FAQs

Even though telehealth has broadened the accessibility and convenience of therapy appointments, my license only allows me to work with clients who are located in Texas. 

Contact with the therapist via email does not establish the therapeutic relationship. Joy Liao, LPC accepts the client into her care when the client and the therapist have mutually agreed to proceed with therapy and have both signed the informed consent for therapy services. 

If you are unable to make the scheduled appointment time, please provide notice at least if not more than 24 hours in advance. You may email me at hello@joyinpractice.com. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours in advance are considered "Late cancellations," which incur the normal session rate. A No Show is determined if you do not show up to the appointment after 20-minutes past the appointment start time, which will also incur the normal session rate.

I do not accept insurance at this time. However, per your written request, I can provide a superbill for you to submit to insurance for potential reimbursement. If you are using insurance, it is a good idea to check with your insurance provider and verify your out-of-network mental health benefits first.

The fee per counseling session is $200. Payment is due in full when service is rendered. 

Payment is charged to the credit card on file. You may request to use a debit card or FSA/ HSA. Please consult with your benefits provider to confirm eligibility.

Research has shown consistently that one of the strongest predictors of successful treatment is the relationship between the therapist and the client. Thus, finding a therapist who is attuned, receptive to feedback, and trustworthy is essential. Besides the therapist's education and professional experience informing treatment, the therapist's way of listening and communicating will also help the client determine if a long-term professional relationship is desired. 

Therapy takes time, energy, and resources. Given this kind of investment, as a therapist and professional, I am interested in helping you find a clinician who can best meet your needs and preferences. After the initial consultation call, if we find that we are not a good match for each other, I'd be happy to refer you to other local therapists who might be better suited.

• Therapy can improve your emotional, relational, behavioral, and cognitive functioning.
  Consequently, such benefits include feeling less depressed and/ or anxious, healthier relationships, healthier behaviors, and/ or a brighter outlook on life. Although therapy has been proven effective, there is no guarantee of specific outcomes.

• Therapy presents opportunities for healing and personal growth.
  It is a deeply personal process that may cause discomfort as traumas and/ or conflicts are discussed. You may experience varying levels of different emotions, including sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, or other difficult feelings before, during, and after appointments. At times, you may feel more vulnerable, which may result in feeling worse before you feel better. Therapy helps to deepen your capacity to hold these difficult emotions and memories without judgment, avoidance, or need for unhelpful coping. As a result, you may experience improved resilience. 

• Therapy involves change.
  In the therapeutic process, as long-standing patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior change, relationships may be affected. Research has shown that therapy can lead to improvements in individual psychological health, communication and problem-solving skills, and also greater relationship satisfaction. Discuss with the therapist any unintended consequences that are not contributing to therapy goals. 

• Therapy is work.
  Progress and outcomes in therapy depend upon many factors including, but not limited to, your level of motivation and desire to change, the effort that you put forth in following through with agreed upon therapeutic tasks outside of session, active participation in appointments, and honest and open communication with the therapist. Generally, therapy involves active change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is normal to feel tired after therapy sessions as they involve emotional labor. It is important to consult with the therapist the nature and amount of change you wish to make. If there is an increase in depressive and/ or anxious symptoms, please discuss the symptoms with the therapist.  

Some clients prefer meeting in-office where there’s a guaranteed neutral and confidential space. Other clients prefer the convenience of virtual sessions, especially if they do not live in Houston. If we meet virtually, you’ll need to be physically located in Texas, not driving, and in a private space with stable Wi-fi. If you’re unsure which option works best for you, we can try a combination of both and see what is more effective and works better for you. 

Each individual therapy session is 50-minutes in length. 

I typically recommend weekly sessions to start, and then later decreasing to bi-weekly (every other week) sessions. Clients who attend therapy at a regular cadence tend to get the most out of therapy and see progress faster.

If you have a particular duration for therapy in mind, please let me know at the start of our time together so that I can tailor our work together to fit your needs and make recommendations and referrals as appropriate.