Questions, answered

Call Michael Hoober, our Clinical Director, at 717.209.2357, or email michael@connectcounselingpa.com. He'll review your situation and connect you with the right counselor. Once you're a client, you can schedule through SimplePractice, our secure portal, or contact your counselor directly.

Your safety is our priority. For a medical emergency, call 911. For a life-threatening mental health crisis, call or text 988. For support between sessions, call your counselor's direct line.

Your first session is a mutual evaluation. You're deciding whether your counselor is a good fit, and they're working to understand your situation. They'll ask what brought you in, then share initial thoughts. The next two or three sessions are a deeper assessment where we explore your full picture and set goals together.

We recommend at least weekly sessions during the first two or three assessment sessions. After that, we'll choose a frequency that fits: weekly, every other week, monthly, or something in between.

Yes. You'll get your counselor's direct phone line. They're not available around the clock, but they or a teammate will be on call for support.

Sessions happen through SimplePractice, a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. At your scheduled time you join from the app or website. You can also schedule, upload documents, and message your counselor there.

Let your counselor know as soon as you can. We'll work with you to find a time that fits.

We work from a systemic perspective: struggles often live in systems like families, workplaces, and relationships, not just in individuals. Our counselors use many evidence-based approaches, including insight-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, and attachment-oriented therapy and EMDR.

We focus on how you feel and function, not on labels. Insurance requires a diagnosis, so if you use insurance we'll provide one. If you don't, we won't. You'll always know your diagnosis and have a say in it.

Many people find relief through counseling, sometimes quickly and sometimes over time. It depends on your situation, your engagement, and what you bring back into your life outside sessions.

We're not opposed to medication and recognize it can be important, especially alongside counseling. When we think it might help, we'll suggest talking with your primary care physician or psychiatrist, and we're glad to coordinate with them.

An initial evaluation is $200 and counseling sessions are $175. We accept many insurance plans and offer a sliding scale if you don't have insurance.

We work with many plans, including all Blue Cross Blue Shield entities, Aetna, UPMC, and CHIP. Have your insurance company's name ready when you call. If we're out of network, we'll provide a superbill for reimbursement.

Yes. If you have out-of-network benefits, we'll help you use them. If you don't have insurance, we'll work something out based on your situation. Talk with Michael when you call.

Yes. Treatment for children, teens, and families starts with what is already working. We start by understanding your child's full picture in individual sessions. Then we'll explain what we're seeing and recommend an approach, often moving toward family counseling so the whole family can change together.

Same approach. After an initial assessment, family counseling often becomes part of the work, and we'll help you bring the family in.

With the client's permission, we keep referral sources informed about progress and let you know if we think a higher level of care is needed.

Often, yes. With the client's consent we coordinate with the other counselor so care is complementary.