Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

*Offering confidential and secure online video appointments anywhere in Texas as well as offering face-to-face appointments at our office.  

What is your reservation policy?

Our services are available by appointment only. Upon booking your first appointment, you will be asked to provide credit card information to guarantee the reservation. If you prefer, you can use a different method of payment at the time of your first appointment.

How to schedule an appointment? 

The best way to set up an appointment is to set up a free 15-minute call.

To set up a free 15-minute call, please click on “Let’s Talk” and fill out the form. We’ll call you during the time-frame that you have requested on this form. Dr. V will help answer questions about his services and therapy in general. This free 15-minute call does not establish a therapist-client/patient relationship as this is not counseling and/or life coaching.

If we mutually find that our services work well for you, we’ll schedule a time to have an intake/initial appointment. You’ll get a link to fill out intake forms using our secure client portal. You can create a free account on our secure EMR (Electronic Medical Record) system. This will allow you free access to your client portal.

Please fill out the intake forms online using the client portal prior to your first appointment. Your information will be safe and secure. We take your data security seriously, so we collaborated with a very reputable EMR (Electronic Medical Record-System). They encrypt all your information by HIPAA standards, and they are HIPAA compliant.

If you schedule your appointment online, our office will send you a confirmation email if the time works for us.

During the first few sessions, Dr. V will assess your symptoms, needs, past history etc. to determine an appropriate treatment approach.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards.

How long do your sessions last?

Our initial assessment lasts for 90 minutes, and follow-up sessions are 75 minutes each. We have a 3-hour long intensive life-coaching available as well.

What is your cancellation and no-show policy?

Once we schedule your appointment, we hold that time specifically for you. Please call us at least 2 business days before your scheduled appointment if you need to cancel.  For example, if your appointment is on Monday at 5 pm, please call us at (832) 549-2067 no later than the previous Thursday at 5 pm to cancel.  The earlier you let us know, the more likely we can offer your scheduled appointment time to another client in need and also you may possibly avoid any late or no-show charges. If you do not give two business days notice, you will be responsible for paying late cancel fees.  Unfortunately, no insurance company reimburses for this.

What is your privacy policy?

Feelings Counseling & Coaching Services, PLLC takes your privacy seriously. All information disclosed within sessions and the written records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and may not be revealed to anyone without your written permission except where disclosure is required by law. We follow HIPAA guidelines and provide our privacy policy upon request.

What is your privacy policy regarding persons under eighteen years of age?

Both parent(s)/ guardian(s) are required to give consent in order for a child to be in therapy, even if the parents are divorced and/or separated. As a psychotherapist invested in maintaining neutrality, Dr. V is not in the position of conducting custody evaluations. As parent(s) and guardian(s), you are the most important people in your child’s life and it is necessary for you to be a partner in your child’s therapy. However, it may be difficult for a child, particularly an adolescent, to have a working relationship with any therapist if he or she feels that what they say in therapy will always be shared with their parents. Therefore, it is important at the onset of therapy that we establish how much information will be shared.

What is your return policy?

All services are not subject to refunds. Our services are not a replacement for medical care by your physician. Results may vary based on a variety of factors.

Do you offer couples/marriage counseling and/or online counseling?

We do not offer couples/marriage counseling.  We do offer a course for couples.

I am currently offering HIPAA-compliant, confidential, safe, secure and user-friendly Telehealth/remote/online sessions. 

We do not offer court-ordered anger management classes. We are not accepting any clients for Neurofeedback therapy and group therapy. Our services are not geared towards Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

How can I get quick answers to my questions?

If you’d like quick answers, check out Dr. V’s chatbot. Simply click the chat button in the bottom-right corner to get instant responses. The chatbot is personally programmed by Dr. V himself, so the answers come directly from him, providing you with immediate information.

How do I know if a therapist is trustworthy and credible? 

When selecting a therapist, one reliable indicator of credibility is their professional affiliations. Therapists who are members of respected organizations, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) or the American Counseling Association (ACA), follow strict ethical guidelines and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing education. These memberships are a strong indicator of a therapist’s commitment to high ethical and professional standards. For example, I’ve been a member of such organizations for over 15 years, demonstrating my commitment to staying current in the field and providing ethical, high-quality care. Checking licensure and professional experience are also key steps in verifying a therapist’s qualifications.

Should I trust online reviews when choosing a therapist? 

While it may seem natural to leave a review for a therapist just as you would for a product on Amazon, it’s important to remember that the therapeutic relationship is different. When you buy a product, your review is just about that item. However, when you review a therapist, you may be sharing personal experiences from therapy that are typically confidential. Once you post something online, anyone can see it. It’s important to know that therapist-client relationships are confidential, and public reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp are not protected by confidentiality. That’s why I always take the time to educate my clients on the pros and cons of leaving public reviews. Unlike some practices that might encourage friends, family, colleagues, or even visitors to leave reviews, my approach is to let genuine, unsolicited feedback speak for itself. For more private feedback, I offer confidential client satisfaction surveys, and I also receive personal notes of appreciation. You can see some anonymous notes of appreciation on our homepage. These more private reflections mean a lot to me and represent the trust my clients place in me.

What should I know about confidentiality when finding a therapist? 

At our practice, protecting your privacy and confidentiality is a top priority. We adhere to the highest standards, including full HIPAA compliance, to ensure your information is always secure:

Confidential 15-Minute Phone Consultations: When you schedule a free 15-minute phone call through our website, your privacy is guaranteed. We use a HIPAA-compliant platform, meaning all the information you provide is securely encrypted from the very beginning, ensuring full confidentiality.

Secure Information Gathering: Unlike some practices that use basic “Contact Us” forms, we utilize a HIPAA-compliant system to securely gather and store your details. Your personal information, such as your name, phone number, and any concerns you share, is encrypted and fully protected.

HIPAA-Compliant Communication: We offer a range of HIPAA-compliant services to keep your communication safe and confidential:

• Phone Services: You can leave us a voice message, knowing that it’s securely stored in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Fax Services: Any confidential information sent via fax is also protected by HIPAA standards, ensuring that it remains secure throughout the process.
• EMR (Electronic Medical Records) Software: Your information is securely stored in a HIPAA-compliant EMR system, safeguarding your confidential records. Additionally, you can securely communicate with us via our client portal or through encrypted emails within the EMR system.

Our commitment to confidentiality means that every aspect of your interaction with us is protected, so you can feel confident in the security of your information at all times.

How Do I Find a Therapist in Sugar Land: Your Guide to Counseling and Mental Health Services

What kind of insurance do you accept?

We do not accept any insurance; however, you may be eligible for out-of-network reimbursement. We can provide you with a superbill which is a specialized invoice. The claim can be submitted to the insurance company along with the superbill to request reimbursement. You will need to call your insurance company to determine your mental health service benefits. Some helpful questions you can ask your insurance company:

• How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
• What is my out-of-network deductible and has it been met?
• What is my out-of-network annual out-of-pocket cap?
• Do I have to have a “parity” (i.e., severe) diagnosis, to qualify for benefits?
• How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover for parity, or non-parity, diagnosis?
• Is approval or a referral required from my primary care physician?
• Do I need to obtain pre-authorization?
• Are my benefits on a calendar year basis, or a plan year? If on a plan year, when does it start?

Why should I use an out-of-network provider?

We have stopped accepting insurance because many of our clients do not want their mental disorder diagnosis to possibly become a part of a national medical information data bank which may happen while seeking reimbursement from insurance companies.

Using an out-of-network provider provides you with flexibility to receive the best clinical care possible without interference from your insurance company. Client’s needs are put first, rather than the insurance company limiting the number of appointments.  The frequency and duration (length) of therapy appointments with an out-of-network provider can occur as necessary to support the individualized treatment plan of a client.

When using your medical insurance, you must be given a mental disorder diagnosis. This diagnosis will become part of your medical records which can cause problems later when you might be asked, “Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?” on a job application or when applying for life insurance or health insurance.  This is one of the reasons that we do not take health insurance as reimbursement.

 We take utmost care to protect your privacy. When a client does not seek reimbursement from an insurance company, the client’s chart is completely confidential and will never be released without permission or legal basis.

However, if you want to try to get reimbursed by your commercial insurance company, then Dr. V can help provide you with a superbill, which is a specialized invoice that includes your diagnosis, that you can submit to your insurance company. Many clients who do choose to seek reimbursement through the use of a superbill often find that the process is rather simple and the benefits are higher than assumed.

Appointments can be scheduled by clicking on “Feel light and free now” without waiting for a primary care physician’s referral and approval from the insurance company.

Please note that insurance companies will not reimburse for coaching services and workshops.

How do I get reimbursed by my insurance company?

Submit your receipt / superbill which shows that you have paid in full along with all necessary diagnostic and procedural codes and your insurance company’s claim form to the address indicated by your insurance provider. The insurance company will make payment according to their policies and procedures.

The amount they reimburse you will vary from plan to plan and is typically based on the percentage of out-of-network coverage authorized by your plan. This assumes that you have met your out-of-network deductible and have obtained any necessary prior authorizations.

You can download an app called Reimbursify. This app may help you get reimbursed by your insurance.

What billing codes are used?:

The following are commonly used codes to bill for psychotherapy services. If you are going to call your insurance company to inquire about reimbursement, please take note of the codes listed below in bold.

Initial diagnostic evaluation

90791: Therapy Intake / Initial Assessment

Psychotherapy code

90837: 60 minutes Psychotherapy with patient and/or family member

Do you offer any internship opportunities at your practice?

We do not offer any internship opportunities at our practice.

Contacting us

Call the office Monday – Friday, 11 AM – 7 PM & Saturday, 11 AM-2 PM at 832.549.2067 and select option 6 to leave a secure voice message for Dr. V.  We typically return phone calls withing 24 business hours. Our services are available by appointment only.

If you need to contact Anand Vyas, Ph.D., NCC, LPC between sessions, please leave a secure message at 832.549.2067 (select option 6) and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Anand Vyas, Ph.D., NCC, LPC checks his voice messages a few times during the daytime only.

If you need to reschedule your appointment, then please call 832.549.2067 and press 2.

Please do not use email to share any confidential health information. If you are a current client, you can use the client portal to securely send us a message.

*We do not provide 24-hour crisis coverage. Should you experience an emergency necessitating immediate mental health attention, you should immediately call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room for assistance. Please do not use email for emergencies. 

*If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone right away, call Harris Center Crisis Helpline at (713) 970-7000 or Crisis Intervention Houston at (832) 416-1177. If you’re not in immediate danger but would like someone to speak with, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-8255.