Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know when to go to therapy? Is therapy hard?
The decision to come to therapy is a personal choice. Often times, it is best to seek out therapy when an issue becomes distressing and causes impairment or dysfunction in daily living. Therapy is right for anyone who has the desire to learn more about themselves and make positive change in their overall wellness, relationships or daily life. When you address issues that maybe you've avoided, it often can feel like you're scraping out the infection of an old wound; it gets worse before it gets better. That being said, I try to balance collaboration and challenging my clients. I want you to go at your own pace, you get to decide what your therapy looks like. If you aren't getting what you need, I want to encourage you to communicate that in session. This way, we can collaborate to determine what the best steps are to get you the help you need.
2. What can I expect in a session, how long are sessions, and when is therapy over?
Each session is different and every individual comes into therapy for something different. If you come in with specific concerns or goals, I encourage you to address that. If not, I typically work with you on issues you have presented and what you have expressed are your goals for treatment. All individual sessions last between 50-55 minutes. Initial intakes last anywhere from 50-90 minutes. ​Therapy isn't meant to be forever, its a place where you grow and go! Therapy is over when you decide that you have the tools and support needed to conquer what life throws your way. Sometimes you may find you go to therapy and return in a different part of your life and some people want more support in certain seasons of life. This varies for everyone!
3. What kinds of issues do you treat?
I specialize in trauma recovery, identity exploration, life transitions grief, and LGBTQIA+ issues. I also help people navigate various relationship issues, including family conflict, peer difficulties, and codependency.
4. What is your approach to therapy?
I implement a combination of theoretical orientations into my work with clients. My interventions are rooted in psychodynamic, ego state work, and somatic work. I am also certified in EMDR and often use this model mixed with other interventions with my clients. Above all, I am willing to collaborate with you to ensure you’re getting the most out of our treatment together.
5. What if I don't feel like my therapist is right for me?
I URGE you to find a therapist that is a good fit for you. Sometimes, it may take a few sessions to determine this. I am not everyones cup of tea and that is okay. If either of us feel that we aren't a good fit for a variety of reasons, I will provide you with referrals for other therapists in the area.
6. Do you offer phone/video sessions?
All initial intake appointments are required to be in person. At your intake, I determine if telehealth is a good fit. If so, I offer video sessions for all other appointments.
7. Can you give my information to anyone?
Unless mandated by law, information will not be released without your written consent which you may revoke at any time. The law mandates that we have to report suspected child/elder abuse and threats to self or to others.
8. Do you take insurance?
Yes, I accept BCBS (Health Advantage, True Blue, Anthem), Ambetter, QualChoice or self pay at my standard rates. I also accept out of network and provide a superbill. If you want to inquire about hourly rates or have questions, please submit a contact form. I do a free 15 minute phone/video consultation and would be happy to verify your insurance and answer any concerns. Accepted forms of payment include FSA/HSA cards, Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
9. Can you prescribe medications?
No, I am not a medical doctor. I cannot recommend or advise you on medication management as this is outside my scope of practice. However, I can provide you with referrals or you often can see your primary care physician for medication management.
10. How do I schedule an appointment? What happens if I need to cancel/reschedule an appointment?
For potential new clients: I do a free 15 minute phone consultation prior to scheduling an intake with all clients. The preferred/quickest way to schedule the consultation is via email at tori.francis@479counseling.com or via the contact page on my website. You may also call and leave a voicemail for me to return your call within 1-2 business days.
For existing clients: In the event you need to cancel and/or reschedule your appointment, please contact me at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment via email, phone and/or through your patient portal. Email is preferred, I will try to respond within 24-48 hours with the exception of weekends, vacation, holidays, etc. All clients will be charged an 80$ fee per therapy hour that they fail to show up for as a cancellation fee. Monday appointments are required to be cancelled/rescheduled by the Friday prior to the appointment, by no later than the same time the appointment is scheduled for (a 10:00am appointment on Monday must be cancelled no later than 10:00am the Friday before). The no-show/cancellation fee is charged regardless of the reason for your no show, later arrival, late cancellation (including illness, family emergency, vehicle difficulties, etc.). This excludes the inclement weather policy. If you have cancelled 2 consecutive sessions in a row or have not responded to reschedule within 30 days, I have the right to terminate and provide appropriate referrals.
11. Where is your office located and what are your hours?
My office is conveniently located in downtown Rogers, Arkansas. I serve clients from all of Northwest Arkansas. I am also able to provide telehealth services to clients living in Arkansas state. 479 Counseling is open on Monday-Thursday from 9-5PM.
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If you need to contact me between sessions, my preference form of communication is email but you may also leave a voicemail message. I do not provide emergency services. Leaving voicemail or sending an email should NOT be used in the event of an emergency. I will return your call or email within 1-2 business days. If an emergency situation arises, please call 911, 988, or any local emergency room. Give me a call if I haven’t not responded to you within two business days with exceptions of weekends, holidays, vacations.
12. How do you know you need EMDR?
​I think this is a very unique and personal choice for every client. EMDR is an effective and research based therapy for trauma and is expanding to other mental health concerns. If you struggle to tolerate your emotions, EMDR may require more preparation work that is at a titrated pace that you and I continue to evaluate during our time together. Therapy often gets worse before it gets better, but we want to be careful not to re-traumatize you. This requires ongoing conversations and monitoring your window of tolerance.
13. Is there a difference between EMDR Trained and EMDR Certified?
The short answer is YES! To understand the brief differences between training and certification, click the button "EMDR Training vs. EMDR Certification," below.
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Good Faith Estimates
"If you don’t have health insurance or you plan to pay for health care bills yourself, generally, health care providers and facilities must give you an estimate of expected charges when you schedule an appointment for a health care item or service, or if you ask for an estimate. This is called a “good faith estimate.” A good faith estimate isn’t a bill. The good faith estimate shows the list of expected charges for items or services from your provider or facility. Because the good faith estimate is based on information known at the time your provider or facility creates the estimate, it won’t include any unknown or unexpected costs that may be added during your treatment."