Clinical Counseling

Telecounseling refers to providing health care services—particularly mental health care—through electronic means. It offers clients a secure and convenient way to receive clinical counseling services.

MSMC offers video sessions through SimplePractice’s HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform. MSMC also utilizes a HIPAA-compliant system, Spruce Health, to conduct phone sessions. Clients may download the Spruce Health application on their phone or computer, or access it via a web browser without downloading an app, at no cost while receiving services from MSMC.

Studies show that telecounseling can be just as effective—and in some cases, more effective—than traditional face-to-face counseling. Although you don’t meet your counselor in person and may miss nonverbal cues like body language and facial expressions, our experience demonstrates three key reasons why telecounseling remains highly effective, if not more so.

Three Reasons for Effectiveness

First, phone and video sessions allow for better continuity because clients can easily engage in counseling from virtually anywhere. Second, the anonymity of phone and video conversations and the comfort of being in one’s own environment often encourage greater openness, which can lead to faster progress than in-person counseling. Third, telecounseling makes it easier to connect with a professional who shares your faith beliefs, regardless of location, giving you access to the right support without the barrier of distance.

MSMC currently accepts commercial insurance plans from Aetna, Anthem BCBS (Wisconsin), Carelon Behavioral Health (Mississippi), Cigna, and Quest Behavioral Health for clients located in Wisconsin and Mississippi. For more information about payment options and using insurance for counseling, please see Insurance & Payment Information.

Important: At this time, our practice does not participate in Medicare or Medicaid insurance plans and is unable to accept clients seeking counseling services through these programs.

Yes. Although MSMC is not in-network with certain insurance plans, you can use your out-of-network benefits for clinical counseling in Wisconsin and Mississippi. Your counselor will provide a superbill upon request, which you can submit to your insurance to access those benefits. 

For more information about payment options, please see Insurance & Payment Information.

Please note: You are responsible for submitting claims for out-of-network benefits, as MSMC does not handle this process.

Important: At this time, our practice does not participate in Medicare or Medicaid insurance plans and is unable to accept clients seeking counseling services through these programs.

Signing up for clinical counseling is easy! You can reach out through our contact page here. You can also email or call us to schedule a session. 

Once you submit your request, MSMC will respond within 2–3 business days with instructions on how to set up a free 15-minute consultation. If you’re ready to schedule your first session, we’ll also share available session times. This initial response will include details about intake forms, payment, and insurance.

After your first session, your counselor will work with you directly to schedule follow-up sessions.

We require at least 24 hours’ notice to reschedule or cancel a session. While we make exceptions for emergencies, we charge the full session fee for all other late reschedules or cancellations. We set aside that time specifically for you, and holding your appointment prevents another person in need of counseling from using that time.

We require a debit or credit card on file to ensure payment for services. You can provide your payment information via email, over the phone, or through MSMC’s electronic health record (EHR) system.

MSMC uses SimplePractice, which sends a secure link to your email so you can enter your payment information safely. If you’re using insurance, Headway, our credentialing service, also offers a secure way to collect your insurance and payment details.

SimplePractice (or Headway, if you’re using insurance) automatically bills sessions after they take place.

Attending a session is easy! All you need is a phone or computer and an internet connection.

Your counselor will give you their work phone number before your first session, and you’ll use that same number for all future sessions. At the time of your scheduled session, you can simply call your counselor. If you’re having a video session, our EHR system, SimplePractice, will send a link to your email before the session begins.

You can attend a session from anywhere with a clear, consistent phone or internet signal, but we recommend choosing a quiet, peaceful, and private space in your home where you can focus without distractions. Headphones may help improve your experience, but they aren’t required.

MSMC uses HIPAA-compliant platforms to deliver services, which protect your privacy and confidentiality on our end.

However, your environment also plays an important role in telecounseling. While your counselor will join the session from a private, confidential space, we recommend that you do the same by choosing a quiet, comfortable, and private location to ensure your own privacy and confidentiality during sessions.

Telecounseling may not be appropriate for every situation. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, are facing an urgent threat to your life or health, are actively using substances, or require a level of care beyond what telecounseling can safely provide, we strongly recommend seeking in-person counseling with a licensed provider or contacting local emergency services immediately.

Clinical counseling shares many similarities across professional settings, and clients can expect the same standards of competence, confidentiality, and evidence-based care found in secular mental health practices. The distinction at MSMC lies not in the clinical methods themselves, but in the guiding framework that informs how care is understood and delivered.

Clinical counseling is a licensed mental health service that involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions using established, evidence-based therapeutic approaches. At MSMC, these services are provided fully in accordance with state licensure requirements and professional ethical standards.

What sets MSMC’s clinical counseling apart is its integration of a Catholic understanding of the human person within the therapeutic process. While treatment planning, diagnosis, and clinical interventions remain grounded in best practices in mental health care, counseling is approached with an appreciation for the whole person—psychological, emotional, relational, and moral—rather than viewing symptoms in isolation.

Because clinical counseling is regulated by state licensure, MSMC provides these services exclusively to clients located in Wisconsin and Mississippi. Within this framework, MSMC offers professional clinical care that is both clinically sound and meaningfully integrated with its mission, providing an alternative for individuals seeking mental health treatment that aligns with their values while remaining fully clinical in scope.