New River Hope Center Support
GOT QUESTIONS? WE HAVE ANSWERS
FAQS
Starting Therapy
Starting therapy can come with questions. We want you to feel informed, comfortable, and confident as you consider taking the next step. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the questions we hear most often about therapy, fees and policies, and New River Hope Center.
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You have found yourself asking this question for a reason. Sometimes we feel lost, uncertain, or even afraid. Life throws some really tough things our way that can be difficult to navigate and understand on our own. People enter therapy for a variety of reasons. Some come to therapy because they need someone to help sort through a circumstance that has presented itself. Some come to therapy because they feel lost, alone and afraid that they may give up or hurt themselves or someone else. Still, some come to therapy to find themselves or sort through a traumatic event from their past or present. Whatever the reason you have found yourself here, our therapists can help you navigate your situation, emotions, and symptoms. Therapy creates a safe space for you to discover your way to the life you deserve.
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The short answer is YES! Therapy is completely confidential. Everything discussed in a therapy room is privileged information between you and your therapist. Even your presence in therapy is confidential. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality, however. Therapists are mandated reporters for certain things in Virginia. These reports include: 1) If your therapist believes that you are in danger of harming yourself or someone else 2) If your therapist learns about a child or a dependent adult being abused. 3) If a judge orders your therapy records in a legal matter (very rare) 4) If you are using your insurance, your insurance company will receive your diagnosis code and could request records in an audit. text goes here
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Therapy is a collaborative process between you and your therapist. It is very helpful for you and your therapist to discuss and focus on your goals of coming to therapy. Some come to therapy for support, and some come to be challenged. Your therapist is not there to give you advice, but is trained to ask questions and allow you to utilize your own strengths to arrive at your goals. We believe in you, and are here to walk with you. Ultimately, there can be no guaranteed results of therapy, but your level of participation often drives the outcome of the therapy.
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This is a question that can only be answered by you and your therapist. There are many factors involved in this answer such as past history, trauma, attachment styles, presenting problems, and much much more. Some come to therapy for a few sessions and some go to therapy for years. This should be an ongoing conversation with your therapist as you set goals and reflect on your progress throughout the therapeutic process.
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Getting started is easy. Call or email New River Hope Center to speak with someone about your needs and answer a few questions. We’ll help you determine the next steps and schedule an initial appointment. Or, alternatively, you can book directly from our website!
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Therapy can be misunderstood by well-meaning individuals. As therapists, we encourage you to gather information and decide what is right for you. There are different types of therapy and different types of therapists. Don't be afraid to ask direct questions about the therapy you will receive, your therapists training, and discuss your concerns. Ultimately, therapy is confidential and many people choose not to tell others that they are seeking therapy. You have a right to your privacy, and a right to make this decision for yourself.
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We are located at 179 Tazewell Street in Wytheville, Virginia.
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We offer in-person and virtual therapy sessions. We will let you know if your case would not be a good fit for virtual sessions.
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New River Hope Center is a therapy practice, so we do not prescribe or manage medications. If medication may be helpful as part of your care, your therapist can discuss this with you and, when appropriate, coordinate with or refer you to a qualified medical or psychiatric provider.
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New River Hope Center does not provide primary treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. However, we may provide therapy for underlying mental health concerns, trauma, relationships, or other experiences that may contribute to or be affected by substance use.
Clients receiving this type of therapy must also be engaged in a separate substance use treatment program. If you need help finding an appropriate program, we can help connect you with resources and coordinate care when appropriate.
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Yes. Under Virginia law, a minor may independently consent to outpatient treatment for mental health or emotional concerns. This means that, in certain circumstances, an individual under 18 may seek and consent to their own outpatient therapy without parental consent.
Because consent, confidentiality, and payment requirements can vary depending on the circumstances, we encourage minors or parents with questions about starting therapy to contact us directly. We will explain the process and help determine the appropriate next steps.
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Due to state law, clients MUST be in the state of Virginia when receiving treatment from a therapist licensed in Virginia. If you are not in Virginia at the time of your appointment, you will not be able to be seen.
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Yes. We provide couples therapy to help partners improve communication, work through conflict, strengthen their relationship, and navigate difficult transitions.
Insurance coverage for couples therapy can be more complicated. Some insurance plans allow family or couples psychotherapy to be billed when there is an identified patient with a mental health diagnosis and the treatment meets the plan’s medical-necessity requirements.
Because coverage varies by insurance plan and individual circumstances, your initial assessment is an important first step. Initial assessments are generally covered by your insurance. We can determine whether the presenting concerns meet the requirements for insurance reimbursement and discuss the options available to you. If insurance does not cover couples therapy in your particular situation, we can also discuss private-pay or financial assistance options.
Our goal is to help you understand your options before beginning treatment so there are no surprises about the cost of care.
FAQS
Fees & Policies
Find information about insurance, private-pay options, financial assistance, scheduling, cancellations, and other practical details.
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The cost of therapy depends on your insurance coverage, benefits, and individual circumstances. New River Hope Center accepts insurance and also offers private-pay and financial assistance options for those who qualify. We believe financial circumstances should not prevent someone from accessing quality mental health care.
Before beginning treatment, we will help you understand your expected costs and available options. Insurance coverage is based on your individual plan, and you are ultimately responsible for understanding your benefits and any applicable deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. Virginia insurance coverage for mental health services is generally subject to medical-necessity requirements.
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Yes! We take Medicare, VA Medicaid, Sentara, BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare/Optum, Humana, Cigna and many others. Before your first appointment we will gather your insurance information to verify we do accept your insurance and estimate how much they will cover and how much you may owe for visits.
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For private pay clients, initial sessions are $175.00 and sessions after that are $150.
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Please don't let cost stop you from reaching out. New River Hope Center is committed to making quality mental health care accessible, and we offer financial assistance for individuals and families who qualify.
We can talk with you about your insurance coverage, private-pay options, and available financial assistance to determine what may work for your circumstances. Our goal is to help you find a way to access care—not turn you away because of financial limitations.
If we are not able to meet your financial needs, we will do our best to help connect you with other community resources that may be able to help.
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You can call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask them if you have coverage for mental health outpatient therapy visits. Most plans have coverage, although how much they cover varies by plan. We will also do our best to contact your insurance company before your first visit to verify your benefits and let you know what coverage you have.
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We understand that life happens. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment time to someone else.
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice or missed without notice may be subject to a missed-appointment fee. These fees are generally not covered by insurance and are the client’s responsibility.
Clients who miss an appointment without notice or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice three times may be subject to discharge from services.
We recognize that emergencies and unexpected circumstances happen, and exceptions may be made when appropriate. Our goal is to balance flexibility and compassion with the need to protect appointment times for all of our clients.
FAQS
About New River Hope Center
Learn more about who we are, what we believe, and our commitment to providing accessible, compassionate mental health care throughout Southwest Virginia.
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Yes. New River Hope Center is a new mental health center, but the experience behind our care is not. Our founder, Beth Houle, Ph.D., LMFT, has more than a decade of clinical experience and has owned and operated a private practice since 2015. New River Hope Center was created to bring that experience to Southwest Virginia while expanding access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care in our community.
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Our founder, Beth Houle, Ph.D., LMFT, brings more than a decade of experience providing mental health care. She has owned and operated a private practice since 2015 and has experience working with individuals, couples, and families, as well as supervising other therapists. She holds a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy and is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based, and trauma-informed care.
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Yes. New River Hope Center is a nonprofit mental health center committed to expanding access to high-quality, compassionate mental health care throughout Southwest Virginia. As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to serving our community and helping ensure that financial circumstances are not a barrier to receiving care.
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We welcome referrals from physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, hospitals, schools, and other healthcare and community providers. We have made it easy to submit a secure referral to us through the link at the top of the webpage. You can contact New River Hope Center by phone, secure fax or through our secure email to discuss a referral and submit a referral form.
With the appropriate authorization, you may also provide relevant clinical information to help us understand the patient's needs and determine the most appropriate services. We will keep you informed about the referral process and coordinate care as appropriate, while respecting the patient's privacy and confidentiality.
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We are happy to answer questions. The quickest way to reach us is through our contact form on our website or by email. Phone calls are welcome but may initially go to voicemail as we have a very small staff and may be helping other clients. Please be patient with us, we want to hear from you and will get back with you as soon as possible.
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Absolutely. We welcome referrals from family members, friends, healthcare providers, schools, community organizations, and others who believe someone could benefit from therapy.
If you are concerned about someone and think they may benefit from support, you can contact us to share general information about our services and learn how to help them get connected. Because of privacy and confidentiality requirements, we cannot confirm whether someone is receiving services from us or discuss their care without the appropriate authorization.
If the person is interested in therapy, they can contact us directly to begin the intake process.
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NEWSLETTER
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