With Marcia Epstein, LMSW
M.Epstein.LMSW@gmail.com
Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Available by appointment

If you read all this and believe I may be a right person to work with, please see the info about how to start that possibility at Support Services.

 

For:
Individuals
Families (by choice and/or origin)
Groups

People who are:
Adolescents to adults of all ages
Any gender identity & sexual orientation
English-speakers only at this time.  Sorry.

COVID-19 public health precautions: 
I am fully vaccinated against COVID.  Video-call is still the preferred way to meet, with limited exceptions with people who are fully vaccinated against COVID. 

Arranging our first talk as soon as possible if you believe I may be a right person to work with:
Please email, text, or voicemail me with:
a) some information about what help you are seeking, so I can determine whether I believe that is likely that I can help;
b) the city and state where you live;
c) your email address;
d) your cell phone; and
e) some information about when you could be available during the next 7-10 days; appointment times include some weekday daytimes and evenings, and some weekend times. 

My work:  I work with youth and adults navigating a variety of life changes or personal goals.  Much of my work is in three areas: suicide (reducing risk for you or someone you care about, and/or support for bereavement); grief from any cause; and support for trans and nonbinary youth and adults.  I work very collaboratively, with all of my work informed by best practices in reducing suicide risk, because when the work is helpful for such intense work, it’s also helpful for other.

First session: This 30-90 minute meeting is free of charge, and currently via video-call.

Subsequent sessions:  Currently most of these are via video-call; a limited number are in-person in Lawrence, Kansas.  The most common session length is 90 minutes.

Fee for sessions after the first:  I believe that skilled and compassionate services must be available to anyone seeking counseling/support.  My sliding fee scale is based on what the person suggests as realistic for them.  The fee is per session, regardless of length.  Currently most pay between $25 and $150 per session; some pay more, some even less.

I do not ask for documentation of their need.

I do not accept any insurance.  I accept check or cash payment, not credit card or online payment.  Prompt payment after each session (or at the agreed upon time of month, for those who pay by the month) is expected and appreciated.

Supplemental text or brief phone calls: With my regularly scheduled clients, I encourage communication as needed.  I do not charge  for supplemental text or brief phone calls as “check-in” or immediate support between sessions.

Confidentiality of services:  I let a client of any age know when I have concerns about their ability to be safe from others or self, so that we can create a plan together for safety.  However, if that person is unable or for whatever reason does not respond to my efforts to get them to talk with me about the safety concern, I have the moral obligation to try to get help for them.  I will share my need to get help for their safety: out loud, via text, or via voicemail with a time deadline for some response before I will contact anyone who might be able to help.  In my decades of work, I have never needed to arrange intervention that the person did not agree to.

Location considerations for in-person support services:  We meet in Lawrence, KS near the downtown area.  My location involves stairs at either entrance and a friendly dog.  If either of those are a barrier, we will meet via video-call or phone.

In the USA, Free, 24/7 Support for You or Someone Else
CRISIS TEXT LINE: text START to 741-741
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233, https://www.thehotline.org/
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE:  1.800.273.8255 or soon 988
RAINN, Rape Abuse Incest National Network, 800-656-HOPE (4673), https://www.rainn.org/
TRANS LIFELINE: staffed by trans and nonbinary people, for trans and nonbinary people,
https://TransLifeline.org , 877-565-8860
THE TREVOR PROJECT: for LGBTQ+ teen and young adults, hotline plus chat and text options included on
the website, https://www.thetrevorproject.org/. 866-488-7386
VETERANS CRISIS LINE: hotline plus chat and text options included on the website
VeteransCrisisLine.net , 800-273-8255 Option 1 (soon to be through 988)
Plus, although not 24/7, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline,
800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org