COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING THERAPY:

Why is WISE a private-pay practice?

Choosing a private-pay practice allows therapy to remain centered on you—not the administrative requirements of an insurance company. Together, we'll determine the pace, focus, and length of treatment based on your needs rather than predetermined limitations or reimbursement criteria.

If you have out-of-network benefits, I'm happy to provide a superbill for possible reimbursement. Because every insurance plan is different, I encourage you to contact your carrier to learn about your out-of-network mental health benefits.

(And if your plan does not currently allow OON, I also encourage you, as their paying customer who’s needs matter, to demand that they begin allowing it. Increasingly, healthcare providers are hobbled by the constrictive red tape, unaffordable reimbursement percentages, and inexplicable denials by insurance companies and find they simply can not afford to operate their practice through insurance AND ALSO provide excellent patient care, The choice should not be to forgo what is in provider or patients’ best interest, but rather for the insurance companies to do the right thing, but, unfortunately, they generally will not unless you, their customers, tell them to.)

What payments do you accept?

Your secure WISE client portal allows all major credit card payments, as well as HSA and FSA cards. For your safety and convenience, payment information is kept in the secure, encrypted platform and will bill automatically at the time of service

Do You Offer Virtual Sessions?

Yes. Therapy is available both in person at the WISE Counseling Collective in Roswell, Georgia, and virtually for clients located anywhere in Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

Many clients appreciate the flexibility and convenience of virtual therapy, while others value the dedicated space and presence of meeting in person. Both formats provide the same thoughtful, collaborative approach, and together we'll determine which best supports your needs and lifestyle.

What if I don’t live in Georgia?

Lara Eddleman, LPC, CCTP, CIMHP of WISE Counseling Collective provides secure virtual therapy to clients who live outside of Georgia in other states including Florida and Texas. (coming soon: Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arizona). Florida clients and Texas clients can access the same personalized, integrative approach offered through WISE, including trauma-focused, attachment-based, somatic, EMDR, IFS/parts work, and nervous-system-informed psychotherapy.

What do your certifications mean?

Beyond my clinical training as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I have pursued many advanced trainings, along with advanced certifications, including in trauma as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and in integrative mental health as a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) These reflect my commitment to understanding not only the psychological effects of trauma, but also the ways our nervous system, relationships, lifestyle, physiology, genetics, and physical wellbeing influence emotional health. My goal is to provide care that is both evidence-informed and deeply personalized, treating the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms.

What can I expect in the first session?

Your initial intake is a conversation, not an interrogation. Together, we'll begin understanding your story, what brings you to therapy, and where you'd like to go from here. Just as I'll be getting to know you, you're getting to know me— together we’ll begin establishing the trust and connection that meaningful therapy begins with.

How often will we meet?

Most clients begin with weekly sessions to build trust and momentum. As therapy progresses, many transition to biweekly, and eventually monthly check-ins as they gain confidence and work toward greater independence.

How long are sessions?

Individual sessions are offered in 60- and 90-minute formats. When we have a lot to catch up on or are doing EMDR, I advise 90 minutes. Couples sessions are typically 90 minutes to allow enough time for three individuals to feel heard.

Intensive therapy sessions are also available, either in 3 or 6 hour lengths, which can help accomplish significant gains in therapeutic progress in one window of time, rather than spread out incrementally over weeks or months.

How long will I be in therapy?

Therapy isn't meant to last forever. While everyone's journey is different, my goal is to help you become increasingly confident and self-reliant over time—not dependent on therapy. Because every healing journey is unique, the length of therapy varies. Clients paying privately or choosing not to use insurance will receive a Good Faith Estimate outlining the anticipated cost of care based on your expected treatment needs..

What if I don't like it?

That's okay—I won't take it personally. The relationship between therapist and client is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy, so finding the right fit truly matters. If it doesn't feel right after your initial intake (or at any point in the therapy process), there's never any pressure or obligation to continue.

Do I have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy?

Not at all. Many people come to therapy because they want to better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, heal old patterns, or intentionally invest in their emotional wellbeing before problems become crises.

Will you tell me what to do?

My role isn't to tell you how to live your life. Instead, I'll help you better understand yourself, recognize patterns, explore new possibilities, and make choices that align with who you are and who you want to become. While we may explore some in-between session exercises or practices to help you on your journey, we promise not to make “homework assignments” …there’s no grades given here!

Will I have to talk about my trauma right away?

Absolutely not. Healing begins with safety, not disclosure. We'll move at a pace that feels manageable for your nervous system, building trust before exploring painful experiences AND first developing containment strategies and self-soothing practices.

What if I've been to therapy before?

Many of my clients have. Some are ready to continue the work they've already begun, while others arrive with understandable skepticism after feeling misunderstood, unsupported, or disappointed by previous therapy. If that's been your experience, we'll begin there—with curiosity, patience, and no assumptions. Wether you’ve had therapy before or not, trust in me and in the process are never assumed at the outset, but are my goal to earn as we cultivate connection together.

What if I don't know where to start?

You don't have to know where to start— that's what I'm here for. Whether you come with a clear concern or simply a sense that something isn't working, we'll begin by understanding your story and discovering together where healing is needed most.