Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any benefits to paying out of pocket vs. using insurance?

Yes! By paying out of pocket (using private pay therapy) you are maintaining your own privacy. When insurance is used, they require you to have a diagnosis and can look at your information. Depending on your insurance, they could use a diagnosis as a "pre-existing" condition and therefore refuse coverage for certain things.

Do you prescribe medication?

I do not prescribe medication. I’m a licensed clinical social worker and am legally unable to prescribe medication. If you’re interested in medication management, you would need to work with a psychiatrist.

Are you more of a formal or informal online therapist in Pennsylvania?

I am definitely not the online therapist who will stare at you with a blank face while asking minimal questions! I would say I’m pretty informal and not your traditional therapist. People who have worked with me will tell you I’m pretty down to earth.

I’m that online therapist who will swear in session and crack jokes with you. I’m also a therapist who will sit with you through the hard times and hold the emotions you’re feeling with you. I’m the therapist who will continually tell you “We are in this together.”

Are you seeing people in person or via online therapy in Pennsylvania?

We offer both online and in-person therapy to meet your needs. Our in-person location is at 3641 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, where our therapists Mary Shay and Salima Shah currently have immediate openings for both in-person and online sessions. I’m Hannah Guy, the owner of Revive Therapy Services. At this time, I have very limited openings and provide online therapy sessions only.

Why is therapy in Pennsylvania so expensive?

What a great question! Money can be a difficult topic to talk about, which is why it’s important for us to have open and transparent discussions around money. Every therapist in Pennsylvania is different, but our prices are set for specific reasons.

My priority is to provide quality online therapy where I can attend to your every need. Unfortunately, I am human and am not able to provide the same quality of therapy if I were to work a standard 40-hour workweek. Because of this, my caseload is within a range where I can actively participate and guide you through the therapeutic process.

Your Therapists Commitment to You

As a therapist, I am also spending time outside of the session doing administrative work, billing, continuing education, marketing, and receiving supervision so I can continue to provide you with the best up-to-date interventions.

Lastly, therapists go through extensive training. We go through both undergrad and graduate school. We then have to undergo 3000 hours of supervision and then take a licensure exam. After this, we are responsible for maintaining our license and making sure we meet the requirements of our licenses. Therefore, in order for me to maintain my well-being and support you in therapy, I offer private pay therapy in Pennsylvania.

Do you work with a specific population?

I work with a wide range of clients, and my practice is open to anyone seeking support. While I personally only work with adults, Salima Shah also provides therapy for children and teens, allowing our team to support individuals across the lifespan.

At Revive Therapy Services, we are committed to creating an affirming, inclusive environment. We proudly serve clients from diverse identities and lived experiences, including:

• LGBTQIA+ individuals

• BIPOC communities

• People in larger or smaller bodies

• People with disabilities

• Individuals from various religious and spiritual backgrounds

• People from all socio-economic statuses

No matter your background, you are welcome here. Our goal is to ensure you feel seen, supported, and understood.

I’m a part of a marginalized population and I’m hesitant to work with a white cis female therapist.

This is an extremely important topic to me. The majority of therapists are white cis female therapists and I am a part of that group. I want you to work with a therapist that YOU want to work with. If it’s important for you to have a therapist within the LGBTQIA+ population or a BIPOC therapist, you should work with a BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ therapist! If you are needing help with this, please reach out and I can assist you in finding a therapist that meets your needs.

It’s important to note…

A big thing I feel is important to throw out there is I won’t always be able to fully understand your unique life experience. I am able to actively listen and hear your story though. It is my responsibility to be your ally. It isn’t your job to educate me on your background- it’s my duty as a therapist to educate myself. Does this mean I will be perfect at this? Of course not! I am human and will make mistakes. However, I will strive to be the culturally competent and humble therapist you deserve.

Is the main goal of private pay therapy to learn how to cope with life?

Yes….and no. Coping skills for eating disorders, anxiety, and trauma are very important and can help alleviate some of the distress you’re going through. However coping skills don’t address the underlying cause of your distress. It’s almost as if you have a stab wound and coping skills are a bandage you’ve put on top of the wound. Yes, it might stop the bleeding but you still have a wound that needs to be treated! As a trauma therapist in Pennsylvania, I want to look underneath and do the healing that’s causing the distress.

I’m interested in receiving services from you, what are the next steps?

Once you reach out, my Intake Coordinator will connect with you to set up a free 15-minute consultation call. This is a gentle, welcoming space where we talk about what you’re hoping to work on, what you need from therapy, and how we can best support you. From there, we’ll help you schedule your first session and make sure you feel comfortable and prepared as you begin this journey.