Where are you located?
If you live in Texas, that’s where we are. The Waco Counseling Group is a virtual practice, so we can provide services where you are in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
What are your hours?
Generally, we are available between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm most days of the week, if we are not in session.
We are not available 24-7, and therefore, if you have an emergency outside of office hours or during the weekends, we encourage you to contact the suicide prevention hotline at 9-8-8, call 9-1-1, or visit your local emergency room.
What will my first appointment be like?
If you’ve never been in therapy, it can be a scary experience. First, we will spend some time learning about you and why you are seeking therapy. We will ask some more questions to get to know you and make sure we understand your story. After we make sure we understand your story, we will recap and give you our take on things. Lastly, we will discuss treatment options with you.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes! Your reasons for coming to therapy are important and keeping your story confidential is important to us. There are few exceptions to confidentiality that we will gladly discuss with you, but typically harm to self and others are the primary exceptions.
How long does a therapy session last?
Normally, therapy sessions are 45-50 minutes in length. Typically, therapy sessions are held once weekly. We get it, life is busy and once-a-week therapy sessions may not fit into your demanding schedule. We will gladly discuss options to meet your treatment needs and schedule.
What do you do in a typical therapy session?
You will talk about the problems that brought you to therapy. We will listen and share our thoughts and observations. We will help you think about your problem differently and apply new skills to address your problem.
How long will I need to come to therapy?
Good question! With no easy answer. Research shows that most people benefit from therapy in 8-15 sessions, but we know you are a unique individual and so are your results. We will occasionally check in with you to discuss your progress and see if we need to make any adjustments to your treatment plan.
What insurances do you accept?
I do not participate with any insurance company panels. I have a number of reasons for this: Confidentiality is compromised when filing with insurance because a third party is involved in treatment. Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis for reimbursement or payment for psychotherapy, one they deem sufficient for payment. Your situation may not need a diagnosis!
Insurance companies can dictate the type of treatment they believe is correct without knowing you, the patient. Insurance companies can and do determine when and how treatment should take place, including the ending, regardless of the opinions or expertise of the patient or therapist.
If use of insurance is necessary, I am considered an "out of network" provider, meaning you would pay directly and receive reimbursement from your respective insurance company (please check with your insurance company for their guidelines). I will provide a "super-bill" containing all the required information for you to submit your claim directly to your insurance.
What is your professional training and experience?
Chris Wilder has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in counseling from the University of North Texas. UNT is CACCREP accredited and is one of the few nationally ranked counseling programs in the state of Texas. He has been a licensed professional counselor in a variety of settings since 1991, including couples and individuals that experience anxiety, depression, impostor syndrome, and stressful life events.
How much does therapy cost?
Below are the rates for each of our clinicians, which are payable on the date of the service provided:
Chris Wilder, PhD, LPC-S: $140/session
What is the no surprises act?
Under the federal No Surprises Act you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have certain types of health care coverage or who are not using certain types of health care coverage an estimate of their bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any health care items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 3 business days in advance, make sure your healthcare provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 10 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after scheduling. You can also ask any health care provider or facility for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you do, make sure the health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after you ask. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate and the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visitwww.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-985-3059.