How do I become a client at Lighthouse Counseling?

Through the Client Portal, you’ll complete your demographic information and required intake forms. Once your forms are completed, our team will verify your insurance benefits as a courtesy service. Insurance verification must be completed before an appointment can be scheduled. Once your insurance has been verified, our team will contact you to schedule your first appointment based on provider availability and your needs.

Please note: Insurance verification is provided as a courtesy and does not guarantee that your insurance will cover your services. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to confirm your behavioral health benefits and coverage.

Do you accept my insurance?

Lighthouse Counseling currently works with several insurance plans, including:

• Aetna
• Aetna Better Health
• Anthem/BCBS HealthKeepers (No Medicaid)
• Sentara (commercial and medicaid)
• Tricare
• Medicare
• UBH/Optum

Insurance participation can vary by provider and plan, so having a plan listed above does not guarantee that your specific services will be covered. We recommend contacting your insurance company to confirm your behavioral health benefits, deductible, copay, coinsurance, and any referral or authorization requirements.

If you have questions about your coverage, our Administrative Team can help you understand what information we need from you.

How much does counseling cost?

Our current standard self-pay rates are:

$175 45-60 minute Initial Intake
$160 45-60 minute Individual Counseling
$175 45-60 minute Family, Couples & Marriage Counseling

Additional discounted or specialized rates may be available depending on your circumstances, including our sliding-scale and military discount programs.

Before beginning services at a self-pay or applicable discounted rate, you will receive information about your expected cost, including a Good Faith Estimate when required.

Please note that rates and program eligibility are subject to change. Your specific rate will be reviewed with you before services begin.

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) provides an estimate of the expected cost of healthcare services for clients who are self-pay or who are not using insurance for their services.

At Lighthouse Counseling, eligible clients receive information about their expected costs before services begin. Your Good Faith Estimate is based on the information available at the time it is prepared and may be updated if your services, frequency, or circumstances change.

A Good Faith Estimate is an estimate, not a bill or guarantee of the final amount you will owe.

What is the difference between an LPC, LCP, LCSW, LRIC/MSW, and an Intern/Practicum Student?

At Lighthouse Counseling, you may see different professional credentials listed after a counselor’s name. These credentials reflect the clinician’s education, training, and current level of licensure or supervised practice.

LPC — Licensed Professional Counselor: A counselor who has completed the required education, supervised experience, examinations, and licensing requirements to practice independently as a professional counselor.

LCP — Licensed Clinical Psychologist: A psychologist who has completed doctoral-level education, supervised clinical training, examinations, and licensing requirements to practice independently. Clinical psychologists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions through psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, and evidence-based interventions.

LCSW — Licensed Clinical Social Worker: A social worker who has completed advanced clinical education, supervised experience, examinations, and licensing requirements to provide mental health services independently.

LRIC/MSW — Licensed Resident in Counseling / Master of Social Work: A clinician who has completed graduate-level education and is working toward independent licensure. Residents and social work supervisees provide clinical services under the supervision of a qualified professional while completing their licensure requirements.

Intern/Practicum Student: A graduate-level counseling or social work student who is completing required clinical training as part of their degree program. Interns and practicum students provide services under close supervision from a qualified clinical supervisor.

All of our clinicians, regardless of their level of licensure or training, receive appropriate professional support and supervision based on their credentials and licensing requirements. Our goal is to provide quality, compassionate care while supporting the professional development of clinicians entering the field.

Credentialing and licensure requirements vary by profession and are governed by the appropriate Virginia licensing board.

What types of counseling do you offer?

Lighthouse Counseling provides a variety of counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults ages 5 and up.

Our services include:

• Individual counseling
• Couples and marriage counseling
• Family counseling
• Group counseling

Our counselors have different areas of experience and specialties, so we work to help connect you with a provider who is an appropriate fit for your needs.

What if Lighthouse Counseling doesn't accept my insurance?

You may still be able to receive services through our self-pay or applicable discounted-rate options.

Lighthouse Counseling also offers a sliding-scale program for qualifying clients. Eligibility is based on household income and requires completion of a sliding-scale application and supporting income documentation.

If you are unsure which option may apply to you, our Administrative Team can provide more information about our current rates and requirements.

Do I need a referral to receive counseling?

Most clients do not need a referral to begin counseling at Lighthouse Counseling. However, certain insurance plans may require a referral or authorization before services can be covered.

For example, Active Duty Tricare clients are generally required to have an active referral on file for covered services. If your referral is nearing expiration, we recommend contacting your Primary Care Manager (PCM) early to request an updated referral.

Your PCM may fax the updated referral directly to our office.

Please remember: Insurance coverage is determined by your insurance plan. Lighthouse Counseling cannot guarantee coverage for services provided without the required referral or authorization.

What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule my appointment?

We understand that things come up! If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, at least 24 hours’ notice is required. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you know you will be unable to attend your scheduled appointment.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, as well as missed appointments (Late Cancellation/No-Show or LC/NS), may be subject to a fee. LC/NS fees are $160 for individual sessions and $175 for family, couples, and marriage sessions. These fees are the client’s responsibility and are not billed to insurance.

If you are unable to attend because of an emergency or other extenuating circumstance, please contact our office and we can review the situation with you.

Please note: Repeated late cancellations or missed appointments may result in additional account or scheduling restrictions in accordance with Lighthouse Counseling’s policies. 

Resources

How do I contact Lighthouse Counseling if I have a question?

Our Administrative Team is happy to help! To ensure your questions and concerns are directed to the appropriate team member, please use the contact information below.

Office Hours:

Monday–Thursday | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday | Closed

General Questions & Scheduling

For questions regarding scheduling, intake paperwork, referrals, establishing services or other general administrative needs, please contact our Front Office Team.

Phone: 757-376-8167
Email: desk@lighthouse-counselingllc.com

Billing Questions & Concerns

For questions regarding account balances, payments, insurance claims, billing statements, or other financial concerns, please contact our Billing Team directly.

Email: lhbillingteam@lighthouse-counselingllc.com

Medical Records Requests

For requests involving medical records, treatment documentation, or the release of client information, please contact our Office Manager directly.

Email: brooke@lighthouse-counselingllc.com

When contacting our office, please allow our team adequate time to review your inquiry and respond. Some questions may require additional research or coordination between departments to ensure accurate information is provided.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to assist you!