COVID-19 Specific Office Information:

I am currently provided services both virtually and in-person. If you are interested in an in-person visit, let me know and we can further discuss that as an option.

When we set up our first visit, you will be provided with a link to my online portal as well as backup platform in the event that we have technical issues. While meeting in person is ideal, I have found over the past months that telehealth is a very close second and can still yield similar fruit in therapeutic relationship building and meeting your treatment goals. I would encourage you to consider what space and time will provide you with the most comfortable, confidential therapy experience as possible.

 

First Contact: 

You can contact me by phone at 919.914.0072, email at connect@melissagraykennedylcsw.com or by completing a connect form.  Please know that my voicemail is confidential, and that, while I am the only person with access to my email, I cannot guarantee email is 100% secure. If you call and get my voicemail, please leave me your name, phone number, and brief information about your reason for calling. At this time, email is the best form of communication for me to respond in a timely fashion.

Initial Phone Consultation:

Before meeting the first time, I am happy to have a brief phone consultation. This provides you with an opportunity to ask me questions, and me with an opportunity to learn more about your needs. This conversation can aid in helping us both decide if working together is a good fit. In this conversation, we can discuss your current needs or concerns, symptoms, history, and treatment options.

Initial Session:

Our first meeting is mostly an assessment/evaluation session.  This session generally lasts 60 minutes but can run between 60 - 90 minutes.  This intake session is a means of getting an idea of who you are and if I may be of help.  It will consist of you sharing some of your story and current concerns with me as well as me asking questions to gain some specific information.  It is helpful for me to have a completed intake form before our first appointment, which will be sent to you beforehand or found on the forms page.  If the fit doesn’t feel “right” for you or I do not feel I have the skills to help you, then I will be more than happy to provide you with referrals. 



On-going Individual Therapy Information:

After the intake, individual therapy sessions are 60 minutes.  I generally recommend weekly sessions to begin treatment and be adjusted to biweekly or monthly as we move forward.  Agreements about payment amount and method are discussed prior to our first session and then more fully during intake.


Premarital Counseling Information:

Prior to your first session, each person will complete the online FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory independently.  This inventory will indicate your level of agreement, disagreement or indecision about specific statements related to issues such as Communication, Problem-Solving, Dual Careers, Family of Origin, Spirituality / Religion, Parenting, Sexuality, Finances, etc.  

During our time together, we will reference your Couple Report to help identify areas of strength in your relationship, as well as specific topics that may warrant more attention and discussion in preparation for your marriage.  It is my top priority to facilitate exploration and conversation between you and your partner in a safe and supportive environment.  

If during your premarital sessions we see a need for further individual or couples counseling, we can discuss adjusting our treatment goals and/or making a professional referral.

 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

Where are you located?
My office is at Providence Place I, 150 Providence Road, Suite 101 Chapel Hill, NC 27514. I am on the bottom floor. Once you go down the few stairs and through the front door - our suite is the first door to the left after the bathrooms. Once you enter the suite, there is a shared waiting room to the left. I will come grab you when I am free.

Where will I park?  
There is a large parking lot right next to the building.  

Is your office along a bus line?
Yes, the CL route runs to two bus stop locations near Providence Place - Old Sterling Road at Eastowne Drive and Coleridge Drive at Sage Road.

Can I bring my spouse, partner, parent, loved one?
Yes, while most of our work will be one-on-one, there are times when having a loved one present for support, encouragement and/or to work through something together can be very helpful. Some individuals feel more comfortable bringing along a loved one to their first session or may want to include their family member and/or significant other later in treatment.  Feel free to let me know if and when you would like invite them in! 

Do you accept my insurance?
At this time, I accept Blue Cross Blue Shield (with the exception of Blue Local & Blue Value) and Aetna. However, I am happy to file any other insurance out of network to assist you in being reimbursed for my services. Check out the insurance page for more info!

How will I pay you? 
I accept check, cash and most major credit cards. There is an also an option to pay online through Paypal, Venmo or set up an automatic credit card payment plan.  While payment is generally expected at time of service, other payment arrangements can certainly be discussed based on your financial needs.

What is the best way to contact you?
You are welcome to contact me by phone at 919.914.0072 or by email at connect@melissagraykennedylcsw.com.  I will return your contact within 48 hours, however, I am generally most quickly responsive by email.  As a reminder, email is not 100% confidential, so it recommended that email not be used as a form of communicating any information you would want to remain confidential.