It is my goal to answer all of your questions as thoroughly as possible so you can feel confident walking into my office. To get started, read through my answers to some of the questions people most frequently ask about the counseling process, and if you have other questions, please contact me.
- Who are you? I’m a Pittsburgh-area Licensed Professional Counselor serving adults and couples in the North Hills area (in person) and across the state of Pennsylvania (virtually). I offer counseling services for relationships, communication, boundaries, intimacy, mood disorders, life transitions, and identity development. As an extension of my therapy work, I consult with organizations to facilitate mental health conversations for their employees, and I offer clinical supervision to post-graduates who are pursuing licensure. Outside of my private practice, I’m an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Department Chair. I’m also a wife, mother, volunteer, avid reader, and a woman who loves spending time outside.
- Where are you located? My office is in Wexford and is accessible from the surrounding North Hills communities: McCandless, Cranberry, Franklin Park, Gibsonia, Allison Park. Thanks to telehealth, I am also available to meet with clients virtually from across Pennsylvania!
- What is counseling like? The first session is a time for us to review your intake forms and get to know each other to gauge whether we’ll be a good fit for this part of your journey. Every session thereafter is unique and will revolve around your goals. Sessions are typically once a week and about an hour long. It will also be important to work toward your goals between sessions to maximize your efforts. Everyone’s counseling journey is different, and each client gets to determine the best fit for them. There are a lot of wonderful counselors to choose from, and I’d be happy to offer you referrals for other clinicians who might be a better fit!
- What is your fee and do you accept my insurance? I’m currently credentialed with Highmark, UPMC, Aetna, United/Optum, and CIGNA. I also offer out-of-network services as covered under your individual plan. Questions about what your specific plan covers (as well as copay fees) should be directed to customer service by calling the number on the back of your insurance card. My out-of-pocket fee is $140 per session.
- What is your theoretical approach? I meet all of my clients where they are and maintain the vision for where they want to be. You’ll complete a Goals Checklist alongside the intake paperwork to prioritize what’s most important to you. Some sessions may be more talk-heavy to process a sudden crisis. Other sessions may be focused on CBT, DBT, or ACT strategies. I do family systems history work (genograms) with all clients.
- How do I know whether individual or couples counseling is right for me? To maintain appropriate ethical boundaries, I will work with clients either as individuals or as a couple, but not both. We show up better in our relationships when we have strong self-regulation skills, so individual counseling is a great place to start. There are also times when a marriage is in crisis, so people want to start with couples counseling to gain stability. If we meet, either individually or for couples counseling, and I identify that referrals are appropriate, I will discuss it with you and answer any questions you have.
Gage Counseling & Consulting 