Frequently Asked Questions

I get this question a lot, and the first image that comes to mind is a rollercoaster—one of those huge ones you can see from the freeway. There are ups and downs, laughter and screaming, and maybe even a pit in your stomach. Sometimes, you feel scared and nervous, but you also feel joy and excitement, and in the end, you are glad you took the risk. 

The benefit of therapy is you do not have to take that risk alone. 

Relational therapy is based on the idea that healing happens through relationships—both personal and systemic. For Individual, families, couples, and BIPOC persons, this means exploring how your experiences of identity, connection, and safety are shaped by culture, community, intergenerational dynamics, and systems of oppression.

Rather than focusing on a quick “fix” or treating symptoms in isolation, relational therapy invites curiosity about the deeper patterns in how you relate—to others, to yourself, and to your past. It's a collaborative, reflective process that makes space for your full experience, including how you've adapted to survive.

I believe therapy is a process that takes time. I do not have all the answers. True healing happens through the connection we build together, and through your evolving relationship with yourself and others. I’m here to sit with curiosity, to listen deeply to your story, and to understand who you are through the relationships and experiences that have shaped you.

The first few sessions are where you determine if I am the “best fit.” The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of the efficacy of therapy and a 15 minute consultation is not always enough time to fully make a decision.

Many people are hesitant to be vulnerable with someone they just met. I would be to. You need to feel like you can trust me.

We will also go over intake paperwork, goals, family of origin, and answer the question, “why now?” Reaching your goals is just as important as getting to know you and building a relationship. 

Therapy is unique to everyone and each persons definition of “working” is going to be different.

You know yourself better than anyone and will most likely start to notice yourself making different decisions, engaging in relationships differently, and embodying your values and authentic self more often.

I will also inform you of the things that I notice and we will frequently review goals together.

You should choose me because it feels right, and you trust that I care about you more than the systems that often seem to bind us. 

Most individuals seek me out for similar lived experiences/identities. Unfortunately, the number of available Black therapists in Washington and Oregon is slim. Clients may have had a poor therapy experience or be looking for someone who “gets it,” so they come to me.

No. You do not need a referral to receive services from Frankie Lemmons Counseling, LLC.

You may find it beneficial to sign a Release of Information (ROI) for your various care providers to ensure coordinated care.

Individual Therapy Sessions (50 minutes): $180 per session

Family/Couples Therapy (60 minutes): $200 per session

Sessions are billed at the end of the night. I can accept payment from all major credit and debit card companies and Health Savings Accounts.

Sessions must be cancelled 24+ hours in advance, or your session is subject to a full charge.

Commercial Insurance:
I understand why insurance can feel important for access, and I don’t take this lightly. I tried working with commercial insurance and learned that it wasn’t sustainable for me. Those systems often focus on numbers, diagnoses, and limits on care rather than the people in the room. To continue doing this work with care, presence, and integrity—and to avoid burnout—I’ve chosen not to accept commercial insurance. This allows me to stay grounded and available for my clients long-term.

Oregon Health Plan (OHP):
If you are an OHP client, you’re welcome to reach out about current availability. I’m happy to share how I work with OHP clients through my role with Hauskaa Psychiatry.

Supervision is the required post-graduate phase of training that happens while you’re working toward licensure. Yes, it counts toward hours—but it’s also where you slow down, think through real clinical work, ask honest questions, and grow into your role as a therapist with support.

Supervision is not just a box to check or a hoop to jump through. It’s not therapy, not a performance review, and not a test of whether you already “know enough.” You’re allowed to still be learning—that’s exactly what this stage is for.

Requirements vary by state and license. In short: supervision happens regularly while you accrue post-graduate hours, includes a mix of individual and group options, and follows specific documentation rules. We will ensure we are following your state’s requirements.

Yes. Many clinicians work with more than one supervisor, especially when combining individual and group supervision or changing settings. What matters most is clarity—making sure each supervisor is board-approved, roles are clearly defined, and all supervisors sign off on your hours as required.

Heck YES! Think comfy clothes, a solid Wi-Fi connection and HIPAA complaint. Supervision can be fully virtual, as long as state and licensing requirements are met. Also, all of my supervision is offered virtually.

Being AAMFT Approved means a supervisor has completed specific training, experience, and ongoing requirements set by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. It’s a way of ensuring supervision meets national standards for ethics, competence, and professional development. If you want the official breakdown, you can read more directly from AAMFT here:

👉 https://www.aamft.org/Supervision/AS_Designation.aspx

Fit matters in supervision just like it does in therapy. We’ll start with a consultation call and a brief values and practice questionnaire to ensure we’re aligned in how we approach the work. As with therapy, those first conversations aren’t always enough to fully determine fit, which is why we take time to get to know each other beyond the initial steps.

I think of the first month as a mutual trial period. It’s time for us to get to know each other more fully, dig deeper into your work and needs, and make sure supervision feels supportive, clear, and aligned. I’m very transparent about who I am as a supervisor and what working together looks like, and we’ll revisit fit and expectations along the way. If at any point it doesn’t feel right, we’ll talk about it openly and support a thoughtful next step.

Just as important, I want you to know yourself well enough to say when something isn’t quite right or when you need something different. This is your career and your future—we’re talking about the work you’ll be doing for a long time.Advocating for the right support is part of being an ethical, grounded clinician, and that matters here.

This training is open to therapists at any stage of their professional journey, including:

• Graduate students

• Interns and practicum students

• Associate-level clinicians

• Newly licensed therapists

• Licensed and seasoned clinicians

If you are looking for clarity, support, and answers about what private practice can look like — this space is designed for you.

No — and many participants are not.

You do not need to know with certainty that private practice is what you want. This training is for clinicians who have ever:

• wondered what private practice could look like,

• felt curious about career options outside of a 40-hour clinical workweek,

• questioned whether profitability is possible without insurance or while seeing fewer clients,

• or felt stuck believing there are limited career paths in therapy.

Our goal is to provide accurate information so you can make an informed decision about your career, rather than feeling overwhelmed, boxed in, or unsure what options exist.

PMHNPs and other behavioral health providers may find the business and practice-building foundations helpful.

We also want to be transparent: as a PMHNP, you are not only starting a therapy practice but also a medical prescribing practice. Our training focuses on the business and operational side of private practice and does not cover medical components such as:

• DEA registration

• Prescribing systems or laws

• Medication management workflows

• Lab coordination

• Medical billing or coding

While we have general familiarity through colleagues, neither facilitator operates a prescribing practice, and we want to be clear about the scope.

Participants continue to receive support after completion, including:

• Ongoing access to the full training Google Drive resource library

• The option to retake the training in a future cohort at no additional cost as a refresher

• Optional consultation sessions with facilitators for additional 1:1 support

• Access to supervision opportunities:

  • Frankie — supervision available in Oregon and Washington

  • Dr. Michelle — supervision available in Oregon

Business development, practice questions, and implementation support can continue to be discussed within supervision or consultation spaces.

Training materials are shared through Google Drive so participants can receive updates and added resources over time.

You have two options for accessing training materials:

Option 1 — Create a free Google account (recommended)
Training materials are housed in Google Drive so participants can access resources, templates, and receive ongoing updates after the training.

You do not need a Gmail email address. You can create a free Google account using your existing email address (work, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.). We provide an instruction sheet to all participants. 

This option allows you to:

• Access materials anytime

• Receive updated resources automatically

• Keep everything organized in one location

Option 2 — Receive materials as a ZIP download
Materials can be sent as a downloadable ZIP file upon request.

Please note: ZIP downloads will not receive future updates or added resources.

Yes. Participants receive worksheets, templates, planning tools, and implementation resources designed to help translate learning into actionable steps within their own practice.

CE credits for this training are currently available only to licensed therapists in Oregon.
To receive CE credit, you’ll need to:

• Attend the full training live

• Complete the course evaluation at the end of the workshop

If you have questions about eligibility or documentation, please  contact us.

Please note that all registrations are non-refundable. We are unable to offer refunds for cancellations for any reason, including scheduling conflicts, illness, or unforeseen circumstances.

If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another participant. To do so, please notify us at least 2 days prior to the event with the name and contact details of the new participant.

By registering, you acknowledge and agree to this cancellation policy. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to having you at our training.