FAQ

I provide online therapy called telehealth, teletherapy, or remote therapy. Yes! I’m licensed in Tennessee and can provide therapy services to anyone throughout Tennessee via telehealth. You only need to designate a time and space for therapy, and we will take care of the rest.

For telehealth sessions, we meet on Google Meet or Doxy, both HIPAA-compliant meeting platforms, while you relax in the comfort of your home or office. Many clients find that teletherapy is their preferred way of working together since they don’t have to spend extra time and energy out of their day driving to an office.

Yes. You can begin with a brief 15-minute, no-cost phone consultation or a comprehensive virtual initial consultation. Both focus on understanding who you are and providing the foundation for your healing journey.

The comprehensive virtual initial consultation provides a wealth of information about what has brought you to therapy, its root causes and ramifications, and ways to cope as you find real solutions to alleviate symptoms. I will collaborate with you to find the best evidence-based approach that fits you to help you achieve actual results and deep healing that lasts. This is when we ensure we are a good fit to move forward in scheduling the evaluation session.

The goal of the evaluation session is to start building a therapeutic relationship and get important information to help me better understand who you are, understand your health concerns and treatment needs, and answer any questions you may have.

I will then provide you with a wealth of information about what you are going through, its root causes and ramifications, and coping skills. I’ll also provide you with confidentiality, policies, and treatment information.

Together, we will set initial goals to help you progress. Your treatment will be tailored to best fit your health concerns and therapeutic goals. This will help provide the foundation for your treatment and subsequent sessions.

The first therapy session is when we can begin problem-solving and treatment planning.

All sessions will start with establishing an agenda. This will ensure we discuss important information and are utilizing our time efficiently.

During the mood check-in, we will discuss how you felt most of the week. The mood check-ins will also help us objectively track how you are doing and your progress as treatment continues.

You can also expect the freedom to share any significant information that impacted your mood or has come up. This discussion allows us to pick up on patterns related to your specific problems, how they may have developed, and how they are maintained. This interaction creates a focus for the session and allows the framework to practice new skills and move toward healing.

I help women who struggle with anxious thoughts, depressive moods, burnout, and relentless self-criticism that make their lives unbearable.

Using a holistic framework, we develop the connection between your mind and body to cultivate a deeper understanding of your mental health. We uncover unconscious behaviors and thought processes to restore balance and alleviate their symptoms, allowing you to feel grounded. Through our work, we build resilience and tools to manage stress while focusing on the important things, so they enjoy a peaceful and fulfilling life.

I help the mothers of daughters between the ages of 12-18 struggling with communication, conflict, and connection in their relationship. Using a holistic framework, we explore their needs beneath the communication and uncover the harmful patterns and belief systems that harm their relationship and lead to conflict. Through our work together, they learn empowering and healing communication while managing their expectations toward one another and strengthening their mother-daughter bond.

I also offer group therapy for teen girls. Year-round group therapy is available to middle and high school girls. This eight-week group will use creative journaling exercises, mindfulness, and drama (the good kind!) to explore such topics as:

• Building and maintaining healthy friendships
• Exploring the roles anxiety, depression, fear, perfectionism, and shame play in our lives
• Increasing feelings of acceptance and worthiness
• Identifying and practicing healthy ways to cope with unpleasant/unwanted feelings

You can e-mail me at shemika.hullom@tricounselingtn.com or call me at (901) 281-7169.

Therapy sessions are 45-55 minutes in length. The number of sessions depends primarily on the issue presented.

Some clients schedule multiple times per week, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Most commonly, we will meet weekly unless otherwise discussed.

I’m an out-of-network provider to cut back time spent filing claims, making phone calls, and dealing with administrative busy-work. This time allows me to focus my full time and energy on clients and becoming a better therapist through professional development, such as additional courses, training, and being aware of the most up-to-date evidence-based research.

I can provide a statement with all necessary billing and payment information that you can submit to your insurance carrier. Please call your insurance company (phone number on the back of the insurance card) before your first appointment and request further information regarding your out-of-network benefits.

Here are some helpful questions to ask your insurance company:

• I’m seeking out-of-network services with Shemika Hullom MS, LPC-MHSP, NCC. What is the percentage of reimbursable provider fees?
• Is there a deductible?
• How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
• What information do I need to submit to receive out-of-network reimbursement?
• What address do I send the information to?
• Are there any time limitations regarding filing my claims?

For further information, please review this link from Mental Health America.

If you are paying privately or using “Out of Network” benefits for your therapy, I will provide you with a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your care will cost. Under the federal “No Surprises Act,” healthcare providers must give patients who don’t have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of non-emergency services. You will be given a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your first appointment. You can dispute the bill if you receive at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

No Surprises Act/ Good Faith Estimate
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to protect patients from surprise bills for emergency services at out-of-network facilities or out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, holding them liable only for in-network cost-sharing amounts. The No Surprises Act also enables uninsured patients to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of care.

Billing Disclosures – Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

You are protected from surprise billing or balance billing when you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or must pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a healthcare facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may bill you for the difference between your plan’s agreement and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care–like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly. Your health plan generally must:

Cover emergency services without requiring approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

Count any amount you pay for emergency or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact: The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.

Good Faith Estimate

You can receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

As required by the law, a Good Faith Estimate will be issued upon your request and upon scheduling. Please note that mental health treatment is highly individualized and dependent on many factors, such as:

• Your specific needs and goals
• Your schedule
• Therapist availability
• Ongoing life challenges
• Clinical Needs
• Personal finances

Participating in therapy is an investment in your health/ well-being. You may attend therapy for many reasons, including problem resolution, maintenance, or growth-oriented work. While our therapists can make professional recommendations regarding the frequency and length of therapy, you have the right to self-determination, which may end at any time. It should also be noted that life circumstances such as crises, illness, vacations, and cancellations may impact the frequency/ duration of therapy. This is generally a collaborative process discussed in treatment as the ongoing nature of your needs changes. A new Good Faith Estimate may be provided if your circumstances change notably.

Under the law, healthcare providers must give patients who don’t have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

Make sure your healthcare provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider and any other provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

If you receive a bill of at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

The length of treatment will vary depending on the nature of your concerns.

Generally speaking, everyone’s circumstances are unique to them, and the length of therapy to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors driving you to seek therapy in the first place.

Typically, you’ll see results from the very first session; after eight sessions of consistent work, you’ll experience a higher level of well-being.

After that, we’ll re-evaluate where we are and decide what to do next.

What downtime? No, seriously, in my downtime, when I’m not an uber driver for my three children, I like catching up on what’s happening in the world via Facebook (LOL).

You will probably catch me reading my favorite book, the Bible, as it keeps me grounded and connected to God’s will for my life. I’ve finally embraced mindfulness, which has helped keep my mind clutter-free. I consider myself very low-maintenance, so watching Christmas movies year-round satisfies me.

• Building and maintaining healthy friendships
• Exploring the role anxiety, depression, fear, perfectionism, and shame play in our lives
• Increasing feelings of acceptance and worthiness
• Identifying and practicing healthy ways to cope with unpleasant/unwanted feelings

If you are experiencing thoughts of actively and immediately hurting yourself, please call 911 or call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline available, or text “talk” to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support.

Typically, if you are struggling with actively self-harming or you have strong suicidal urges, teletherapy will not be the best option for you. In-person therapy will give you more access to your therapist and treatment team and allows you to feel more supported while experiencing more acute behaviors.