Sara Moore Kerai is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 15 years experience working with diverse clients in the Washington D.C. area & Michigan.
What should I expect from the first therapy session?
The first counseling session involves a little bit of paperwork, some regular assessment questions and discussion of your history, and time for us to get to know one another and determine whether the therapy relationship feels like a good fit. I will give you plenty of time to share your story in your own words, and we will talk about how I can be helpful. Then, we will make a plan for how we will work together.
How often should we meet?
I recommend we meet weekly for therapy to be most effective. Understanding that not everyone is ready to commit to regular therapy, I also provide 75-minute consultation sessions.
What about insurance?
If you have PPO insurance, I suggest you contact your insurance provider and determine your mental health benefits for an out of network provider. After each session, I will provide you with a detailed receipt that you can submit for reimbursement for out of network mental health benefits or your health care spending account. I suggest my clients use Reimbursify, an easy-to-use app for submitting their claims. I am not a Medicare provider; Medicare patients may be reimbursed via secondary insurace. Payment is collected at the end of each therapy session.
What are your payment options?
I collect payment by IvyPay and the SimplePractice platform. I will get you set up with one of these options at our first session.
Do you offer teletherapy?
Yes! I use the HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform on Zoom to meet with my clients by video.
What evaluation services do you offer?
I conduct psychosocial assessments specific to supporting immigration cases that can be conducted by a master’s-level clinician. These include hardship waivers, cancellation of removal cases, asylum cases, U-Visas, T-Visas, and VAWA cases.
Do you see children for therapy?
I see teenagers for therapy who are ready and willing to engage in talk therapy. For younger children, what I can offer is a consultation session about how to be the most supportive parent you can be to a child who is experiencing a serious illness, either personally or in the family, a major life change, or a loss in the family. I can provide you with coaching, resources, and suggestions for family activities that will help you and your children get through a stressful time.
What if I have to reschedule or cancel my appointment?
As a solo practitioner, my policy is 24 hours notice, otherwise I need to charge my usual hourly fee. You may contact me by phone or email. Please reschedule for a different day within the week if you have a conflict with your scheduled appointment.