How Does Online Therapy Even Work?
Is it like a Zoom Meeting or a Google Meet? Do I have to use Teams for one more hour? Can we talk on the phone or Facetime?
— You, right now.
Kimberly Louvin, LCSW, LSSW
I am an autistic + ADHD (aka AuDHD) cisgender woman who brings my full self to all client interactions and invite you to bring your full self to session as well.
I am an LGBTQIA+ ally, sex-positive, kink-friendly, and neurodiversity affirming in my practice. I have lived experience with open/non-monogamous relationships and desire to show up without judgement to any human seeking support .
If you experience otherwise, please tell me so I can improve.
I have worked with nonprofits, child welfare systems, K-12 schools, colleges/universities, churches, with private individuals, and groups to provide social work services, therapy, and yoga/embodied movement instruction, case management, and consultation.
I am in-network for Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Care Oregon members, work with private insurance companies through Headway, offer out-of-network billing for several companies, and can provide you an itemized receipt (known as a SuperBill for Therapy Services) if you are seeking to utilize your health insurance to pay for services.
I maintain a portion of my caseload for clients paying out of pocket who are seeking sliding scale rates. View my fees page to learn more.
“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.”
― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Specialties and Focus Areas
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Autism & ADHD
Having a brain that operates differently isn’t a problem to be solved, it’s an operating system to be learned. Let’s learn together.
Recently, more of us have begun to discover that our “talented and gifted” nature as a child was actually highly masked neurodivergence.
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Teens & Young Adults
Pro tip: Memes and Tiktok can be great for your mental health, when discussed in therapy.
Having worked with young people for a decade, I have extensive experience supporting teens, young adults, and families/caregivers/loved ones through a variety of experiences.
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Trauma & Anxiety
Anxiety is more than worrying.
Your trauma story is valid whether you remember it, share the details, or only feel the impact.
You deserve to feel a sense of control over your experience.
You deserve support.
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Burnout & Stress
You are a human in an environment that is vying for your attention, money, and heart.
Mitigating stress and preventing burnout is a daily exercise in discipline, self-acceptance, self-awareness, and combatting stubbornness, but it’s worth it.
If constant stress has you feeling helpless, disillusioned, and completely exhausted, you may be on the road to burnout.
The struggle is real.
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Spiritual Evolution
When your perspective or belief system changes, you may experience significant mental and emotional anguish as well as cognitive dissonance between what you have been taught in childhood and what you have learned through research and your own personal exploration.
You may find it difficult to trust others or to trust yourself due to experiencing a religious environment that was toxic and/or a faith leader who had manipulative intent, causing betrayal trauma.
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Yoga & Somatic Movement for Mental Health
Have you been struggling to integrate the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life?
Are you noticing your physical body and nervous system feel consistently “off” or dysregulated?
Stretch your body, dive into your mind, and take a moment to pause and reflect while holding physical postures for 3-7 minutes in a yin / yin restorative yoga class designed to help your mind, body, and soul return to a state where you can feel, heal, and be yourself.
My approach to therapy.
My therapeutic style is trauma-informed and draws from the following: narrative therapy, systems therapy, relational therapy, polyvagal theory, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, solution focused brief therapy, and is emotionally focused and client-centered .
Therapy with me involves me asking you questions, sifting through the answers together, and crafting a toolbox of coping strategies for you to utilize between and outside of our time together to get closer to having the life you want without feeling controlled or consumed by your inner world.
My goal is for you to feel confident in your ability to navigate the waves of life and use our time to check in, vent and receive support, and strategize how to help you continue living a life you desire without your mental health interfering beyond your ability to cope.
I am happy to help you connect to a team and network of support as needed and can consult with other providers if you request. This can look like consulting with medical providers, life coaches, educators, family members/care team, etc.
Technology Supports I Utilize in My Practice
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I utilize Zoom for all virtual sessions with the accessibility features of Live Captions, alternative camera backgrounds, and text-based messaging during sessions.
I utilize these and am open to structuring sessions in manners that increase and facilitate accessibility for folks desiring additional access points to support.
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BluePrint Health is available to all clients to complete regular assessments, keep notes for discussions at future sessions, and track the impact of therapy over time in a data-driven manner.
During the first few sessions, clients collaborate on choosing which check-ins are enabled and measurements are assessed.
For more, check out : https://www.blueprint-health.com/who-we-serve/clients
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Upheal AI allows me to offer higher-quality, more focused therapy sessions where documentation is supported by AI.
This frees me to focus on our work together and offer note summaries to clients if they’d like to receive a brief summary of each session between sessions.
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Simple Practice Electronic Health Record system maintains my documentation and appointment scheduling.
Clients are generally scheduled in series of 6 sessions at the start of our work together. Over time, client can transition to every other week sessions and to monthly sessions or ‘as needed’.
Sessions can be scheduled online and clients can connect via Secure Message between sessions via SimplePractice or Google Voice.
Working with a Neurodivergent (AuDHD) Therapist
You will see me using fidget/sensory/stim tools during session.
These allow me to maintain mindful presence during our time together as my mind and body often needs physical micro movements to focus.
You will see me have my Emotional Support Dog Tailz in session from time to time.
You are welcome to bring your pet, stuffed animals, and other comfort items as desired
Why choose to work with me?
I have worked in K-12 schools, universities, nonprofits, ministry, and with community organizations for over ten years supporting teens, young adults, and families through the transitions of middle and high school and from high school into the next steps of life - higher education, the workforce, or starting a family.
I have worked with teens since before Snapchat and came of age when social media was just beginning, so I incorporate healthy internet use as a part of my practice and am very familiar working with families who are concerned about their teen’s internet use.
I even spent a few years running an after-school program at an elementary school and attempted to coach 6th grade soccer for a VERY brief minute between making slime and serving chicken nuggets.
I love building relationships and helping others feel more in control of their lives, access support beyond me to achieve their goals, and have healthier relationships with themselves and others.
As a School Social Worker, I have worked with anyone interested in talking through something on their mind for a decade. In my private practice, I desire to work with anyone who desires to work with me and we both determine we’re a good match.
I have extensive experience supporting educators and other essential workers experiencing high-stress work environments, burnout, and other workers experiencing systemic oppression through unhealthy labor practices and wages.
If you’ve done therapy in the past and experienced being told that your environment or circumstances shouldn’t impact your mental health so much, know that I will never say that to you. You are a human in an environment that is vying for your attention, money, and heart.
The struggle is real.
I want to help you learn how to navigate things beyond your control.
I am here listen.
We can sort it out together.
I don’t have a magic wand, but I promise to listen, validate your experience, and help you gain new skills to utilize as you ride the waves.
It’s okay not to be okay.
You are human.
Want to discuss how neurodivergence such as Autism or ADHD impacts or shows up your life?
Looking for an Adult Autism Assessment?
I offer assessments virtually alongside therapy services to individuals seeking to explore an Autism Diagnosis. Assessments can be conducted as a standalone service or as a part of ongoing therapy services for established clients.
Autism assessments are conducted over several sessions and can be billed in the same manner as any other therapy services.
Logistical Details of Therapy with Me
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After our initial consultation, Clients schedule an intake appointment directly with Unbroken Circles Therapy.
A secure email will be sent to you with a link for our secure video / phone call on the HIPPA compliant telehealth platform I use.
At the time of our appointment, we will both click or dial into my virtual therapy office.
We will conduct our session and I will take notes on any interventions, recommended resources, or other “homework” that we establish to help you take lessons from therapy into your everyday life.
At the end of each session, we will discuss goals for future appointments, confirm our next appointment, and discuss any questions you have about how things are going, and any changes you’d like to make to our work together.
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First, there's the paperwork and setting up process.
I'll provide information about your rights as a client (including confidentiality), risks and benefits of therapy, policies (including between-sessions communication), and I'll request your written consent to treatment as well as payment information.
We'll discuss your diagnosis you already have (if any) and what it means to you, and I'll ask you some questions about your history. (If at any time you feel uncomfortable answering a question, you have a right to say so and we can skip to the next one. You're in charge.)
The first few times we meet, we will focus on clarifying your situation and the challenges you're experiencing. I'll be listening closely as we discuss ideas, options, and resources, and we'll work together to develop a plan that will outline your goals and preferences.
Then the work begins.
From there, sessions will be individually tailored to match your unique strengths, desires, and clinical needs. (If you're not sure what your goals are at this point, don't worry! That's actually quite common. Sometimes the first goal is simply to figure out what direction you want to take.)
Typically, therapy appointments occur weekly or every two weeks.
When working with children and adolescents, the parent or primary caregiver CAN be involved if this is pre-established during the relationship. Minors under the age of 14 must have an adult present. I do not currently offer mental health services to anyone under 14, but may expand in the future.
In the State of Oregon, minors have a right to consent to mental therapy without parental involvement over the age of 14.
As therapy continues, most of the actual progress happens throughout the week as you reflect upon and practice what we discussed or you learned in session. I will offer you tools and practices to use on your own outside of our time together.
From time to time, we'll take a look back and assess the extent to which therapy is helping to get you where you want to go.
Maybe we'll have cause to celebrate -- or it might provide an opportunity to determine how we can approach things differently to get on a better track.
If at any time during therapy you find something to be unhelpful -- or there's something else you'd like to talk about or a different method to try -- let me know so we can discuss how I can better support you. You are in the driver's seat!
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Clinical services are primarily offered through TeleHealth using the HIPAA-compliant platform of Zoom.
I offer a few in-person spots per week in Gresham, OR. Please inquire if you are interested in this.
Scheduling appointments is completed during our initial consultation and we will confirm our regular appointments and make any changes necessary at the end of each appointment.
Appointments typically look like:
Initial diagnostic interview and pre-assessment: 60-75 minutes, one time
Ongoing appointments are generally 30-75 minutes in length, once per week, at a mutually agreed-upon time. Most clients prefer 45-60 minute appointments, but I offer a variety of appointments to meet the needs of clients.
Cancellations
If you're unable to keep an appointment, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance in order to avoid being billed a no show or late cancellation fee.
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I accept cash, American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa credit and debit cards. FSA and HSA debit cards with the Visa or Mastercard logo are also accepted. Sorry, no checks.
To eliminate the awkwardness of collecting payment after a session, payment information is securely stored electronically, and your account will be charged within 48 hours after each session.
See my Fees page for details on rates for services.
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I accept Oregon Health Plan (OHP) CareOregon and Open Card as an in-network provider.
I work with the following insurance plans for clients in Oregon : Aetna, Cigna, Oxford, United Healthcare, Oscar Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon
I offer SuperBills (aka itemized receipts) to clients seeking to utilize out of network insurance benefits.
See my Rates & Billing Page for more.
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The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was enacted on December 27, 2020, and contains many provisions to help protect consumers from surprise medical bills under what's known as the No Surprises Act. The protections took effect on January 1, 2022, and apply to all healthcare providers in the U.S.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, which includes mental health care.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, which includes mental health care.
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 that is 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/consumers
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A Superbill is a receipt for a session with an out-of-network counselor allowing the patient to submit to their health insurance. A Superbill may be requested by a patient of a mental health professional; psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed social worker, when the patient pays out-of-pocket for the qualified medical expense. Reimbursement will be determined by the individual healthcare policy at the time the claim is received.
A Superbill is a statement of service(s) from a provider. The statement reflects the date(s) of service (DOS), the service code or CPT code, the diagnosis code(s) and the billed amount from the rendering provider, along with their credentials.
For more: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/superbill/
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Clients are welcome to email me through the client portal with updates that we can discuss during our next appointment, but I do not offer reciprocal client communication between sessions.
In the event of a mental health emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 or your local crisis line.
County Crisis Lines Multnomah: 503-988-4888 ; Clackamas : 503-655-8585
Youthline: 877-968-8491 or Text teen2teen to 839863
Lines for Life Suicide Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (Changing to 988 as of July 2022)
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Affirming): 1-866-488-7386
Your privacy is important to me.
I do not share client identity information with anyone outside of our session and will never “out” you to any adults in your life.
I stand firmly in opposition to any legislation (such as this) that endangers the lives and rights of LGBTQIA+ clients and will protect your identity and confidentiality.
Minor consent laws are very important to protect the mental health and rights of teens.
In the State of Oregon, clients 14 and older may seek mental healthcare without parental consent and clients 15 and older may seek medical care without parental consent.
Clients can access birth control and full reproductive care at any age without parental consent in the State of Oregon.
For more detailed information on these laws in the State of Oregon, click here.
In the State of Florida, clients 13 and older may seek up to two clinical mental health appointments in a single week for crisis support without parental consent.
After the initial two appointments, clients in Florida between 13-17 are required to have parental consent to continue treatment.
For more detailed information on these laws in the State of Florida, click here.
I am a Mandatory Reporter.
Mandatory reporters are public and private professionals required by law to report suspected abuse of minors and vulnerable adults.
Some examples of mandatory reporters include: medical practitioners, law enforcement personnel, employees of a public or private organization providing child-related services or activities, public and private school employees, and members of the clergy.
I am required to report suspected abuse of children and vulnerable adults to the proper authorities.
If you are a victim of child abuse or suspect someone you love may be, visit this website to learn about how to make a Child Abuse Report.
If I have to report something you share with me, I will let you know that and we will process that experience together.
I have worked in schools for 10 years and have extensive experience supporting teens and young adults who have experienced child abuse at the hands of caregivers and formerly trusted adults.
It is okay to share your story and be scared of what will happen next. We can face what’s next together.
You deserve to be heard.
You deserve safety.
