+ Will therapy impact my secuirty/medical clearance?

Here is some excellent guidance passed on to me by an incredibly helpful Department of State Regional Psychiatrist (RMO/P), Dr. Thomas Mak.

• The State Department is clear that, “The act of seeking help from a counselor, psychotherapist, or other mental health professional to address stress, depression, grief, anxiety, family or marital issues, or other concerns is not derogatory in a (DoS) security clearance determination.”

• RMO/Ps assigned overseas are medical providers and not involved in the medical clearance or security clearance adjudication process

• The State Department security clearance is a completely separate process from a State Department medical clearance process and is administered through Diplomatic Security.

• If you are not a State Department employee, please check with your agency’s Human Resources Office for guidance. The RMO/P office is here to assist you.

Medical Clearances:

• Employees and family members eligible for a State Department clearance will still be asked to report counseling on the DS-3057 Medical Clearance Update form and may be asked to provide supplemental information. However, due to recent changes from The Department of State’s Bureau of Medical Services (MED), **counseling for grief, bereavement, marital difficulties, family therapy, parenting issues, situational stress, pandemic stress, phase of life transitions, adjustment problems, coaching for attention deficit disorder, pastoral or spiritual needs, and other supportive services will no longer require any further review by the State Department Mental Health Clearance team. **

• Additionally, the expansion of MED’s free Employee Consultation Services (ECS) to be available 24/7 means employees always have support available. ECS services and USAID’s Staff Care are Employee Assistance Programs and strictly excluded from clearance review and should not be reported on the DS-3057 Medical Clearance Update form.

Security Clearances:

Key Points for DoS employees from ALDAC DTG: 310146Z JUL 19 Subject: Mental Health and Security Clearances

• If employees need mental health care, they should get it. They should not neglect their mental health for fear that seeking treatment will negatively affect their security clearances

• The act of seeking help from a counselor, psychotherapist, or other mental health professional to address stress, depression, grief, anxiety, family or marital issues, or other concerns is not derogatory in a security clearance determination.

• From 2016-present, only approximately .001% of security clearance suspensions and revocations were based on significant concerns about an employee’s judgment, reliability, or stability stemming from mental health issues such as irresponsible, violent, paranoid, manipulative, impulsive, chronic lying, deceitful, exploitative, or bizarre behaviors.

+ Can we meet while I'm located in....

• The vast majority of my clients are FSOs/EFMs at Post. If you meet with me on Embassy/Consulate grounds or in your Embassy/Consulate provided housing, then YES! I can meet with you.

• If you are stateside, our timezones are unlikely to align. I recommend you check out my referrals page. If you really want to see if we can make it work, reach out via this form.

• If you are outside the US but not associated with the U.S. Foreign Service, get in touch and let's see if we're a good fit.

+ How often and how long do we need to meet?

• I require clients to meet with me (at least) weekly until they feel they have met their therapy goals and/or want to take a break from therapy. Twice per week meetings are also possible and even recommended for those who have a concern related to a time line (like bidding) or those who are wanting to dig deeper into a topic.

• I allow clients to return for "touch up" sessions or to return for weekly sessions if a new therapy topic/goal arises.

• I do not see clients during my summer and winter breaks. This is about 4-6 weeks in July/August and December/January. I also take the odd day here and there, but you will have notice and the chance to reschedule if you'd like.

• Clients can terminate at any time. The process of therapy is unique for each individual. Some clients come weekly for years as part of their self-care plan. Most clients experience significant relief within 6 months. Some continue to do deeper work after this time and others are satisfied at that level - that's a discussion for us to have when the time is right.

+ How do I get started?

• I highly recommend you review the sections that interest you in my About Me section to see if you think I might be a good fit for you.

• If you decide you would like to schedule a consultation with me, you can do so by filling out the form on this page. If it’s possible to meet, I’ll give you access to my calendar and you can schedule a consultation appointment.

• If we decide we want to continue working together, I will send you some online paperwork to review and e-sign and boom. We’re working together.

• Fill out the form on my Get Started page and we can schedule a FREE 30 minute consultation.

+ Cost

• I provide free 30 minute consultations for us to talk and decide if we are a good fit and will work well together.

• My rate is $260 per 50 min session.

• This is a bit lower than the average rate for a man with my years/type of experience in DC (women/non-binary people are charging less, but I hope they too raise their rates). It's a bit lower than the average rate to factor in my low cost of business being mostly online. It's still more than Better Help because of my continued costs of being an excellent therapist. This includes but is not limited to: weekly supervision from a well-published psychoanalyst, my in depth trainings on the subconscious/dream work/trauma/intersectionality, peer supervision, and thoughtful time spent in letter writing/talking to other providers of my clients as well as resource gathering/creating/sharing.

• Payments must be made through my Electronic Medical Record System (Simple Practice) in USD, so you must have a card that can be charged in USD. This method best protects your data.

+ Sliding Scale / Reduced Fee

• I do not provide sliding scale or reduced fee services. I give back through consultations and practical on the ground services in my community.

• If my services are not affordable to you, I encourage you to check out my Fae's Friends page for other options.

+ Insurance

• Check out my full guide "How to Access Mental Health Counseling/Therapy Abroad: A Resource Guide for US Foreign Service Officers and Their Families". I go into great detail about options concerning insurance and reimbursement.

• Most U.S. FSOs/EFMs have been able to be reimbursed for 70-90% of my fee through their insurance providers as I am able to provide a "super bill" that has my American creditials listed.

• I do not bill insurance directly. If you choose to file for reimbursement with your insurance, it is important for you to understand what data your insurance company may want about you. I encourage you to talk to them directly and in advance so you are well informed.

• Some questions you might ask may include:

  • Does my insurance plan cover talk therapy (mental health)?
  • Who qualifies as an in network vs. out of network provider?
  • Is there a limit to the coverage (number of sessions; cost; does it depend on the diagnosis?)
  • If all of the qualifications are met, would you reimburse the full amount of the session or a percentage? Is there a deductible that must be met first?

+ "No Surprises Act" Required Disclosure

• As of January 1, 2022, all healthcare providers are required to inform you of the following information. The cost of my services are clearly listed above and in all intake paperwork already, but I will provide a "Good Faith Estimate" to any client who does not have insurance, is not using insurance, and/or requests an estimate.

  • You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

  • Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

+ Platforms

I use Simple Practice and ProtonMail for my practice. I also sometimes use Doxy.me as a video service. Each of these platforms were designed for healthcare providers and comply with HIPAA and GDPR. for client privacy. I have Business Associate Agreements with each of these companies.

+ Tech requirements to meet with me

• My client platform is Simple Practice and it can be run on most browsers, tablets, and phones.

• You will need a camera and microphone to be able to meet with me.

• If your internet is too slow/unreliable, it may not be possible for us to work together. Meeting online already loses some of the data I would be able to see in a physical room, so we need a strong internet connection to help our therapy connection be all it can be.

+ How is online therapy different from in person therapy?

• As I mentioned above, there is a possibility that technical issues can get in our way, so it’s important to minimize those where we can.

• You will need to have a quiet/private space where we can meet.

• You will need to state your location before each meeting in case I need to notify emergency services/contacts for any reason during our call.

• In general, we try to bring in all aspects of an in-person therapy session that we can, so I ask that my clients silence their phones and notifications during our call. I also ask that you stay in one place and do this one thing (therapy) with me. Please do not walk around, do errands, etc.

+ Online privacy

• I take online privacy as seriously as I take confidentiality (which is very serious to me, basically the lynchpin of my profession). I do everything in my power to protect your data by securing my computer and by using platforms that meet American and UK health data privacy requirements (the strictest in the world).

• What information am I collecting about you

  • Website Visitors

  When an individual visits therapyvietnam.com, Frances uses Google analytics, who are considered a third party service, to collect information about what visitors do when they click on her website, e.g. which page they visit the most. Google analytics only collect non-identifiable data which means she or they cannot identify who is visiting. Google analytics privacy notice can be found here: https://policies.google.com/privacy

  Squarespace is a third-party service that hosts my website. When an individual visits therapyvietnam.com, I use Squarespace analytics to collect non-identifiable data about what visitors do when they click on her website. Squarespace also hosts the initial contact form, which is emailed to my secure email account. No personal data is stored on Squarespace. Squarespace’s privacy policy can be found here: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy.
  
  

  • Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
    I use Simple Practice as my EMR. This is a HIPAA compliant medical record system built for therapists and related professions. I chose this secure platform so that your data (forms, video meetings, notes) can be securely stored in one place. You can read their full privacy policy here. https://www.simplepractice.com/privacy/
    
    
  • Social Media

  I keep a Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn account for my professional practice. I use these websites' built in analytic systems to collect data about interactions with my Pages & Posts. Facebook’s privacy policy can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/update?ref=old_policy.
  Instagram's privacy policy can be found here. https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/instagram-community-data-policy
  LinkedIn's privacy policy canbe found here. https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

I will always be transparent when it comes to collecting personal data and will be clear about how that data is processed. My full social media policy will be given to client's at intake and on request.

• How do I use your information
  • I only use it for your care as contracted with you and as it is necessary to document your care within the secure platforms I use. I will never sell your data. With the internet, there is always a risk of data breach, regardless of the level of security of the platform and other components. I have carefully chosen platforms to reduce this risk, but should it happen they or I will contact you to make you aware.

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 10 June 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Online Therapy International ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects personal information when you visit our website at www.online-therapy.net or submit a form through our website. We are committed to protecting your privacy and to handling your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Note on therapy clients: This Privacy Policy applies to visitors to our website and to individuals who submit our website forms. The handling of client health and treatment information is governed by our separate client agreements and by applicable confidentiality and health-privacy laws, and not by this Privacy Policy.

Who we are

For the purposes of applicable data protection law, the data controller is:Online Therapy International Operating from Warsaw, Poland Email: hello@drfae.com

Any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information may be directed to the email address above.

Information we collect

Information you provide. When you complete a form on our website, we collect the email address you provide. If you include additional information in a message to us (for example, your name or an enquiry), we collect that information as well. Our standard sign-up forms request only your email address.

Information collected automatically. When you visit our website (hosted by Squarespace), certain technical information may be collected automatically, including your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages viewed. This information is used for security, website functionality, and analysis of website usage. Some of this information is collected through cookies, as described below. We do not knowingly collect special-category data (such as health information) through our website forms, and we ask that you do not submit sensitive personal information through them.

How we use your information

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

To send updates you have requested, approximately once a month, regarding upcoming groups, services, and related insights. These communications are sent only to individuals who have opted in, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

To respond to enquiries you submit to us.

To operate, maintain, secure, and improve our website.

Legal basis (for visitors in the EU/EEA and UK)

Under the GDPR and UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal bases for processing:

Consent: for sending marketing and update communications. Consent is given when you opt in and may be withdrawn at any time by unsubscribing.

Legitimate interests: for responding to enquiries and for maintaining the security and functionality of our website, where such interests are not overridden by your rights.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enable website functionality, maintain security, and analyse how the website is used. You may control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Visitors from the EU/EEA and UK may be presented with a cookie banner enabling them to manage their preferences.

Disclosure of your information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We disclose personal information only to service providers that perform services on our behalf, and only to the extent necessary for them to perform those services. These service providers currently include Squarespace, our website host and the platform used to manage forms and send email communications.

These service providers process personal information on our behalf and under their own data protection obligations. We may also disclose personal information where required to do so by law.

International transfers

Our website and certain of our service providers (including Squarespace) are located in the United States. As a result, your personal information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other countries outside your country of residence.

Where personal information is transferred outside the EU/EEA or UK, we rely on appropriate safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or an equivalent valid transfer mechanism) to ensure that it receives an adequate level of protection in accordance with applicable data protection law.

Data retention

We retain your email address for as long as you remain subscribed to our communications or until you request its deletion. Following an unsubscribe or deletion request, we will remove your information from our active mailing list and delete it within a reasonable period, except where we are required to retain it by law.

Your rights

Visitors in the EU/EEA and UK

Under the GDPR and UK GDPR, you have the right to: request access to the personal information we hold about you; request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete information; request the erasure of your information ("right to be forgotten"); restrict or object to the processing of your information; withdraw consent at any time (for example, by unsubscribing); request data portability; and lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@drfae.com.

Visitors in California and other U.S. states

Depending on your state of residence, you may have the right to know what personal information we hold about you, to request its deletion, and to opt out of any sale or sharing of your personal information. We do not sell your personal information. To make a request, please contact us at hello@drfae.com. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you may submit a complaint to us directly at hello@drfae.com. We will acknowledge your complaint, investigate the matter, and respond without undue delay. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority at any time, and you are not required to contact us first.

Unsubscribing

Every update communication we send includes an unsubscribe link. You may opt out at any time, after which we will cease sending you such communications.

Data security We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, and we engage service providers that maintain comparable safeguards. No method of transmission or storage is entirely secure; however, we take appropriate measures to protect the information we collect.

Children's privacy Our website and services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date set out above. Material changes will be communicated where appropriate.

Contact us

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at hello@drfae.com.

+ Am I licensed to work abroad?

• I am an independently licensed psychologist in the District of Columbia. This license is restricted to the jurisdiction in which it was issued, and does not represent an international practice license. As far as I am aware, no such license exists. Many countries have their own regulations for the practice of psychology and counseling, and some have none. As a result, I am limited on what I am allowed to call myself abroad and where I am allowed to practice, because I am not and cannot be licensed in every country around the world.

• Many countries allow therapists the ability to practice, as long as we do not claim restricted titles. Because of this, I need to state that I am not a licensed provider (mental health counselor, psychologist, etc) in any country outside of the US. We will talk about what this means for you in your location in your consultation session and you will have the opportunity to refuse services if you choose.

+ What is therapy?

• Forget every therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist you have ever seen on TV and movies. I haven't seen an accurate portrayal yet.

• In general, therapy is place where you can talk about anything you are struggling with. A therapist is someone who has expertise in the human mind, relationships, and related skills and they use that knowledge to help their clients. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad therapists out there. If you're interested, I wrote about why therapy may not have worked for you in the past.

• Therapy is a priviledged relationship, much like doctor/patient or attorney/client relationships. I am required by law to keep our conversations totally private (confidential) unless there are safety concerns. We will talk about the limits to confidentiality in your first session.

• Therapy is a place where you can
  • Explore ideas/expectations/wants/dreams/decisions without judgement
  • Process painful (and even positive) experiences so you can understand them and make meaning from them.
  • Discover and change patterns that aren’t working for you (By discover, I mean I’m going to call them out if you don’t discuss them first)
  • Build skills/understanding to help you move through life in a way that is aligned with who you are as well as skills to create/maintain an awesome support network to help you along the way

• You’re in charge of what we talk about/work on. My role is supportive. I may give suggestions or feedback, but it’s your life and your choices are always yours to make.

• If you want to read more, the folks over at Good Therapy wrote a great general definition as well as some excellent follow up questions. Their article is HERE.

+ What is the difference between a psychologist, therapist, counselor, and psychiatrist?

• I am a psychologist (I have a PhD). All psychologists can also use terms like counselor, therapist, or psychotherapist. However, “psychologist” is a protected term in some countries (not all) that requires a PhD or PsyD degree.

• Psychiatrists have medical degrees (MDs), went to medical school and can prescribe medication. Some therapists can prescribe medication in some places with an additional certificate. I do not have this certification.

• Some people might argue with me, but I think it’s okay to use the terms counselor, therapist, and psychotherapist interchangeably. I’m not offended if people call me any of these terms. I answer to just about anything. Including the occasional “hey you”.