Counseling & Mental Health

The ALLICE Collective currently accepts Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) through participating clinicians. Insurance acceptance varies by provider, so we encourage you to review your selected clinician's profile before scheduling.

Our office verifies insurance benefits and provides an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs. However, final coverage and payment amounts are determined by your insurance company.

Graduate student interns are self-pay only. We cannot bill insurance for counseling services provided by graduate student interns.

We do not accept out-of-network insurance benefits. Please check back as we continue working to expand the insurance plans we accept.

Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your insurance plan, including any copayment, coinsurance, or deductible requirements.

• Copayment: A fixed amount you pay for a covered service. For example, your plan may require a $25 copayment for each counseling session.
• Coinsurance: A percentage of the insurance company's allowed amount that you are responsible for paying. For example, if your coinsurance is 20% and the allowed amount is $100, your portion would be $20, assuming your deductible has been met.
• Deductible: The amount you must pay for certain covered services before your insurance begins contributing. If your deductible has not been met, you may be responsible for the full allowed amount. For example, if the insurer's allowed amount for your session is $100, you may owe $100 rather than our standard self-pay rate.

Allowed amounts vary by insurance company, plan, provider, and service.

When using insurance for counseling, a clinical diagnosis is generally required to establish medical necessity. Your clinician will complete an assessment and discuss any applicable diagnosis with you.

Our office will verify your benefits and provide an estimated cost before services begin. Actual charges remain subject to your insurance company's processing of the claim.

The ALLICE Collective offers low-cost counseling with rates beginning at $25 per session for graduate student interns. We do not currently offer sliding-scale fees.

Pro bono counseling is available only through our partnership with Mental Health America of Greater Houston (MHA Houston). Individuals interested in these services must contact MHA Houston's CareConnect program directly.

Our office does not determine or confirm availability for pro bono counseling services. MHA Houston manages these referrals and can confirm whether The ALLICE Collective has openings. If we do not, MHA Houston can help connect you with another provider who currently has pro bono counseling slots available.

Before your first counseling appointment, you will need to complete the following:

• Client intake forms
• Practice policies and informed consent documents
• Insurance information and a copy of your insurance card, if using insurance
• Payment information

Once your initial therapy appointment is scheduled, our office will email the required documents to you through Jane, our secure practice management system. All forms must be completed before your first therapy session.

If you are scheduling a free 15-minute consultation, payment information is not required.

Our team will follow up if additional documentation is needed or if we need information to verify your insurance benefits.

If you have questions or need assistance completing your documents, please contact our office at 832-536-5948, Monday through Friday, 10 AM–6 PM, or email community@theallice.org .

Virtual counseling appointments are conducted through Jane, our secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. You can attend using a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection.

Approximately 30 minutes before your appointment, you will receive an email containing a link to join your virtual session.

You may also access your appointment through the Jane for Clients mobile app. Downloading the app is optional.

For instructions on joining your appointment, visit Jane's Virtual Appointment Guide .

For instructions on managing appointments through the mobile app, visit Jane's Appointment Management Guide .

We encourage you to attend from a safe, private space where you feel comfortable speaking freely without distractions or interruptions. Clients must be physically located in Texas during virtual counseling appointments.

If you experience technical difficulties, please contact our office at 832-536-5948.

Phone assistance is available Monday through Friday, 10 AM–6 PM. Text messages are monitored Monday through Friday, 10 AM–8 PM, and Saturday, 9 AM–4 PM.

Existing clients may also send secure messages to their clinicians through Jane. Messages are not monitored continuously and should not be used for emergencies.

We require at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment without incurring a fee. Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed without notice, are subject to a $25 late cancellation or no-show fee. This policy applies to all clinicians.

Our preferred method is to cancel or reschedule directly through our Jane scheduling portal or by using the link in your appointment reminder email or text.

You may also contact our office by phone or text at 832-536-5948, or by email at community@theallice.org .

Requests made through these methods must also be received at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. Please include your name, appointment date and time, and clinician's name.

The frequency of counseling sessions is determined collaboratively between you and your clinician, taking into consideration your goals, availability, budget, and individual needs. Some clients attend weekly, while others schedule appointments every other week or less frequently.

For clients using our self-pay rates, there is no set limit on the number of sessions, provided that continued counseling is clinically appropriate.

Clients receiving pro bono counseling through MHA Houston are eligible for up to six pro bono sessions. After completing these sessions, clients may continue counseling at the self-pay rate of their selected clinician.

For clients using insurance, coverage and any applicable session limits depend on the individual insurance plan and medical necessity requirements.

Our graduate student interns are completing advanced education and supervised clinical training in mental health counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy.

In addition to receiving group supervision through their universities, interns participate in both individual and group clinical supervision at The ALLICE Collective with a board-approved clinical supervisor. Supervision provides opportunities to review clinical work, discuss treatment approaches, and receive guidance that supports their professional development and the quality of care provided.

Although our interns are still completing their graduate education, each brings their own experiences, knowledge, perspectives, and approach to counseling.

Your counseling sessions remain confidential and are subject to the same applicable privacy protections as services provided by licensed clinicians.

Graduate student interns may request permission to record counseling sessions for clinical training and supervision purposes. Some recordings are required as part of their university training programs.

Sessions will never be recorded without your knowledge and written consent. You may decline recording and still receive counseling services.

Your face will not appear in the recording, and your name or other identifying information will not be attached to the recording. Recordings are stored in a secure online portal and accessed only by individuals authorized to review them for training and supervision purposes.

Before requesting your consent, your clinician will explain who may review the recording, how it will be used, and the university's applicable storage and retention requirements. You will be asked to complete a separate consent form before any recording takes place.

Recordings are used strictly for training and supervision and will never be used for marketing, social media, or other public purposes.

Yes. Finding a clinician who meets your needs and with whom you feel comfortable is an important part of the counseling process.

You may schedule with another clinician directly through Jane or contact our office for assistance.

We also encourage you to share any concerns or feedback about your experience with our team. We take all feedback seriously and are committed to providing high-quality counseling services. Your feedback helps us address concerns, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide additional training or support to our clinicians when needed.

Yes. Your privacy is an important part of the counseling relationship. Information shared during counseling is confidential and protected by applicable state and federal privacy laws.

However, there are certain circumstances in which information may be disclosed without your permission, including:

• Suspected abuse or neglect: When reporting is required by law, including certain situations involving children, older adults, or individuals with disabilities.
• Immediate safety concerns: When permitted by law to address certain serious and immediate risks of harm to yourself or others.
• Legal requirements: When disclosure is required through a valid court order or other applicable legal process.
• Clinical supervision: Relevant information may be shared with authorized clinical supervisors to support your care and the professional development of clinicians under supervision.
• Insurance billing: If you use insurance, certain information, including your diagnosis and treatment details, may be shared with your insurance provider to process claims and determine coverage.

Your clinician will review confidentiality and its limitations with you before beginning counseling. We encourage you to ask questions about how your information is used, shared, and protected.

Protecting your privacy is a responsibility we take seriously. All clinicians, including graduate student interns, are required to follow The ALLICE Collective's confidentiality, documentation, and telehealth policies.

Our privacy safeguards include:

• Private counseling environments: Clinicians must conduct appointments in private spaces where conversations cannot reasonably be overheard. Sessions may not be conducted from coffee shops, shared public spaces, or other environments where confidentiality cannot be maintained.
• Secure virtual counseling: All virtual appointments are conducted through Jane, our HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.
• Protected clinical records: Intake forms, consent documents, assessments, and clinical records are maintained in our secure, HIPAA-compliant practice management system.
• Confidential communication: Clinicians must use approved communication methods when sharing or discussing client information. Personal email, social media, and unauthorized messaging applications may not be used to exchange confidential information.
• Clinical supervision: Client information discussed during supervision is handled confidentially and shared only as appropriate for clinical training and oversight.
• Session recordings: Counseling sessions are never recorded without the client's knowledge and written consent. Recordings are permitted only for authorized clinical training and supervision purposes.

For clients attending virtually, we encourage you to choose a safe, private location where you feel comfortable speaking freely without distractions or interruptions. This may include a private room or a safely parked vehicle. We understand that everyone has different circumstances and will work with you to support a comfortable counseling experience.