Ibisanmi Relational Health

Marriage and family therapy is a mental health practice based on research and theory that individual’s behavioral, mental, emotional, and relational issues do not happen in a vacuum. MFTs, as mental health providers, practice from the standpoint that to effectively evaluate, understand and treat the problems that people bring to therapy, we have to understand them within the context of their relationships and social world. MFTs bring a holistic perspective to health care. We’re concerned with the overall, long-term well-being of individuals and their families. This perspective makes MFT particularly appropriate for Black/African American and People Of Color (POC) because of its emphasis on relationships and understanding people’s problems and wellness within their social and relational contexts.

Marriage and family therapy is

• brief

• solution-focused

• specific, with attainable therapeutic goals

• designed with the "end of therapy in mind"

Family therapists are often credentialed as licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT). A licensed marriage and family therapist will have a Master’s degree and/or a Doctoral degree in couple/marriage and family therapy as well as minimum of two years of supervised clinical training. MFTs are required to pass a rigorous licensing exam and should be involved in ongoing Continuing Education in the field.

No, you don’t have to be married to see a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals trained in psychotherapy and family systems. MFTs are licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders. We work with individuals, couples, and families. MFTs treat a wide range of serious clinical problems including: depression, marital problems, anxiety, individual psychological problems, trauma, intimate partner violence, and parent-child problems.

As Marriage and Family Therapists, we are trained to respect and consider the spiritual or religious backgrounds of our clients in their treatment. We also understand that our clients’ spirituality or religion can be a source of strength and resource in their lives, so we do incorporate this important aspect of their lives in our work together.

No! This is an old-fashioned idea – based on outdated styles of therapy that only looked for sickness - that increases the stigma around getting help during difficult times. Choosing therapy is healthy, and it means you have made the courageous decision to reach out and accept help when you need it.

Therapy doesn’t belong to any one racial or cultural group. People of Color have generations of healing and informal counseling practices and rituals – with elders, spiritual leaders, and whole communities. It is often difficult in modern times to find and utilize these traditional sources and spaces of healing. We are POC therapists from POC communities who focus on using traditional knowledge combined with new research to create these healing spaces in our practice.

We also understand the history of racism in the healthcare system – including segregation, eugenics, and the Tuskegee experiment – causes Black/AA people and People of Color to be distrustful of formal healthcare, like therapy, can work for them. We are committed to countering those traumas and working with other medical and psychological professionals to prevent those past pains from being the future.

Racial trauma is the effects of race-based stressors that Black/AA and People of Color (POC) experience and witness daily. Experiencing and witnessing racial discrimination, assaults, insults, and harassments (overt or covert) negatively impact the mental, emotional, and relational health of Black people and POC – regardless of age, class, gender, sexual orientation or religion. In addition to the stressors of life, work and relationships, the effects of racial trauma challenge the overall well-being of Black/POC lives and relationships. The symptoms of racial trauma can include depression, anxiety, poor concentration, irritability, persistent distorted blame of self and others, persistent negative emotional state, and reckless/self-destructive behavior.

Every client (and the issues that bring them to therapy) is different. Depending on your clinical needs and your goals for therapy, we recommend weekly or biweekly therapy sessions. Additionally, for therapy to be effective and for our clients to practice the skills or what they’re learning about themselves in therapy, we often give them homework between sessions. Our hope is that the homework will strengthen your growth and move you towards healing.

At this point in time, we do not accept insurance, we’re an out-of-network provider. However, book your 15-minute free consultation and we will verify if you are eligible for out-of-network benefits within minutes using the Reimbursify. You can continue to use the Reimbursify app to file your claims free of charge in the future.

Or you can also contact your insurance company to verify if you have out-of-network benefit coverage. Here are some helpful questions you can ask them to understand your coverage:

• Do I have benefits that cover outpatient mental health services?

• Does my plan allow me to go to an out-of-network provider for therapy or counseling?

• What services can be covered under my plan?

• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?

• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

• Is there a certain amount of sessions that will be covered?

• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

A superbill is an itemized form that reflects the services we have rendered if you are using your out-of-network insurance coverage. It will contain dates we met and your diagnosis. A diagnosis is required for insurance reimbursement but not for private pay. We suggest that you call your insurance company in advance to inquire about your out-of-network coverage for the service you’re looking for or book your 15-minute free consultation and we’ll verify your book your 15-minute free consultation out-of-network coverage benefits within minutes.

Why we don’t accept in-network insurance

We focus entirely on providing the absolute most effective and quality care to our clients and this is one of the reasons we don’t accept in-network insurance. Rather than going back and forth with insurance companies all day and having limitations on the length of time to work with our clients, we decided to not accept in-network insurance.

Other information about paying out-of-pocket for therapy

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) with your job, money that you set aside or your company set aside for you for medical expenses, you can use this account for payment.

Also, counseling/therapy is considered a health expense for tax purposes, and you may be eligible for a credit depending on your financial situation. We suggest you check with your financial accountant. We’ll provide you with the necessary documents (billing statements) needed for this purpose at the end of the year.

We have partnered with Reimbursify for you to easily submit your claims for out-of-network health insurance reimbursement at no additional cost to you. Download the app for free in the Apple or Android app store to get started today.

Because we believe that everyone deserves high-quality therapy, we provide limited reduced-fee services. Our reduced fee is based on combined income for individuals, couples, and families.

Confidentiality is an important part of our code of ethics as therapists. We understand that for you to feel comfortable revealing information (which allows your therapy to be effective) you must feel safe with and trust us with sensitive matters. As therapists, we provide you with a confidential disclosure agreement that explains how your personal information is handled. We take your privacy seriously, and what you discuss with your therapist in session stays in the room and within our therapy services*.

Sometimes you may choose to have your therapist share information with someone else on your healthcare team. The law only allows us to do this with your written consent.

*In certain situations, state law and professional ethics provide exceptions to confidentiality and require disclosure:

• Suspected violence, abuse, or neglect of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

• Suspicion the client may harm themselves or others.

Yes. We work with other racial groups as well.