Commonly Asked Questions

Who is I Choose Change?

Founded by Jennifer M. Slingerland-Ryan, M.Ed., LPC-S, I Choose Change PLLC is a organization dedicated to helping families evolve by overcoming thoughts, emotions and behaviors that keep them stuck in a life that is not serving them positively.

Jennifer has built an center based on exceptionally high quality by hand-picking counseling and administrative staff with the same mission statement of helping families live happier, healthier lives. I Choose Change is a counseling and coaching environment with varying techniques and modalities all with the goal of helping clients change.

Our Mission: Provide exceptional quality in all facets of our Counseling Center while offering top-notch, educated, and life-changing counseling and coaching services.

There are many therapists to choose from. We choose quality.

Below are a list of questions that we think may help you get started in your change journey. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll help however we can.

What problems / issues do you work with?

Our office specializes in many issues and concerns. Each counselor has their specialties. The best way to know which counselor is best for you is to check out the staff profiles. Below is a list of common issues and concerns our office is eager to assist with:

Parent Coaching
Job and Career Issues
Feelings of emptiness and loneliness
Sexual Dysfunctions
Infertility
Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
Addictions (substances, gambling, affairs)
Depression and Depressive Disorder
Anxiety Disorders and Phobias
Fear
Anger
Adjustment Disorders
Grief and Loss
Aging and Life-Transitions
Bipolar Disorder
Eating Disorders
Couples and Relationship Counseling

How do I know which Counselor to schedule an appointment with?

The best way to know which counselor best would fit you is to first take a look at each therapist’s biography. Each counselor has listed their areas of specialization and the population they work with. Additionally, you may want to schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation through our Office Manager, who can direct you to the Counselor most suited to your needs. The consultation is designed for you to ask your therapist questions around your specific issues and concerns, and inquire about the methods the therapist will use while helping you change.

To schedule a consultation, simply call our office at 214.547.1318 or email us at info@ichoosechange.com. In your message, please say what days and times work best for you, so when we call you back, we’ll be able to get you scheduled right away.

What do those initials mean at the end of therapist’s name?

M.Ed. – Master of Education Degree

M.S. – Master of Science Degree

M.A. – Master of Arts Degree

LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor

NCC – National Certified Counselor

LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

LPC-Intern – Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (In Training)

LPC-S – Board Certified Supervisor of Counselor Interns

Click here to get more information about other counseling professions you may be interested in knowing about, such as Psychologist, Social Worker or Psychiatrist.

How long will it take to see change?

Every person is different, and all therapist methods are different based on your need. Some issues take longer than others.

However, when you hire an I Choose Change counselor, we take the job seriously. We want you to see change very quickly – even if it’s small steps toward change. While we can’t answer this question directly, we can tell you that if you DON’T see change, we fully expect you will let us know as soon as you realize the relationship is not working. We will then work to adjust as necessary, or give you a referral to another counselor.

What if I need to talk to you between appointments?

While we don’t provide emergency or crisis services, we want to be available to you as much as possible. You may schedule a consultation between appointments or send an email to your therapist asking specific questions or clarification about your last session. However, please note any time spent in consultation with your therapist will be billed accordingly. If you need regular follow-ups between sessions, or feel like you need your Counselor or Coaches support, you might consider purchasing an email support package – click here to get more information on that.

What are your fees?

Our fees vary by counselor based on expertise and length of time in private practice. Click here to see a table of our pricing structure.

Additionally, take a look at our Programs and Packages. We offer high intensity programs and supportive change programs on monthly payment plans. Check them out here: High Achivers, Supportive Change, and Change Retainer

Please note that no-shows and cancellations not made 24 hours in advance will be billed. Your are expected to make your appointment as arranged, and waiving this fee will be decided on a case-by-case situation.

What form of payment do you take?

Fees are due at the time of service. Our office takes Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Debit Cards, Flexible Spending Cards, Checks or Cash. All checks should be made out to I Choose Change. We do not offer pay as you go accounts. All fees returned unpaid will be subject to a $25 administrative and processing fee.

Do you take insurance?

We will be happy to submit for insurance reimbursement in ANY insurance plan; however, you must pay for your session up front since we are an out-of-network provider. Typically, insurance will provide between a 60% – 90% co-insurance (meaning, you pay a certain percentage and your insurance company will pay the other portion).

Let us find out your insurance benefits for you. When you call or email, provide us your insurance plan specifics and we will let you know what your actual cost will be (which is typically comparable to your in-network benefits). Then, we will submit your claims for electronic reimbursement — our electronic service is often quicker and it’s less paperwork for you!

If you’re wondering why we don’t take insurance (a question we’re often asked), here’s why:

Unnecessary Labeling:

In order for insurance to provide coverage for your services, insurance companies require you to have a mental health diagnosis. However, many of our clients are simply going through life transition, have marital and relationship issues, and need assistance through many of life’s unexpected obstacles. We don’t like labeling our clients with a disorder, and we don’t want our clients being labeled or boxed in by a diagnosis either. In fact, we see normal people with normal issues, looking for more direction, most of the time.

Lack of Confidentiality:

While your relationship with your therapist is confidential, and you should feel like you can talk to your therapist about anything, the information you tell your therapist is NOT confidential if you file for insurance. Your therapist will provide a diagnosis for your symptoms, and in some cases, provide documentation for why you have been given this diagnosis. In many cases, the insurance company case manger will decide, based on your personal record with the therapist, if you are allowed more sessions with your therapist. In other words, we believe the decision for therapy should be left up to you and your Counselor – not an insurance company!

Also, please keep in mind issues of confidentiality while applying for life insurance or for certain jobs. Currently, many institutions ask if you have a mental health condition, and while we don’t agree with their questioning, this is information that you may have to disclose to obtain a job or even life insurance.

Higher fees:

Because managed care requires so much information from your therapist in order to provide you additional sessions, your counselor could often spend just as much time on the phone with your insurance as they do in session with you. If filing your insurance requires time above what we consider “reasonable and customary” the extra time could result in higher per-session fees.

How do I file a complaint on I Choose Change or with my Therapist?

If you have administrative or therapist complaints of any kind, please contact I Choose Change’s Managing Director, Jennifer M. Ryan at 214-547-1318. Alternatively, an individual who wishes to file a complaint against a Licensed Professional Counselor may write to: Complaints Management and Investigative Section, P.O. Box 141369, Austin, Texas 78714-1369 or call 1-800-942-5540 to request the appropriate form or obtain more information.

Additionally, I Choose Change encourages all clients to fill out surveys periodically to let us know how we’re doing. Your feedback is very important!

What is your address and how do I get to your office?

Our physical address is: 1514 N. Greenville Ave., Suite 310, Allen, Texas 75002. Our office is a one-story office complex located between Stacy Road and Exchange Parkway across from St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

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Call I Choose Change / Allen Counseling Center to schedule your free consultation now: 214-547-1318