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 uses a HIPAA-compliant system called Spruce Health to conduct phone sessions. Clients can download the Spruce Health app on their phone or computer at no cost while receiving services from MSMC. If clients prefer not to download the app or use its additional features, they can simply call their counselor’s Spruce phone number like a regular phone call and still access the HIPAA-compliant phone system.

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 sessions allow for better continuity because clients can easily engage in counseling from virtually anywhere. Second, the anonymity of phone 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, Cigna, Optum/UHC, and Quest Behavioral Health for clients located in Wisconsin.

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

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

Signing up for clinical counseling is easy! You can reach out through our contact page here. 

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 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 suit every situation. If you experience suicidal thoughts, face any urgent threat to your life or health, or actively use substances, we strongly recommend that you seek in-person counseling or contact emergency services immediately.

Clinical counseling and pastoral counseling share many similarities, and you will have a comparable experience as a client. The biggest difference lies in their focus: pastoral counseling emphasizes deepening your relationship with God as the Healer and Giver of Life, and aligning your actions and relationships with the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and its traditions. Pastoral counseling seeks mental health and well-being through living a virtuous life, rather than focusing on mental illness and diagnosis.

While MSMC’s clinical counseling also incorporates these faith-based elements, secular clinical counseling rarely uses this approach.

By offering pastoral counseling, MSMC provides an authentically Catholic approach to mental health and well-being worldwide, without the constraints of state licensure. This is why MSMC offers clinical counseling only in Wisconsin but provides pastoral counseling globally. Together, these two approaches advance MSMC’s ultimate goal: making Catholic counseling and access to Catholic therapists available to people around the world.