Question 1

Can I message my therapist between sessions, and how quickly will I hear back?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your clinician is happy to respond to non-urgent scheduling questions between sessions, such as canceling or rescheduling appointments. For clinical questions, treatment guidance, or therapeutic support, we ask that you schedule an appointment so we can give you the time and care you deserve. During office hours, our team responds to general outreaches within 24 business hours and providers generally return phone calls within 24–48 hours. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

At Kellen Mental Health, your clinician is happy to respond to non-urgent scheduling questions between sessions, such as canceling or rescheduling appointments. For clinical questions, treatment guidance, or therapeutic support, we ask that you schedule an appointment so we can give you the time and care you deserve. Messaging is not a substitute for a therapy session, and if clinical matters are addressed outside of a scheduled session, that time may be billed at the clinician’s standard hourly rate.

For timing, messages are handled during office hours, not in real time. Our team responds to general outreaches within 24 business hours and providers generally return phone calls within 24–48 hours. If you write in the evening, on weekends, or on a holiday, you may hear back the next business day. Your therapist will also review clear communication boundaries with you, so you know what to expect between visits in individual therapy, couples and marriage counseling, or family therapy.

If you are in a mental health emergency or worried about your safety, do not wait for a portal reply. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Lifeline. If you need more support sooner, we can help you schedule an extra session, including online therapy and virtual counseling when available.

Question 2

How long should I expect to be in therapy?

Accepted Answer

Every therapy journey at KMH is unique. Some clients seek therapy for several weeks or months to address specific challenges, while others find long-term support helpful for continued growth and self-discovery. However long you choose to engage, our commitment to your well-being remains constant.

Counseling at Kellen Mental Health is designed to fit your unique goals, not a preset calendar. During your first appointment we clarify what you want to accomplish—relief from anxiety and stress, rebuilding trust in couples and marriage counseling, healing trauma with EMDR, or boosting focus through ADHD and executive-functioning coaching. Based on those goals, your therapist will recommend a cadence (often weekly at first) and an estimated range, typically eight to twenty sessions for focused work. Short-term therapy can be as brief as six sessions when you need targeted skills for a specific challenge; more complex concerns such as longstanding depression, PTSD, or major life transitions may span several months to a year.

Progress reviews happen every four to six sessions. We look at symptom change, skill mastery, and your overall sense of well-being. If you’re thriving sooner than expected, we taper to bi-weekly or monthly maintenance. If new layers surface, we extend or integrate complementary supports like integrative psychiatry, mindfulness training, or life coaching to keep momentum strong.

Remember, you set the pace. Our holistic mental health care model gives you the option to pause, return, or stay connected through corporate wellness programs and mental-wellness workshops whenever new seasons of growth arise.

Question 3

How often should I come to therapy?

Accepted Answer

At KMH, we find that weekly sessions provide a strong foundation, especially at the start, as you build rapport with your therapist and set a course toward your goals. Over time, as you progress, we’ll adjust session frequency to fit your needs—often transitioning to bi-monthly or monthly check-ins to maintain momentum and support.

There is no one-size-fits-all timetable for counseling. We start by learning what brings you in—anxiety and stress management, depression counseling, trauma and PTSD therapy, ADHD and executive functioning coaching, postpartum depression, relationship conflict, or another concern. During your first individual therapy, couples and marriage counseling, or family therapy appointment, you and your clinician set clear goals and choose the pace that feels both supportive and sustainable.

For many clients, weekly or bi-weekly online therapy and virtual counseling sessions create steady traction. Meeting often allows you to practice new coping tools, whether you are working on mindfulness for panic attacks, Gottman-informed communication skills, or career and executive coaching strategies. As skills strengthen and relief holds between visits, we extend sessions to every three or four weeks. Some clients then move into seasonal check-ups or drop-in mental wellness workshops to maintain gains.

Your frequency may shift if life throws a curveball—grief, a new baby, a corporate wellness program deadline, or spiritual questions addressed in Christian counseling and spirituality work. Because KMH offers integrative psychiatry, holistic mental health care, as well as life coaching and personal development under one roof, we can quickly scale care up or down without disrupting progress. The goal is always the same: consistent, personalized support that helps you thrive.

Question 4

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

Accepted Answer

For your first couples counseling session, come with a shared goal, a few concrete examples of what keeps you stuck, and a willingness to listen. Complete any intake forms ahead of time. Decide if you prefer a 60- or 90-minute session and, for virtual counseling, test your private space and tech.

Couples & Marriage Counseling works best when you show up prepared and on the same team. Before your first couples counseling session with Kellen Mental Health, try these steps.

1) Get clear on what you want. Each partner writes 2 to 3 goals and one sign things are improving. Examples: calmer talks, rebuild trust, better teamwork with parenting, more closeness.

2) Bring a few recent examples. Pick one or two moments that capture the pattern. Note what happened, what you felt, and what you needed. This helps us map the cycle and start changing it using evidence-based therapy such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.

3) Complete any questionnaires ahead of time. Some couples also use tools like the Prepare/Enrich Assessment for Couples. If you are asked to take an assessment, do it separately, answer honestly, and avoid debating the questions at home.

4) Plan the logistics. Sessions are offered in 60 or 90 minutes, in person or through online therapy and virtual counseling. A 90-minute first session can help when time is tight or conflict is high. For Virtual Counseling, choose a quiet, private room and test your camera and sound on a secure video platform.

Come with questions about pacing (many couples start every other week), homework, and how to handle hot topics like intimacy, money, or infidelity. If you feel anxious, a few minutes of slow breathing before you log on or walk in can help you stay present.

Question 5

What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps you notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, then practice new ways to respond. We often use CBT for anxiety and stress, depression, OCD, PTSD, and life transitions. It is a strong fit if you want clear goals and practical skills.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based counseling approach that helps you understand the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In sessions, we work together to spot unhelpful patterns like worst-case thinking, all-or-nothing rules, or negative self-talk. Then you learn new ways to respond, so your mood and choices can change over time.

CBT is often a strong fit if you want practical tools for anxiety and stress management, depression counseling, postpartum anxiety or depression, panic, OCD, trauma and PTSD therapy support, grief, or major life transitions. It can also support ADHD and executive functioning coaching by building planning, follow-through, and problem-solving skills. Many people like CBT because it is structured and goal-focused. It is often short-term (commonly around 8 to 12 weeks), but the pace can be tailored to you.

At Kellen Mental Health, we use CBT across Therapy & Counseling, including Counseling for Adults, Counseling for Teens, Couples & Marriage Counseling, and Infertility, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Counseling. You can meet in person or choose Virtual Counseling (online therapy and virtual counseling). You can expect a safe, confidential space, clear goals, and between-session practice so the skills become real life habits.

If CBT is not the best match, we can integrate other evidence-based options, such as ACT, DBT, EMDR Therapy, or Brainspotting, as part of holistic mental health care.

Virtual Counseling – Convenient and Accessible Support

Therapists Who Offer Virtual Counseling

Gleyce Almeida-Farrell, LCSW

Brooke Riley, LPC

Cara McDonald, APC, NCC

Morgan E. Dunn, LCSW

Nitsan Jakob, LPC

Brooke Sanders, LMFT

Leigh Fisher, LCSW, CCTP

Mariah Sylvia, LPC

Kristi Schwegman, LCSW

Alice Hamrick-Martinez, LPC

What Is Virtual Counseling?

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Virtual Counseling Is a Strong Fit If You:

What You Can Treat Through Virtual Therapy

Technology, Privacy, and What You Need to Get Started

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Is Virtual Therapy as Effective as In-Person Therapy?

Virtual Counseling Services Offered Via Video

Virtual Individual Counseling

Virtual Premarital Counseling

Virtual Couples/Marriage Counseling

Virtual Prenatal, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Counseling

Virtual Christian Counseling

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I message my therapist between sessions, and how quickly will I hear back?

How long should I expect to be in therapy?

How often should I come to therapy?

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and who is it for?

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