frequently asked questions

Your first session is a time to get to know your therapist and learn if you might feel comfortable meeting with them. For the first part of this meeting, you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) will meet with your therapist and answer general questions about your family, medical, social, school, treatment history, what your concerns are, and your hopes for therapy. Your therapist will share with you how they provide therapy, talk about confidentiality, and what you can expect from them.

For the next part of the meeting, your parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to leave the room so you can talk one-on-one with your therapist. This is your opportunity to share more information about yourself if you choose. Your therapist will help you identify some goals that might be helpful for your time in therapy. Your therapist will also explore with you other important adult supports that might be helpful to you reaching your goals and whether you feel comfortable with the therapist talking with them. If this is the case, you will be asked to sign a permission form for them to be able to communicate with each other. This may include your school social worker or counselor, a coach or teacher, other treatment provider, or anyone else you feel might be helpful to you.

At the end of the session, your parent(s)/guardian(s) will be brought back into the room and your therapist will provide treatment recommendations and schedule your next session.

To be the most effective in helping you, we need to understand you and your experience. It is important for you to feel comfortable with your therapist and if we are not a good fit, we will make sure you can connect with someone who might be.

For the most part, communication with parents/caregivers varies based on what the your needs as a teen are, your willingness to involve parents/caregivers in your therapy and the parents/caregivers’ willingness to be involved.

Having your parents involved in your therapy looks different for everyone and for some it may be more frequent than others. You and your therapist will discuss what is best for you and your goals and ultimately you have the choice.

We believe it is important for teens to have a place and person to talk about things that happen in their life.

We also believe involving parents/caregivers can be important to ensuring you have the best support and understanding from your parents/caregivers in order to reach your goals for therapy, rather than your parents’/guardians’ goals.

Due to Colorado laws, children 12 years and older are protected and information shared with their therapist is confidential.

Should you be at risk of suicide, are making threats to hurt others, are are a victim of abuse, your therapist has the right to contact the appropriate adult to ensure your safety and the safety of others.

You will be informed of any communication between your therapist and parents/caregivers and ideally will be part of the communication.

During your first meeting, your therapist will want to know more about your reason(s) for seeking therapy and will ask about your family, medical, social, work, school, and (if any prior) treatment histories.

Next, you will decide on goals for therapy and frequency of sessions.

Finally, if your therapist finds it may be helpful, they will ask you to sign a release of information form for each person you identify as important to your treatment. This will allow your therapist to communicate with the person(s) you identify regarding information relevant to your care.

Following the first meeting, you and your therapist will work collaboratively toward your treatment goal(s). Along the way you may find your goals have changed or another goal may arise. Therapy is a process and yours is unique.

Meeting times vary depending on your therapist’s availability and last 50 minutes.

There are times when talking with others may be helpful to make sure you have more support. If there are important people in your life you feel would be helpful in being part of your care, your therapist will ask you to sign a consent form for them to be able to communicate.

The purpose of communication will vary depending on your needs and your therapist will always let you know if they plan to talk with someone you have given them permission to talk with. Important people may include family members, partner, medical doctor, psychiatrist and other treatment professionals or supports you identify. You will discuss with your therapist what information you are comfortable with the therapist sharing or receiving.

If at any time you decide you would no longer like your therapist to communicate with an identified person(s), your request will be honored.

This first meeting may include parents only or all family members who will be engaging in family therapy. This will be decided between the therapist and caller depending on the family’s needs and reasons for seeking counseling. During this first appointment, your therapist will ask questions about relationships within and outside of the family, medical history of family members, family stressors, history of family’s attempt to resolve conflict and other treatment received.

The goal of this first meeting is for the therapist to gain a better understanding of the family, the family to become familiar with therapist and how therapy will work, and to set goals and expectations for treatment. Best outcomes for family therapy come when there is a mutual goal and all members are working with each other and the therapist toward this goal.

Your family therapist will work to meet the needs of the whole family whether that means focusing on parts or relationships within the family. Sometimes not all family members will be present in each session. This will be discussed and decided upon during or in between sessions with therapist and family.

Confidentiality and limits of it will be discussed in this session and ongoing sessions with the therapist and family members.

All communication between therapist and family members within and outside of sessions will be discussed with the whole family.

We do provide video sessions through our secure video platform. Our clinicians have received training in ethics and treatment using telehealth (video) and offer it to clients on an as needed, when appropriate basis.

Denver Metro Counseling recommends initially coming in once a week to build a relationship with your therapist, become familiar with how therapy works, and to make progress toward your goals and needs.

As you engage in therapy and begin to make progress toward your goals, your therapy needs may change. Your timeline for therapy is unique to you.

It is important to talk with your therapist about your expectations and their recommendations to avoid confusion.

Things that contribute to length of treatment include session frequency, reasons for seeking therapy, financial and other barriers, your engagement in your treatment.

Denver Metro Counseling rates vary based on therapist, session type, and other services provided.* You will be provided with a clear outline of costs based on your therapist and treatment needs in your initial phone consultation with our intake coordinator and reviewed with your chosen therapist.

*Initial Intake Individual Session (90-minutes) $240 – $320
*Individual Therapy (50 – minutes) $135 – $180
*Initial Intake Family Session (2 hours) $320 – $430
*Family/Parent Sessions (60-min) $160 – $215

For clinician rates, visit each clinician’s profile.

DMC is not paneled with insurance companies at this time.

If you need to use your insurance, it is highly recommended that you contact your provider’s benefits department and ask about out-of-network behavioral health coverage.

We can provide you with the necessary information needed by your insurance provider to submit claims for these benefits out-of-network.

Mental health costs are approved for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) use and DMC does accept payment in this form.

Payment is expected at time of service and a credit card must be provided prior to initiating services.

Full service fee will be charged for appointments not cancelled prior to 24-hours of scheduled start time of appointment. Exceptions are made for illness. If you are able to reschedule within the week of your appointment, your fee may be waved.

Other services like case management services provided by your clinician (attending meetings on your behalf, writing letters of support, collaborating with tother treatment providers), and communication with your provider outside of session, are billed at an pro-rated cost at 15-minute increments. Case management services will be discussed between you and your clinician prior to clinician’s engagement in these supportive services.