Below are some frequently asked questions about working with Empieza Aquí® Counseling:
Do you accept insurance?
We are now accepting Aetna insurance for Arizona clients through Headway. Our availability through Headway is limited to mid-afternoon appointments Monday – Wednesday. For other insurance plans, we can provide a superbill for clients to submit to their insurance company if they have out of network benefits. This is provided upon request. To learn more:
Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?
We only offer virtual sessions at this time. Sessions are conducted via Google Meet, which is HIPAA compliant. Client must be physically located in Arizona or Minnesota at the time of service.
Clients seen through Headway must be physically located in Arizona due to limits with the insurance company.
What kind of services do you provide?
We provide individual psychotherapy for adults.
How long are therapy sessions?
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes long.
Therapy sessions through Headway are 53 minutes long.
What concerns or issues do you specialize in?
We specialize in first gen issues, anxiety, trauma, grief, and existential concerns. In regards to population, we specialize in working with the Latine community, activists, and community leaders. Our practice is LGBTQIA+ affirming, and we strive to approach every client with cultural humility.
What modalities or therapeutic techniques do you use?
Linda Ruvalcaba, LPC is certified in Existential Analysis, trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as in Brainspotting.
What is your fee?
Session fee is $160 for 45 minute individual therapy sessions.
Do you offer a sliding fee?
We have a limited number of sliding scale spots available, which we prioritize for QTBIPOC clients. Availability for these spots varies, so please reach out if you’d like to discuss current openings.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require 24 hour notice for cancellations. Late cancellations and no shows are charged the full session fee.
Please note that our cancellation policy for clients seeing us through Headway requires a 48 hour notice.
Are you currently accepting new clients?
Yes, we are accepting new clients at this time.
How do I schedule an intake?
To get started, please complete the Therapy Interest Form. Once we review your submission, we will reach out in one of two ways:
- If we don’t think we’re the best fit based on your form, we’ll send you an email with referrals to other therapists who may better meet your needs.
- If we believe we may be a good fit, we’ll contact you to schedule a brief phone consultation. This call helps us determine if we’re the right match and gives you a chance to ask any questions.
What states are you licensed to work in?
Linda Ruvalcaba is a Licensed Professional Counselor per the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health and holds a privilege to practice in Minnesota through the Counseling Compact.
Why are the policies different with Headway?
We decided to accept Aetna insurance through Headway to provide protection for the therapist while making therapy affordable to the client. We are contracted with Headway, meaning it is different from seeing us just through Empieza Aquí Counseling.
Important things to know that are different in our work with Headway:
- We are only accepting Aetna at this time
- Length of individual therapy sessions are 53 minutes
- Still offering telehealth services but clients MUST be physically located in Arizona at time of service
- Cancellation policy requires 48 hours notice, failure to provide this notice will result in a charge of the full session fee, which is $200
- Contact outside of session is preferred to be through the Headway messaging system
- Your medical record will be securely kept in the Headway platform
- Availability is limited to mid-afternoon appointments Monday – Wednesday
