Common questions about getting started
Questions parents often ask before getting started
Clear answers to help you feel steadier about the next step
Reaching out for therapy often comes with practical questions, along with a few quieter ones underneath. Whether you are worn down by the daily battle at home or just trying to figure out what kind of help makes sense, these answers should give you a clearer picture of how the practice works and what to expect.
If you still have questions after reading, that is okay. The next step is simply to reach out with a brief, general message so the office can help you figure out what makes the most sense from there.
Is this the right fit for my family?
How do I know if this is the right fit?
This practice is often a strong fit for families dealing with anxiety, ADHD-related struggles, trauma, family transitions, and the kind of big feelings that can make everyday life feel harder than it should. It can also be a good fit for teens, young adults, and parents who need steadier support in a more direct format.
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If the main concern is a younger child, Child Play Therapy is often the best place to start. If the person seeking support is a teen, young adult, or parent, Individual Therapy or Online Therapy may make more sense.
What if this is not the right fit?
Jennifer stays focused on the work she is best equipped to do. This practice is usually not the right starting point for eating disorders, substance abuse treatment, services in a language other than English, or cases that are heavily court-involved and high conflict. When something else would make more sense, the goal is to help point families in a better direction rather than force a poor fit.
How do I get started?
The best first step is to use the contact page and request a consult. Please keep your message brief and general. Once there is a clearer sense of the concern and the fit, more detailed information can be shared later through more appropriate channels if needed.
What does the process actually look like?
Are parents part of the process?
Yes. Parent involvement is always important. Therapy here is not a drop-off-only process, even though parent involvement may look a little different from case to case. Real change tends to happen when the grownups are involved, informed, and supported along the way.
What does the beginning usually look like?
The process usually starts with the parent or parents first so Jennifer can hear the full story and understand what life has been feeling like at home. After that, she spends an initial assessment phase getting to know the child and understanding how the concerns are showing up through play, relationship, and behavior.
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Once there is a clearer picture of the needs and goals, the grownups meet again to go over the treatment plan. As therapy continues, parent-only sessions are often woven in so parents leave with better understanding, more useful tools, and a clearer sense of how to support progress between sessions.
Is therapy a drop-off service?
No. Jennifer does not approach child therapy as something where a parent simply drops a child off and waits for therapy to do all the work on its own. The goal is not only to help the child in session, but also to help the grownups better understand what is happening and respond in more effective ways at home.
How the financial side works
Do you take insurance?
No. Jennifer Wisser-Stokes Counseling LLC is private pay only and is considered an out-of-network provider. Insurance is not billed directly by the practice.
What does private pay mean here?
Private pay means families pay the practice directly for services rather than the practice billing an insurance company. For many families, that allows for a more direct and private therapy relationship without insurance requirements shaping the process.
Can I ask for a superbill?
Yes. Superbills may be provided upon request for families who want to explore possible out-of-network reimbursement on their own. It is important to know that a superbill typically requires a diagnosis. Some families are comfortable with that and some prefer not to go that route.
Can I use Step Up for Unique Abilities?
Yes. Jennifer accepts Step Up for Unique Abilities through EMA Marketplace. Funds should be reserved before the appointment whenever possible so session time can stay focused on your child rather than on portal troubleshooting. For step-by-step help, visit the Step Up Scholarship Guide.
Keeping therapy centered on your child
Does Jennifer provide letters, recommendations, or opinions for court?
Jennifer’s role here is to provide therapy, not to step into legal disputes. To protect the therapy process, this practice is not designed for custody recommendations, parenting-plan recommendations, testimony, or high-conflict court involvement. When therapy gets pulled into a legal dispute, it can shift the focus away from the child and away from the real work of treatment.
What happens if parents are separated or divorced?
If parents are separated or divorced, the parenting plan and any current court orders may need to be reviewed before child therapy begins. In many cases, both parents need to be aware of and aligned with treatment unless the paperwork clearly says otherwise.
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Jennifer stays focused on keeping treatment centered on the child rather than stepping into parent conflict. If one parent does not want the child in therapy, treatment usually cannot move forward unless the legal paperwork clearly allows it. The goal is to avoid situations where one parent starts the process and the other parent tries to shut it down after the fact.
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Contact, privacy, and online therapy
Can we start online?
In some cases, yes. Online therapy may be appropriate for parents, adults, teens, and some children. The best place to learn more about that option is the Online Therapy page, but a consult can also help determine whether online care makes sense as a starting point.
What should I share in the contact form?
Please keep website messages brief and general. A simple note about who is seeking support, the age of the child if relevant, and the broad reason for reaching out is enough to begin. Detailed private or clinical information can be shared later in a more appropriate setting.
Can we use the website form for detailed private information?
No. The website contact form is meant for general outreach only. It is not the place for detailed clinical history, sensitive family details, or urgent concerns. The goal is to start the conversation while protecting your privacy and keeping the process low risk.
Request Consult
If this feels like a possible fit, the next step is simple. Reach out through the contact page with a brief, general message and the office can help you take it from there.
Jennifer Wisser-Stokes Counseling LLC
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1858 N Alafaya Trail, Suite 208, Orlando, FL 32826
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(407) 305-8300