FAQ

Please email me to inquire about setting up the first appointment. It is helpful if you include a bit about why you are seeking counseling for yourself or a child (please include your child’s age) so we can make sure we’re a good fit. We will let you know if we have room on our caseloads and what our availability is like.

Once we agree upon an initial appointment date and time, you will be sent a link to a patient portal to complete all of the demographic, payment and intake information online. You’ll also sign a Disclosure and Notice of Privacy Practices through the portal. We do ask that these be completed before our first session.

Next step is that we meet.  We ask a number of questions in the form of an assessment and go from there!

Our office is located in the Coleman Executive Suite’s Building at 222 W Coleman Blvd, Suite 205, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.  LFC is conveniently located in Mount Pleasant, SC just at the base of the Ravenell bridge.  Our location provides quick and easy access to those living outside of Mount Pleasant and offers services to children and families all throughout the Lowcountry.  Our clientele consists of residents from Mount Pleasant, Downtown Charleston, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, West Ashley, John’s Island, Goose Creek, Folly Beach, James Island, North Charleston, Hanahan, and Summerville.

Normally for children under 13 we meet with the parents first (without your child) to get a history and clear image of what is happening with your child.

Subsequent sessions all look diverse contingent on the issue, but generally we do a check-in with parent and child at the beginning of each session, then meet with the child alone for the remainder of the session.

We do not automatically check in with parents at the conclusion of the session again, but will communicate if we worked on skills, if there are things we want you to continue at home, etc. Often times, as we progress in the therapeutic process, we will advance into some parent only sessions as well.

If you are ready to move forward, email me at david@lowcountryfc.com to set up the initial parent meeting

Teens 13 and over get treated more individualistically in our therapy sessions. They do not get to call all the shots however, and we still prefer a parent be able to be in the first session with the teen, to provide history and concerns.

Subsequent sessions are usually with the teen only, though we are also happy and often do parent & teen sessions or family sessions as needed.  These are not just “complaining” sessions (though there is certainly space to vent). We use a variety of tools to teach communication and emotion regulation skills including CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), provide tools for mindfulness, art, and specific concrete activities and worksheets to teach and discuss concepts.

We do not generally provide constant updates to parents about their teen’s therapy unless the teen wants us to, or if we have concerns that a teen is suicidal and a danger to themselves, or if they tell us they are being abused. Please note that self-harm (cutting) or risky behavior (drugs, alcohol, sex) is protected under confidentiality, and we do not tell parents about such behavior unless it is suicidal in nature. Our ultimate goal however is to have the teen communicating with their parents about what is going on in their life, and not to be the middleman.

If you are ready to move forward, email me at david@lowcountryfc.com and we can set up an initial appointment.

At this time, Lowcountry Family & Children is NOT accepting any forms of insurance as payment.  Our fee is $165 for a 55-minute session.  We accept payment by cash, check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover)

Cancellations/rescheduling must be arranged at least 24 hours before the session by phone.  If a session is missed or canceled/rescheduled within 24 hours of the session, you will be charged a $145 cancellation fee.  In the case of inclement weather, a challenge with transportation, or any reason you are unable to reach my office for an in-person session, you can opt to attend the session via phone.  Otherwise, the session will be cancelled.

We do not do meet and greet sessions. A 20-minute meeting just isn’t valuable in our experience, and when we meet someone we want to jump in and get to know you (or your child).

The best way for both of us to know if this is a good fit is to meet for an hour. However, we are happy to answer any questions you might have prior to meeting.

For the most part we like to try and meet both parents of child clients.  Before treatment begins, a disclosure will be signed consenting that you will not bring us to court or try to use your child’s therapy against the other parent or for your own agenda. Our job is to be a support for your child, be neutral about the parents, and provide a safe place to process feelings.

Under the provisions of the Health Care Information Act of 1992, you have the right to a copy of your file at any time. You have the right to request that we make a copy of your file available to any other health care provider at your written request. We require a 72-hour preparation period for non-mental health emergencies.