James Livingston MDiv, MA, LCPC, BC-TMH

  • Maryland, USA (Teletherapy only)
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FAQ’s

Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers.

The first two sessions are spent getting a “30,000 foot view” of your situation. This would include getting your background/history, presenting problems, and reasons for seeking counseling.  This is a comprehensive and necessary step so that we can know exactly how to uniquely develop your treatment plan, establish goals, and chart our way forward toward your healing. 
This is a collaborative process in which we discern what works best for you. Generally, we take a solutions-focused approach to counseling. We are fairly active in the sessions and provide the tools and techniques you need in order to see the change you desire. With that said, some people prefer to just be listened to and that’s fine. Most people prefer a combination of both. We will work together to find out what works best for you so that you feel safe and comfortable with your counseling experience.
If we are using your insurance provider, the session will be 53 minutes. If you decide to pay privately, the session will be 45 minutes.
That would depend on a host of factors, including the severity of your needs, insurance authorization limits for ongoing care, and most importantly… your goals.  The average length of counseling is about 12-15 weeks, but this can be less or more depending on your situation.
If using insurance, that will depend on your insurance provider. The private pay fee is $145 per 45 minute session.
Yes, we encourage you to contact us so that we can set up a free initial consult to discuss your situation.  
My policy is to work with parents and families as opposed to individual minors (under age 18) whenever possible. My goal is not to come between parents and children but to help parents respond more effectively to their children’s needs.
Please contact us to determine if we take your insurance provider. We also take private pay.  

At this time, we are only able to provide counseling services to clients who are physically located in Maryland. If you reside out of state and are seeking a counselor, feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to offer some referral suggestions.

Please note that Maryland law requires clients to be physically present within the state to receive counseling. This means that even if you are a Maryland resident, we cannot hold sessions while you are temporarily out of state. Counseling with us can resume once you return to Maryland.

If you need to cancel a scheduled appointment, please let our therapist know via email at least one business day in advance of our scheduled appointment time.  For example, a session scheduled on a Thursday would need to be cancelled or rescheduled (2 days earlier) by the previous Tuesday by 5pm EST by email, at the latest. Otherwise, there is a full session charge for a late cancel or no-show appointment.  Another example, a session scheduled on a Tuesday would need to be cancelled or rescheduled by the previous Friday by 5pm EST by email at the latest or there would be a full session charge.
For your safety, we are unable to conduct sessions while you are driving.  
Because so much of the research indicates that teletherapy over the phone yields the highest results for the client, we generally meet with clients over the phone to start, and then assess what is best moving forward. We can discuss your preferences to determine a best fit.  If you and your spouse (significant other, family member) are at separate locations, a conference call can be made so that all parties are on at the same time.

Yes. If you are currently experiencing hallucinations, psychosis, suicidal or homicidal thoughts, a severe addiction to drugs or alcohol, or other significant difficulties that severely interfere with your ability to manage daily life, we recommend seeking in-person, face-to-face counseling or medical support, as this provides the most appropriate level of care for your needs.

Because our practice is dedicated to helping clients grow in their faith and live out a more fulfilling Christian life, our services are best suited for individuals who are open to exploring how a Christian understanding of the person can support healing and growth. Those who are opposed to or uninterested in a Christian perspective may not find our approach to be the best fit.

While our practice is grounded in a Christian understanding of the human person, we deeply respect that each client’s beliefs and values may differ. As St. John Paul II wisely said, we are called to “propose, not impose” the Christian faith.

Because our goal is to help clients live out a more faithful and fulfilling Christian life, our services are best suited for those who are open to exploring how a Christian perspective on the person can support healing and growth. Individuals who are hostile toward Christianity or uninterested in this approach may not find our services a good fit.

Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, we are committed to meeting you with respect, compassion, and care.