me there, at https://facebook.com/davidflowerspsychotherapy. I am also available on Twitter, @DFlowersTherapy, though I don't post there often. Finally, I maintain a blog here on my website, which you can access from the main menu.



Can I comment on your posts on your Facebook practice page?

Anyone who follows the page can comment. I may or may not respond to your comment.



Can I use text/email/Spruce to contact you anytime?

Though I am available in all these ways, the vast majority of what happens between us should happen in session. If you have scheduling, billing, onboarding, or other questions, I want you to feel free to contact me. If you are in crisis, you can try to reach me, but I may or may not be available. I sometimes use Spruce to send you session summaries, takeaways, book recommendations, or reminders about things I may need from you like pics of your insurance card. I will also use Spruce to mass-message my clients regarding insurance changes and other important issues. These communication methods are not extentions to therapy, they are mostly for business.



Telehealth

How does telehealth work?

You download and install an app on your mobile device called Spruce Care. I use this HIPAA-compliant app to message with you securely, and it's also the app we use for our telehealth sessions. A few minutes before your appointment time, I contact you on Spruce and make sure you are going to be ready for me to telecall you. At your appointment time, I will telecall you in Spruce. You'll answer the call like any other call, and we'll be connected through both voice and video. It's easy.



I'm worried about using technology for telehealth

No problem! A few days before your first appointment, shoot me a message on Spruce and let me know you're nervous, and I'll give you a quick call to make sure everything is set. If there's a problem, I'll walk you through it.



What will I need for our telehealth sessions?

1. A device to connect with -- PCs and Macs work, but not as smoothly as the Spruce app running on a mobile device like a phone or tablet. 2. A strong wi-fi connection. I know it's nice to sit outside during your session, but you'll want to be where your wi-fi connection will be strongest. If you need to test your wi-fi speed, you can do it at https://www.speedtest.net/. Ideally, your speeds should be at least 15Mbps download and 5Mbps upload



Since you do telehealth, can I smoke or drink while we're meeting?

Cigarettes are fine. Other than smoking, I ask that you treat our online sessions basically the same way you would treat a session in person, and refrain from smoking pot, drinking, and using illicit drugs.



Why just telehealth?

My switch to telehealth was prompted by COVID-19. After doing telehealth for nearly 14 weeks, I realized most of my clients enjoyed it, and that I enjoyed it as well! Offering telehealth exclusively has the following benefits, and more: a. It allows me to work from my home b. It allows me to not have to maintain a physical space c. Clients don't have to drive to an office or wait in a waiting room d. Some clients may feel more comfortable being in their own homes e. Weather issues will almost never affect the calendar and the delivery of your counseling services f. Many clients think it feels "chill," and enjoy meeting in their living rooms, cars, or even on their patios In other words, why NOT just telehealth? Research has shown that clients who receive counseling services via telehealth benefit just as much as those who go into an office. Yes, I miss meeting in person with clients. But I also like that I get to see portions of my clients' homes, and sometimes meet their pets and their children! It's not for everyone, but it's a very quickly-growing way to get counseling services, and the widespread COVID-10 shutdowns have shown many therapists what a viable option it is.



How long are sessions?

All sessions start at the top of the hour and are 50 minutes long. At quarter to the hour, I will let you know we have five minutes to wrap up.



Miscellaneous

Can you come speak to my group?

There's probably nothing I'd love more. Send me an inquiry form and let me know the topic you're thinking about and the rough time frame. I'll get back to you to discuss details.



Supervision

Can you supervise my post-grad hours?

I can! Please send me an inquiry form, with the following information: a. When do you graduate? b. Are you a community counselor, school track, or dual? c. When do you hope you might be able to start supervision? d. What are you hoping to get out of supervision? I'll get back to you and send you my legal paperwork. That should answer all your questions, but if it doesn't we can chat more after that.



When and where does your supervision group meet?

During coronavirus, we meet on Zoom the second Sunday of every month at 1 pm.



Issues