The stuff most people want to know before they reach out
You're doing your research. That's smart — not every therapist is the right therapist, and not every practice works the same way. Here's what you'd want to know about how this one works.
—FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You don’t have to have it figured out to reach out
Do I really need therapy?
If you're asking, something is already telling you the answer. You don't need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Most of my clients are functioning well — good jobs, relationships, responsibilities — and still carrying a quiet sense that something isn't right. That's enough. You don't need to earn your way in with a breakdown.
What if I'm not sure what I need help with?
That's more common than you'd think. A lot of people come in with a vague sense of "something's off" rather than a neat presenting problem. We'll figure out what it is together. The consultation is a good place to start — 15 minutes, no commitment, just an honest conversation about where you are.
How do I know if you're the right therapist for me?
Fit matters more than most people realize. I'm direct, I don't do a lot of head-nodding, and I'll push you when I think the moment calls for it — always respectfully, never recklessly. If you want a therapist who stays present in the room and tells you what he actually thinks, we'll probably work well together. If you want someone softer, I'll help you find that person. I'd rather you land somewhere right than somewhere convenient.
What's the first session actually like?
We start with what brought you in — not your entire history, just where you are right now and what's making it hard. I'll ask questions. You'll talk. By the end of the first session, you'll have a sense of how I work and whether this feels like the right room for you. There's no pressure to commit beyond that first meeting.
I've been in therapy before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
Probably because the last one stayed at the surface. A lot of therapy is supportive — it feels good in the hour and changes nothing by Thursday. I'm not interested in that. We're going underneath the pattern to what's actually driving it. That's harder, and it's also why it works. The other possibility: the fit was wrong. That's not a failure of therapy. That's a failure of matching.
—BEFORE. YOU START
—THE PRACTICAL STUFF
What it costs, how it works, and what you’re actually paying for.
Individual Therapy
$180 / 45 min - $240 / 60 min
Couples Therapy
$250 / 55-60 min
Family Therapy
$275 / 55-60 min
Free Consultation
15 min / No cost
Do you take insurance?
No. Miller Counseling is a private pay practice. I don't bill insurance directly, and here's why: insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis to authorize treatment, limit the number of sessions, and dictate what kind of therapy you can receive. That's not how I want to work — and it's not what's best for you. Private pay means your treatment is between us. No third party. No diagnosis on file unless you want one.
Can I still use my insurance?
Possibly. I provide superbills — itemized receipts you can submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse 50–80% of the session fee. Call your insurance and ask: Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits? What percentage do you reimburse? Is there a deductible? I'm happy to walk you through this.
How often do we meet?
Most clients start weekly. That's where the momentum is. Some move to biweekly once things stabilize. We'll talk about pacing as we go — I'm not going to keep you coming in more often than the work requires.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes. I see clients in person at my office in Cornelius, NC and via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth anywhere in North Carolina. Some clients do a mix of both depending on the week. Either format works — the work is the same.
Where's your office?
16930 West Catawba Avenue, Suite 108, Cornelius, NC 28031 — near Birkdale Village. Private parking. Discreet entrance. You won't run into anyone in a waiting room.
What's your cancellation policy?
24 hours notice. Life happens — I get it. But a small caseload means your slot is genuinely held for you, and a late cancellation means that time can't be offered to someone else. If you need to reschedule with more than 24 hours notice, no problem at all.
What actually happens in the room and why it matters.
What's your approach?
Relational, emotion-focused, and psychodynamic — which means I'm interested in patterns, not just symptoms. I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and psychodynamic work depending on what the moment calls for. I don't follow a script. I follow you — what's happening in the room, what keeps coming up, and what you've been avoiding.
How long does therapy take?
Depends on what you're working on and how deep it goes. Some people come in for a specific issue and see real movement in 2–3 months. Others are doing longer-term work — untangling patterns that have been in place for decades. I won't keep you longer than the work requires, and I'll tell you when I think we're getting close to done.
What's the difference between therapy and coaching?
Therapy goes underneath. Coaching stays at the level of goals, strategy, and accountability — which is valuable, but it doesn't touch the patterns driving the behavior. If what you're dealing with has roots in how you're wired, how you learned to relate, or what your nervous system does under stress — that's therapy territory. I offer both through separate practices. If you're not sure which one fits, the consultation is a good place to sort that out.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. I'm a licensed counselor, not a psychiatrist. That said, I work alongside prescribers when medication is part of the picture — and I'll tell you honestly if I think a psychiatric consult would help. Some of my clients are on medication. Some aren't. It's a tool, not a verdict.
What if I get emotional in session?
Good. That usually means we're in the right place. I'm not going to rush you past it or change the subject to make things more comfortable. Emotions are data — often the most important data in the room. I'll stay with you in it.
Is everything confidential?
Yes, with very few legal exceptions — if there's an immediate safety risk to you or someone else, or in cases involving abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Outside of that, what happens in session stays in session. Private pay adds another layer: there's no insurance company with access to your records, no diagnosis submitted to a database. Your privacy is structurally protected here.
—ABOUT THE WORK
"The thing I hear most in a first session: 'I wish I'd done this sooner.' You don't have to keep waiting."
Still have questions? That’s what the consultation is for.
A free 15-minute call. No pressure. Just an honest conversation about where you are, what you're looking for, and whether this is the right fit.