Question 1

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

Our practice does not take insurance.  We are what is considered out-of-network providers.  If you are working with a therapist, you can submit claims to your insurance as a visit to an out-of-network provider.  After the deductible is met, you may be reimbursed a percentage of the fee charged (it depends on your plan; this could be anywhere from 0-80% reimbursement).  Note: you are  working in a coaching relationship you can not submit to insurance.
 
We will provide you with a superbill that outlines diagnosis, procedure codes and receipt of payment.  Superbills are auto-generated monthly; are accessible in the patient portal and/or will be emailed to you upon request. You can submit the superbill along with your insurance claim form to your insurance company to be eligible for reimbursement.

Please don't hesitate to call/email/text if you have more questions.

hello@soundmindsoundbodytherapy.com 
415.569.1378

Question 2

Are sessions eligible for FSA reimbursement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For anything that is not covered by insurance you can submit a.) either a superbill that we provide you with or b.) your insurance's EOB (explanation of benefits) detailing your out of pocket expense to your FSA for reimbursement. 
 
A superbill is a receipt of payment that includes diagnosis code and insurance procedure codes.  Superbills are auto-generated monthly and are accessible in the patient portal and/or we can email them to you upon request. 
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have further questions.

Question 3

Can I pay for sessions with my HSA/FSA Credit Card (Health/Flex Savings Account)?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  As long as you have money in your HSA/FSA account you can use your HSA/FSA credit card to pay for sessions.  Note: Your HSA may require you to submit a superbill (which details the diagnosis code and procedure codes)
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out  if you have further questions.

Question 4

What's the difference between a therapist and a coach?

Accepted Answer

At SoundMind/SoundBody, we offer both therapy and coaching services to help individuals improve their mental health.
Clients can work with us in either a therapy relationship or a coaching relationship.  To help you decide which capacity you choose to work with us be sure  to take the time to read the information below (and remember too, that your phone consult is great time to discuss your needs so that you can make an informed decision).

Therapy and coaching are two distinct approaches to wellness that are often confused with one another. While both can be helpful for individuals seeking personal growth and improvement, there are some key differences between the two.

Therapy can only be offered by a licensed therapist or graduate therapy intern (who has supervision).  Therapy is typically focused on addressing and resolving past traumas, emotional wounds, or mental health disorders.  The goal of therapy is to help individuals overcome specific challenges and work through underlying issues that may be impacting their mental health and overall wellbeing.  A licensed therapist is trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Therapy is often covered by insurance  and requires a diagnosis of a mental health condition.  A licensed therapist can only treat clients in the state for which they are licensed.

Coaching, on the other hand, is focused on helping individuals identify and achieve specific goals, whether personal or professional. Coaches provide guidance and support to help individuals develop skills, increase self-awareness, and achieve greater success in their lives. Coaching is typically more future-focused than therapy and does not involve diagnosing or treating mental health conditions.  Coaching is not covered by insurance and does not require a mental health diagnosis.  Coaches can work with clients across all states and internationally.

Providers at SoundMind/SoundBody are either a licensed psychotherapist, a coach or both.  Offering both therapy and/or coaching (life/health/yoga/mindfulness) in our practice allows us to give holistic integrated mental health care from which our clients appreciate and benefit from.

During your therapy session your therapist, depending on their training and scope of practice, may blend in holistic coaching (life coaching, mindfulness for mental health, breathwork for mental health, yoga for mental health, nutrition for mental health etc...).   Coaching offered in this way (either in session or as a resource/tool/homework) is a wonderful complement to psychotherapy.

Although holistic coaching can complement psychotherapy (appropriately and depended on the training of the therapist), therapy cannot be blended into coaching.  If choose to work with us in a coaching capacity, you will be just that, a coaching client.

Here are specific types of coaching we offer: 
-Life Coaching
-Health/Nutrition for Mental Wellness Coaching
-Mindfulness for Mental Wellness Coaching
-Yoga for Mental Wellness Coaching
-Accountability Coaching
-ADHD Coaching
-High Performance Executive Coaching
​
Learn more about coaching vs psychotherapy

Question 5

How long will I be in therapy/coaching? How many sessions will I need?

Accepted Answer

There are two main predictors to lasting success in therapy/coaching:  1.) the connection you have with your therapist/coach and 2.) commitment and consistency. You will experience noticeable and lasting change with regular and reliable support. At the beginning, sporadic sessions are not an efficient investment for most clients. 
 
As a mental health professionals,  it is our duty to make recommendations in terms of frequency of sessions  and  it is our responsibility to honor what feels like the best pace for you.  Remember, we are guides working in partnership with you, to help you reach your goals in a way that feels aligned for you.

To give you an estimate:  the majority of our clients have weekly sessions for the first 6-8 weeks and then drop down to every other week, monthly or as needed.  As an outcome focused practice, your therapist/coach will check in about every 6 weeks to get your direct feedback about how therapy is going for you; which includes asking about the pace of sessions. The outcome focused check-in allows you share your feedback and also allows your therapist/coach to offer their recommendations so that you can make a confident decision about the pace and direction of your treatment.

Please don't hesitate to Contact us if you have further questions.

Question 6

What if it's not working?

Accepted Answer

Typically, people begin to feel a bit better by session two or three.   However, this is not always the case. In effort to empower you in your own treatment we are diligent in checking in with you, to see how the sessions  are feeling for you.  Having open and transparent dialogues about how your needs are (or are not being met) is part of the therapeutic/coaching process.

As an outcome focused practice, it is our utmost goal to make sure that this is a worthwhile investment of your time and money.  At about six weeks, we do a check-in to  ask what's working, what isn't working, how is the pace feeling for you, what is your feedback on treatment thus far, and we may share suggestion/considerations to enhance your outcomes/experience.  This transparent interactive exchange allows you to reflect on your progress, or lack of progress, and offers an opportunity to shift the treatment approach or to connect you with another therapist/coach or other resources.

Question 7

Where are sessions held?

Accepted Answer

In person: 
-West Chester, PA: 535 North Church Street, Suite 322, West Chester
-San Francisco, CA : Location and Dates TBA (travel dependent, typically summer)

Online:
-Spruce Health App: video or voice

House Call: 
-Chester County and some parts of the Mainline 
-(travel fee to be discussed, typically $1.50/min of travel).

Question 8

How does walk and talk (or movement/yoga) work with remote clients?

Accepted Answer

Well, gosh.... one silver lining to covid is that it really stretched us to realize how helpful technology is in offering care and convenience to our clients.   Thanks to our HIPAA app (spruce health) we can offer therapy and coaching to clients who, because of distance and/or convenience, choose to work with us remotely through online therapy/coaching.

Offering online therapy/coaching does not mean that you have to remain seated and on camera.   We are flexible to utilize technology in a way that feels best for you.  Some clients prefer voice only, others wish to remain on camera... and this can depend on the day, some even may switch halfway through.  All that matters is that you are in a setting that feels private to you so that you feel comfortable enough to speak freely and openly with your therapist/coach. 
​
Clients who wish to have a remote walk and talk session are encourage to find a quiet nature setting where they can hike/walk while having a phone session/video session (local park, backyard or walk around a neighborhood works great!).

Offering movement/yoga etc... in remote session simply means setting up the camera so that we both have enough space to move and for you to see the guided movement offered by your coach/therapist.  Often even just hearing verbal instructions can enough to gentle guide you through a movement sequence.

Much of our movement is aimed at either softening your nervous system or offering you short movement bursts (typically at end of session) that helps to motivate you elevate you mood.

Question 9

Do you offer a sliding scale?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer a sliding scale at this time.  We have a graduate intern working at reduce rate who can serve clients who cannot afford the full fee.   We will also be offering group therapy and group coaching which is a great option to receive quality support at an affordable price.

Question 10

What can I expect when working with a Graduate Intern?

Accepted Answer

I personally, Camilla Coakley, LCSW, HCH, CPT, cherry pick our intern(s).  I am discerning and extremely judicious with whom I choose to join my practice.  Our interns must be mature, open, and aligned with Soundmind/SoundBody's  mission to provide personalized holistic therapy and coaching.  For this reason we select interns who also already have complimentary mind body wellness certifications such as certificates in mindfulness, yoga for mental health, sound/music therapy etc..

When working with an intern you will benefit from reduced session fees as well as the fact the graduate intern is supervised by me, Camilla Coakley, LCSW, HCH, CPT.  I have nearly 20 years providing clinical mental health care (psychotherapy).  So in essence, by way of me providing expert supervision and guidance to the intern at our weekly supervision meetings, your care will be supported and informed by both the intern and me, the supervisor.

As with all of our therapist and coaches, the graduate intern will provide you personalized conceirge care. This means that beyond your live session you will also benefit from unlimited text support in between session, which is embedded in your session fee.   This extra support has been proven to be exceptionally helpful in clients reaching their goals.

Feel free to reach out if you wish to learn more about working with a graduate intern. 
And remember, the connection and trust you have with your therapist/coach/intern is essential for your success in treatment. So, if ever it doesn't feel like a good fit we can offer you a referral and/or other resources.   It is our number one mission to provide you with personalized mental health care that feels  right for you and that offers you the specific support you need to reach your mental wellness goals.

Question 11

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

I understand that things can come up unexpectedly leaving clients no choice but to cancel an appointment at the last minute. I aim to be flexible and accommodating and for this reason I offer two last minute cancellations free of charge.
 
Thereafter, I require a 48hr cancellation notification. Clients will be charge the full price of the session if they cancel less than 48hrs before their scheduled appointment.

Question 12

How do you incorporate technology in mental health care?

Accepted Answer

At SoundMind/SoundBody, we believe that technology can be a powerful tool in improving mental health outcomes. We offer online therapy sessions, which allow clients to receive therapy from the comfort of their own homes. This can be particularly beneficial for those who may have difficulty accessing in-person therapy due to location, mobility issues, or other barriers. Online therapy can also be more convenient for those with busy schedules, as it eliminates the need for travel time. Additionally, we use technology (secure text) to support clients in between sessions. We also provide clients with resources and tools to support their mental wellness, such as meditation apps, mood tracking apps, and self-help resources. We believe that incorporating technology into mental health care can help make therapy more accessible, convenient, and effective for our clients.

Question 13

What is Text Accountability Coaching?

Accepted Answer

Living a healthy lifestyle has a direct positive impact on our mental health.

The biggest predictors of success in lifestyle behavior change are commitment, consistency and support!   SoundMind/SoundBody's Monthly Unlimited Text Accountability Coaching, gives you an effective and affordable way to support you as you work to achieving your mental wellness and healthy living goals.

Many clients graduate from weekly therapy/coaching sessions and then decide to purchase a month of text accountability so that they can have the support they need to keep up with the progress the have made.
 
With text accountability, you and your coach will text (or send voice memos)  asynchronously about your goals and healthy living habits.   Your coach will be checking in on how you are doing, supporting you as you overcome any challenges, celebrating successes, and responding to any questions or struggles that you are dealing with.  In fresh, uplifting way your coach will offer you motivation, accountability, and doable tips that keep you feeling supported and inspired.

Frequently Asked Questions