Can I use my insurance for therapy sessions?

• In many cases, you can use your insurance for therapy sessions. Depending on your insurance coverage plan, you may pay as little as $0.00 for your therapy sessions. Some insurance plans require you to pay for a portion of your session, this is known as a “co-pay.” This amount often ranges from $12-30.00. Pau Hana Counseling has no say in the amount of your co-pay as this is determined by your insurance company. It is required that you pay your co-payment amount for each session completed. If you are requesting to meet with one of our pre-licensed clinicians who are working on their hours towards licensure, in most cases,  you will need to pay cash.
  

Can every therapist on the website accept my insurance?

• Pau Hana Counseling works hard to panel every eligible therapist with all major insurance carriers in Hawaii. Each insurance company has various requirements regarding who they will allow to accept insurance, some providers who are ineligible to accept insurance include therapist interns and most pre-licensed therapists. Therapist interns and most pre-licensed therapists accept clients on a cash-pay basis. 

How often can I expect to have therapy?

• In general, outpatient therapy consists of one 55-minute therapy session per week. In some instances, you and your therapist may determine that you require two sessions per week, for a brief period of time, due to the severity or frequency of your presenting symptoms. If we feel you require more therapeutic support, you may be referred to an Intensive Outpatient Program or an Inpatient Program to best meet your needs. It is also common that as you progress in therapy, your sessions may become less frequent, such as every-other-week or monthly until discharge.
  

Can I have more than one therapist?

• In general, you will be matched to one provider who will be your primary therapist. If you plan to attend both couples therapy and individual therapy, you will generally have two different therapists. If you are interested in an adjunct therapy, such as EMDR therapy or sand play therapy, in addition to your weekly sessions, you may be matched with an additional therapist to administer this adjunct therapy for a brief period of time.

Can I bring a partner or friend to therapy with me?

• It is important that the therapy space remains private, safe, and confidential. Before ever bringing another person into your individual therapy appointment, you would want to discuss the idea with your therapist well-ahead of time. Your therapist may ask you why you want that person present and explore with you how this may impact or relate to your treatment plan goals. If you and the therapist agree to the additional person attending a future session, that additional person would need to sign relevant informed consent paperwork prior to attending that appointment even if they only plan to attend one time.

What if I don’t connect with my therapist?

• We encourage every new client to complete a minimum of 4-6 sessions with their assigned therapist before making a determination about whether that therapist is a good fit for them. We know that it takes time to build trust and rapport. We have found that generally by the 4th or 5th session, most clients feel comfortable and satisfied with their therapist. After completing several sessions with your therapist, and sharing with them any concerns you may have, if you are still interested in being matched with another therapist, we could assess if there is another therapist at the practice who may be a better fit for you. If you feel you have a conflict of interest with your therapist or feel there is an ethical concern, please let us know immediatly.

What if my insurance changes?

• Insurance changes can happen often and for a variety of reasons. Please notify Pau Hana Counseling as soon as you become aware of any changes to your insurance. This could include joining your spouses’ plan, changing jobs, or getting a secondary plan with another insurance provider. Even if the insurance carrier will stay the same (i.e. HMSA to HMSA) the card numbers may be different and may impact your coverage. It is important to notify our office as soon as possible so that we can update your account accordingly.

What is the late cancellation and no-show policy? 

• All clients are expected to give at least 24 hours notice to their therapist if they will not be able to attend their appointment as scheduled. If a client fails to provide at least 24 hours notice, the cancellation is considered a “late cancellation” and there is a $110.00 fee. This $110.00 fee also applies to “no-show” sessions in which a client fails to attend their appointment and gives their therapist no notice. If you cannot attend your scheduled session, please contact your therapist by phone as soon as possible to let them know. Some therapist’s may be able to reschedule your appointment to another day in the same week. If you are a brand new client and have not yet met your therapist, you will contact the main Pau Hana Counseling number to give notice of your need to cancel or reschedule your first appointment: 808-825-4214. Clients are allowed 3 late-cancelled or no-showed appointments in a calendar year. On your 4th instance of late cancellation or no-show in calendar year, you will be referred out to another practice that may better suit your schedule or availability. 

• If you believe you will be just a few minutes late to your appointment, please reach out to your therapist directly by phone to let them know this as soon as possible. Therapists are only required to wait for you to join your session for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes with no communication from you about running late, a therapist is instructed to cancel the appointment and move on to other tasks. The remainder of the hour is no longer yours as the appointment has been cancelled and will need to be rescheduled with your therapist for another day or time. If you are going to be more than 30 minutes late, your appointment will need to be rescheduled for another and may be considered a late cancellation as sessions must be no shorter than 30 minutes. 

Who is a good fit for therapy?

• You are a good fit for therapy when you have symptoms so significant they are impacting your day-to-day functioning. This could look like crying at work so frequently that you are under-performing or feeling too anxious to attend events or activities that you’d like to attend. 

Generally:

• You are a good fit for therapy when you are ready to begin learning tools to cope in a more healthy manner.

• You are a good fit for therapy when you feel ready to begin making positive changes in your life.

• You are able to keep yourself safe between therapy appointments.

Who is a good fit for couples therapy?

Generally: 

• You are a good fit for couples therapy when you both want to attend therapy and be honest with yourselves and your therapist about the challenges you are facing as a couple.

• You are a good fit for couples therapy when you’d both like to focus on goals and desired outcomes to work towards together with your therapist.

When is couples therapy not appropriate?

• Couples therapy is generally contraindicated (not advised) when there is active domestic violence taking place in the relationship, or active substance abuse happening. These issues should be dealt with in individual therapy first before attempting couples therapy.

• Couples therapy is generally contraindicated (not advised) when there is active narcissistic abuse taking place within the relationship. Research shows that completing couples therapy during active abuse can actually create increased risk of harm for the abuse survivor.

• Couples therapy is not advised when one person in the relationship does not want to engage in couples therapy.

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer Christian counseling?

• We expect all therapists to honor and respect your unique beliefs. Such beliefs can often be a positive resource in your therapeutic journey. Some therapists have a Christian background and/or their own Christian faith. Our therapists are expected to utilize evidence-based approaches and interventions to support you in accomplishing the identified goals in your treatment plan. If you prefer a fully Christian approach, there are religious organizations that may offer that to you.

 Does Pau Hana offer diagnostic assessments for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder?

• Yes, we now offer assessments for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and assessments for personality disorders and mood disorders.

• There is a psychologist on staff that completes these assessments, and there may be up to a 3-month wait.

• Pau Hana Counseling is NOT equipped to complete and does NOT offer full psychological batteries (i.e. full psychological evaluations) or any type of intelligence or achievement testing.

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer court support?

• No, Pau Hana Counseling does not offer court support. Our services are therapeutic and intended to help you accomplish your treatment plan goals in a safe and supportive environment. We do not have clinicians available for expert witness testimony for court cases.

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer custody evaluations?

• No. 

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer firearms assessments?

• No. 

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer therapeutic home visits?

• No.

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer in-person or virtual supervised visitation for legal guardians?

• No.

Does Pau Hana Counseling offer court ordered therapy services?

• No.