Frequently Asked Questions
Finding the right therapist is an important decision. Below are answers to the questions I'm asked most often by prospective and current clients. If you don't find what you're looking for, please call 720-220-5770 or email rachael.stclaire@hush.com.
About My Practice
Who do you work with?
I provide psychotherapy for adults across the lifespan, from emerging adults through older adulthood. People come to me for anxiety, OCD and intrusive thoughts, depression and mood disorders, chronic worry and rumination, adjustment to chronic illness, sleep problems tied to anxiety or mood, and the longstanding patterns in relationships and self-worth that keep these difficulties returning. All sessions are by secure video throughout Colorado.
Do you offer in-person sessions?
No. All sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video telehealth. This allows me to serve clients throughout Colorado regardless of location. You'll need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a stable internet connection and a private space for your session.
What are your available days and hours?
Appointments are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. To check current availability or request a consultation, call 720-220-5770 or email rachael.stclaire@hush.com.
What makes your approach different from other therapists?
My work is grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy: understanding the emotional and relational patterns beneath symptoms, within an honest, trusting relationship that develops over time. A diagnosis describes symptoms but rarely explains them. I am also trained in ACT, CBT, exposure and response prevention, DBT, and mindfulness, and I teach those skills when they will help. Insight and skills work together.
Do you see clients outside Colorado?
Not at present. I am licensed in Colorado and see clients who are physically located in Colorado at the time of each session. I do not currently participate in PSYPACT, the interstate agreement that allows telehealth across state lines.
Do you write letters or complete forms?
Some. I complete FMLA paperwork when there is a medically necessary reason for time away from work. I do not perform disability evaluations, provide emotional support animal assessments or letters, or provide evaluations or letters for gender-affirming medical care or surgery. I do provide psychotherapy for people with gender identity concerns, and I am glad to refer you to clinicians who perform those evaluations.
Therapy Approaches
What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy rests on a simple observation: much of how we feel, think, and relate to others was learned early, often to protect ourselves, and operates largely outside awareness. These patterns show up in the present, in love, family, and work, and in the therapy relationship itself, where they can be noticed and understood together. The aim is not only to feel better now but to understand what keeps a difficulty returning, so that change holds. Sessions are conversational rather than scripted, and we follow what matters most to you.
What is the difference between ACT and CBT?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that maintain distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) takes a different approach: rather than trying to change difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT helps you develop a more flexible relationship with them while moving toward a values-driven life. Both are evidence-based and effective. I draw on both, choosing the strategies that fit your situation.
What is ERP and how does it help with OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. In a safe, gradual manner, you're guided to face feared thoughts, images, or situations while resisting the urge to perform compulsive rituals. Over time, this retrains your brain to tolerate uncertainty and significantly reduces the anxiety that drives obsessive-compulsive cycles. ERP has the strongest research support of any therapy for OCD.
Can therapy help with health anxiety and chronic illness?
Yes. I specialize in the psychological adjustment to chronic illness, including health anxiety, emotional exhaustion, identity shifts due to illness, and managing medical uncertainty. I have extensive experience working with individuals facing autoimmune disorders, organ transplantation, cancer, and other serious medical conditions. Therapy can help you manage the emotional impact of illness while building resilience and maintaining quality of life.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what we are working on. Some people come for a few months around a specific problem and leave when it has eased. When the goal is to change longstanding patterns in relationships or in how we treat ourselves, the work usually takes longer, because those patterns took years to form and reveal themselves gradually. I give an estimate when I can, and we revisit it together as we go. You are free to end therapy at any time.
I’ve been in therapy before and it didn’t help. Is this different?
Many people I work with have had therapy before. They may have learned useful skills or received a diagnosis and still found that the same difficulties returned. That is a common experience when the focus stays on managing symptoms without understanding what keeps producing them. Psychodynamic work goes after that question directly, while still making use of practical skills when they help. Whether it is the right fit for you is something we can talk through in the consultation.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. I am a psychologist, not a physician or psychiatrist, so I do not prescribe. If medication is worth considering, I can discuss it with you and, with your written consent, coordinate with your physician or a psychiatrist.
Insurance and Fees
What insurance do you accept?
I am in network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage, and United Healthcare. If I am in network with your plan, you pay your plan’s copayment or coinsurance. If I am not, you pay the self-pay rate and I provide a superbill you can submit for any out-of-network reimbursement your plan offers. Couples sessions are covered only when they are part of treating one partner’s diagnosed condition; see the Appointments page.
Do I need a diagnosis?
If you use insurance, yes. Insurers require a diagnosis and a finding of medical necessity to pay for psychotherapy, and the diagnosis becomes part of your health record. If you pay out of pocket and do not seek reimbursement, no diagnosis is required. We can discuss which arrangement suits you.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
Under the federal No Surprises Act, clients who are uninsured or who choose not to use insurance have the right to a written estimate of expected costs before services begin. I provide this Good Faith Estimate at intake and update it if the plan for treatment changes. Ask if you would like one at any time.
How much does therapy cost without insurance?
Self-pay rates are:
Diagnostic evaluation: $250
Individual psychotherapy: $200 per session
Couples psychotherapy: $200 per session
The 15-minute phone consultation is free. For self-pay and out-of-network clients in twice-weekly psychodynamic psychotherapy, the fee is $75 per session. I accept HSA and FSA cards and provide statements for out-of-network reimbursement.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation before we begin working together. This gives us both an opportunity to discuss your concerns, ask questions, and determine whether we're a good fit — before you commit any time or resources.
Do you offer twice-weekly psychotherapy?
Yes. Longer-term psychodynamic work often deepens at twice-weekly frequency, and whether it fits your situation is something we decide together in consultation. Details, including the reduced fee and reserved-time policy, are on the Appointments page.
Getting Started
How do I schedule my first appointment?
Call me at 720-220-5770 or email rachael.stclaire@hush.com to request a consultation. After our initial phone consultation, we'll schedule a full Initial Assessment session and I'll provide you with access to the secure Client Portal.
What happens in the first session?
The first full session is a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. We'll review practice policies and consent forms, discuss your reasons for seeking therapy, and begin to understand the nature and history of your concerns. Over the first one to three sessions, I'll gather relevant clinical information, assess symptoms, and collaboratively develop a personalized treatment plan.
What is your cancellation policy?
Appointments must be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance by phone, email, or through the Client Portal. A $50 fee applies for late cancellations and no-shows; for twice-weekly clients, the fee is $75.