Life Tree Counseling FAQ's

Since 1992, Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) specializes in addressing a wide range of issues and concerns which may be affecting you as an individual, couple or family. Some of the many concerns we address include depression, anxiety, phobias, self-esteem, relationship conflict, family conflict, work stress, grief/loss, academic problems, addiction, meaninglessness, divorce, and eating disorders.

We provide individual adult, adolescent, and child counseling as well as couples, family and group counseling and play therapy. Our counselors are caring, experienced individuals who have had many years of specialized training and are licensed by the State of Texas in professional counseling, psychology, or social work.

The counselors at Life Tree Counseling Center each have their own individual style of counseling, which you can discuss with them individually as well refer to their counselor page. With that in mind, we all adhere to some of the same core values in the counseling process.

While we will work with children and families with this issue we will not participate in letter writing or any other activity intended to further the transitioning process. 

Per Texas law, Family Code 261 and a legal opinion issued by the Office of Attorney General (OAG) in Feb of 2022, the practice of GAC, specifically  for the under 18 demographic, meets the definition of "child abuse", including the writing of letters intended to greenlight any additional procedures. No one on our staff participates in any aspect of the gender affirming care movement including the writing of treatment letters.

Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) utilizes a confidential, password protected, main voice mail system. To schedule your first appointment, please call 972.234.6634, extension 2. Please leave all the requested information on this extension. Leave only the phone number(s) at which you wish to be contacted. Please indicate if a we can leave a voice mail message. Your call will be returned promptly, usually the same business day you call, from 8am - 5pm, Monday through Saturday, by a licensed counselor. All calls left after 5pm will be returned the next business morning. Our office hours are Monday through Saturday, 8am - 6pm. When your call is returned, we will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns, appointment time preferences, and which clinician may be the best fit for you.

Yes! Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) gives you the option for online scheduling. You may either do this directly from the Home Page drop down Scheduling Tab, or from the Counselor Page. We use an outside vendor (called Full Slate) for this  type of convenient service. By scheduling in this manner, you are giving LTCC permission to contact you via phone and/or email correspondence by the  phone number and email address that you give to us, when you register.

If you do NOT want this option, due to concerns of confidentiality, please do NOT use the online scheduling. Instead, LTCC encourages you to call us at 972.234.6634 and  leave a message directly on  your counselor's voice mail extension. Your call will be returned, usually within the same business day.

In order to better serve you, we accept all insurance plans. All Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) clinicians are on most major insurance panels. LTCC will also file your claims to your insurance carrier for you . You will need to review your specific deductible and copay designated by your insurance. Some insurance companies REQUIRE a certification code or a pre-authorization number. After you make your first appointment with your provider, you will need to call your insurance company. The phone number will be on your insurance card, usually on the back. It will be helpful for you to obtain what is called a certification code or a pre-authorization number, PRIOR to your first appointment. Simply bring this authorization to your first appointment. Failure to do so may result in a full charge fee.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Even though you obtain a pre-authorization code, you will need to fulfill any calendar year deductible that applies to your policy. Deductible plans start either at the beginning of each calendar year, OR a "contract" year. LTCC will call to verify benefits and confirm what you already may know about your insurance. It always helps to be an educated consumer of your benefits. LTCC will help you with this too as we have been doing this since 1992 and can help you use your insurance benefits.

Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) is on most EAP plans. If you are unsure as to whether you have this type of benefit, you can ask your Human Resources Department with your employer. Your Employee Assistance Program REQUIRES you to call and talk to one of their intake coordinators. An authorization number, along with the number of approved sessions will be generated while you are on the phone. Once the call is completed, the EAP Intake Coordinator will call our office, usually the same day, to let us know that you will be calling to schedule your first EAP appointment. The EAP also will send by either mail or fax, the necessary paperwork.

You may encounter some additional paperwork at your initial session that is required by your Employee Assistance Program. It will be a good idea to arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time to complete the initial intake.

Yes, Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) does utilize a self-pay option plan to those who either do not want to utilize insurance benefits OR need to pay out of pocket for services that are not covered by the insurance. The self-pay option is $150. Each session at Life Tree is 45 minutes in length.

When you come into our office you will see a wall of clipboards hanging on the wall. Please take one and begin filling out the LTCC Intake Packet. You will need to present both your driver's license and insurance card at your first appointment. Your therapist will copy these for our billing records. Both EAP and insurance programs require these 2 forms of identification.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes early in order to fill out the intake paperwork. This will give you time to read the paperwork in full so that you will have a better understanding of the therapeutic process and other protocol. Your session is 45 minutes in length.

Once all of the intake packet is completed you will spend the remaining time with your therapist reviewing the areas of concern.

The therapist, using her clinical training skills, will make observations about your situation, as well as give suggestions/homework assignments for new ways to handle them. It will be important for you to explore your own feelings and thoughts and to try new approaches in order for change to occur.

Please be mindful that if you arrive late, your appointment will still end within the appointment hour that you have reserved. At the conclusion of the first appointment, insurance co-payment is due at the time the service is rendered.

LTCC accepts, cash, personal checks, MasterCard, Visa, Discover and most Health Savings Account cards.

Yes. If you would like to utilize this option, you may download our initial intake packet from our website. Once you schedule your appointment and the authorization is in place, please call your counselor and she will give you the necessary codes to access the intake forms.

Life happens... and Life Tree Counseling Center (LTCC) certainly understands that some things are unavoidable. Please be mindful, though, that your therapy time is reserved for you. LTCC asks as a courtesy, that you respectfully call to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance.

Each therapist can often fill the time slot if enough time is given. If the 24-hour notice is not given, YOU will be charged a customary "no show/no call" fee of $75 for the missed appointment. Unfortunately, neither your insurance company nor employee assistance program reimburse the provider for the missed session.

Life Tree staff will not fill out paperwork for FMLA, Short -Term Disability, Long - Term Disability, Workman’s Compensation claims, nor do we write letters for Emotional Support Animal requests. This paperwork requires a medical diagnosis and these types of requests should be filled out specifically by your medical doctor.

EAP and insurance do not cover this type of written report preparation. If you do ask us to do this, whether it be from your STD or other entity, we bill our standard report preparation fee $125 per hour., in advance. There is a 2 hour minimum.

• LTCC does not perform home studies, nor is considered an "expert witness".
• We perform supportive counseling to our client (child) to manage transitions, only. We are not pawns of the legal system.
• Payment is due at the time of service. No billing to a third party other than insurance (e.g.: spouse) will be done.
• Both parents will need to sign off on the authorization of treatment. We encourage parents to be involved during the session time. (ie: 40 minutes for child, and 5-10 for parental supportive measures).
• Email or texting is not a consult nor will we respond to that type of correspondence. Session time only.
• Both would get any/all copies of the records should they need them for their personal attorney. This is free of charge to the parent. The parent would just need to pick up at the office. Whatever they do with the documents is up to them.
• Attorneys and any other outside entities who request anything or want to talk, would be charged $325...for any/all records, per occurrence.
• We require proper releases, including time responses, as per Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 611.
• Testifying in court would be pre-paid and non refundable at $1500. Anything after three hours ($1500) is charged $325 per hour. (Including travel and sitting time)

• Attorneys and any other outside entities who request anything or want to talk, would be charged $325...for any/all records, per occurrence.
• We require proper releases, including time responses, as per Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 611.
• Testifying in court would be pre-paid and non refundable at $1500. Anything after three hours ($1500) is charged $325 per hour. (Including travel and sitting time)