Therapy, Customized to You.

Counseling is collaborative process which involves the development of a unique, confidential, therapeutic, helping relationship. In this relationship, the therapist acts as a facilitator in helping the client to more accurately understand themself and the world around them, and to better understand their feelings and behaviors. Discussion of whatever is important and impacting someone’s life can enable an individual to grow toward greater freedom in making mature choices and taking responsible action.

Many different things bring people to therapy including: difficulties with life transitions, poor coping, history of stress and trauma impacting functioning, depressive symptoms, anxiety, conflictual relationships, parenting struggles, infertility, grief/loss, etc.

Counseling will be a different experience for different people. Our therapists will strive to meet your individual needs based on your unique set of circumstances. Initial appointments will consist of gathering history, as well as identifying personal goals and hopes for counseling. It is my job to ensure you are receiving quality care. If, by chance, I am not a good match for you and your needs, I will refer you to a trusted colleague with specialization in your area of need. I pull from many modalities, all with a trauma-informed approach.

Coaching is different from counseling. It involves partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal, professional, and relational potential. Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal, professional, and relational lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives. Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach’s job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources and creativity that the client already has.

Ott Counseling & Consulting, LLC offers individual and relationship coaching with River-Aaerin Hites, who is a masters level trained marriage and family therapist, but who is currently focusing on coaching which allows more flexibility for clients, particularly who want to work outside of diagnoses. River brings over a decade of experience in life coaching, peer specialist work, and direct mental health therapy. While he may utilize his clinical education to best assist you and your partner(s), he will not be providing mental health therapy. If you are interested in mental health therapy instead or in addition to life coaching, please email Kate at support@ottcounseling.com.

The frequency of therapy will be discussed on an ongoing basis. Sessions as often as twice weekly are available, as well as monthly “check-ins” as your treatment needs grow and evolve over time.

It is very important that you arrive early or on time for your scheduled appointments. Regular, timely attendance to therapy will be instrumental in achieving your therapeutic goals. If, for some reason, you are unable to make it to your scheduled session, please contact me 24 hours ahead of time to avoid no-show fees.

There is no magic number or formula to determine how long one might be in counseling. For some, counseling is a brief relationship to help manage a present, isolated situation. For many, therapy involves addressing issues which span over one’s lifetime. We will speak regularly about your progress, and my hope is that you will feel comfortable discussing this on an ongoing basis.

Symptom relief may come from increased use of a variety of skills, including changing thought patterns, behaviors, relationships, and choices. Some feel better during their initial or first few sessions just because they know they are no longer alone in their struggle. Please remember: It is important that you communicate if there are concerns related to your progress so that we can determine what changes may need to be made.

TELL US! Many therapists have different therapeutic approaches or personalities that might not be the right fit for you and that’s okay! If you let us know, we can offer you alternative options for linking with other professionals that may better suit your needs.

We do accept some commercial insurance plans, however we can not guarantee coverage. If utilizing your insurance, dependent on the plan, your session may cost you anywhere from $0-$200. Some insurance plans require a copayment, a coinsurance, or are high deductible. You will be advised of what your financial responsibility will be prior to your first appointment. It is YOUR responsibility to update your therapist on changes in insurance. Private pay (non-insurance) clients will be responsible for $150 dollars per 50-55 minute session. Superbills will be provided if requested by client to submit for reimbursement if there are out of network benefits.

At Ott Counseling, we believe in supporting our community by offering some lower cost options for those who are truly unable to afford our rates. We do this through linking our clients with Pre-Licensed Clinicians and Graduate Students in their pursuit of their NYS licensure with weekly supervision, case consultation, and regular trainings.

At this time, we can accept many commercial insurance plans through: Highmark/BCBS, Independent Health, Cigna, Aetna, United Health Care and Univera.

At this time we are UNABLE to work with Medicaid/Managed care plans. Please note that if you plan to use your insurance, a diagnosis is REQUIRED for treatment.

Forms of payment accepted include: cash (exact change only), personal check, credit, Venmo (@OttCounseling), or Paypal (@OttCounseling). A credit card is required on file to schedule an appointment and will be used for all appointment fees and missed session fees. Any coinsurance, high deductible payments and copays are expected at the time of service unless other arrangements have been specified ahead of time. In the event you are unable to make it to an appointment, failure to provide 24 hours notice will result in a no show/late cancelation of $75.00 (or up to 50% of full private pay rate).

If feeling like your sessions aren't long enough is something you are concerned about, we can offer intensive extended sessions at an hourly rate. These sessions are available for private pay clients, if clinically appropriate.

Coaching whether it is individual, with multiple partners, or a couple is an hourly rate of $100/hour. Coaching is NOT covered by insurance, however, the majority of marriage/family therapists are not covered by many insurance plans. We encourage you to explore your insurance plan, as well as intentions of relationship counseling to see if coaching may meet your needs.