Online Counseling at Marriage Matters, LLC is an interactive process with Jacqueline Gay, MSW, ACSW, LCSW that occurs via e-mail or telephone. The process begins when you fill out the online questionnaire. Jacqueline will give your questionnaire and your concerns her undivided and individualized attention. You will receive an e-mail response from her within 48 hours after you submit your questionnaire. Filling out the questionnaire is easy and you can do it any time you like. You can fill out the questionnaire online or you can take more time, write your responses offline, and then paste your comments into the questionnaire later. After Jacqueline responds to your initial questionnaire (which usually includes several e-mails back and forth), you may decide you've gotten enough from the interaction and may choose to stop. Otherwise, you can continue to interact via e-mail for as many or as few sessions as you'd like. In addition, you have the option of arranging telephone sessions with Jackie on a slightly different fee schedule than from e-mail responses.

How does online counseling work with my spouse?

If you and your significant other would like to engage in joint online counseling, here's how it works:  you each fill out our confidential questionnaire online. After you each submit your questionnaire, you will each be asked to pay for an initial consultation. You can also choose to pay for both questionnaires at once by one of you. This will provide you jointly with a total of 2 hours of consultation time with Jacqueline. You and your spouse will each receive both responses from Jacqueline so that everyone has read what everyone else has. After the initial responses, any time remaining will be devoted to follow-up e-mails. Additional time for joint sessions may be purchased at the same rate as individual sessions. Joint telephone sessions are available at a different fee schedule than e-mail responses.

Why does Online Counseling work?

Online Counseling works because you'll find that you are able to quickly get to the heart of your concerns using the online questionnaire. The process of completing an online questionnaire is similar to journalizing except you'll be receiving insightful feedback and suggestions from Jacqueline. Usually, Jacqueline will ask one or two follow-up questions to complete the assessment. After that, you will be provided with feedback and any recommendations she believes are appropriate. She will respond to your confidential questionnaire within 48 hours of receiving it. Your questionnaire will be given her individual attention and the responses will be prepared by her alone. Jacqueline writes in plain English using concrete and understandable terms. The responses to you will contain suggestions and recommendations to help you clarify, resolve or improve the situation you present. She will always provide follow-up clarification and explanations if needed. People who work this way find online counseling gets to the point fast. They find it is extremely helpful in identifying and clarifying what is going on and how to move ahead in life.

What are the advantages of E-Counseling?

Most people feel the biggest advantage of E-Counseling is that they can take as much time as they need to think out exactly what information they want to present. You can compose your thoughts when and where you want to. Also, most people find that being alone without distractions allows them to really get to the heart of their issues. Also, if you choose e-mail interaction, you'll have printable documents from your sessions which you can review whenever you like. Another advantage is that you don't have to schedule appointments if your interactions are simply by e-mail - telephone sessions require scheduling. You go at your own pace and take all the time you need to work through things whenever you want to. Like other people who have received counseling online, you'll find that writing about your concerns and then reading the individualized responses to you is an incredibly fast, productive, and enlightening process.

What are the fees for Online Counseling?

A one hour initial session based on your questionnaire costs $60. A joint session is $120 and includes 2 hours of time to evaluate and respond to both your questionnaire and your spouse's. The initial response includes thoroughly evaluating your questionnaire including any e-mail follow-ups for supporting information or clarification you may be asked for, developing an individualized response, and making recommendations and referrals as needed. If you decide to continue working with your counselor after the initial evaluation, the e-mail counseling rates are as follows: A 30 minute session is $30; 45 minutes is $45; and 60 minutes is $60. In addition, you may now choose to pay for unlimited e-mails back and forth for one month. The monthly unlimited e-mail fee is $250 for individuals and $500 for couples for joint online counseling. Unlimited fees are for e-mail only and you will always get a response within 48 hours.

One hour telephone counseling sessions are available for $75. All charges are based on the amount of time spent evaluating and responding to your e-mail or interacting with you online or by phone. Billing is through a secure online server. If you engage in ongoing sessions with, my software tracks the time and you are updated each time we interact. I will always clarify anything said if necessary and I will provide you with referrals for qualified counselors in your geographical area if needed.

When is Online Counseling not recommended?

The above circumstances are more appropriately handled by a crisis hotline, going to a hospital emergency room, or by calling 911.

• National Suicide Hotline: 1 800 784-2433



• American Suicide Foundation: 1 800 531-4477



• Crisis Helpline (for any kind of crisis): 1 800 233-4357



• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1 800 799-7233



• Youth Crisis Hotline 1 800 448-4663



• Child Abuse Hotline 1 800 540-4000

All fees in any of those situations would be refunded.

• If you are under 18 years old.
• If you are a current or former face to face private client.
• In other certain special situations I may identify after reviewing your questionnaire.