About Pursuit of Happiness
What services does POH provide?
What makes POH special?
How can I apply to work with POH as a counselor?
Does POH testify in court?
Where are you located?
Submitting a Referral for Counseling
How do I submit a referral for counseling, and what should I expect after I do?
Can I request a specific counselor?
How do I submit a referral for CANS?
Who can submit the referral for counseling?
What if there are no counselors currently covering my area?
Once Counseling has started
What should I expect after a counselor has been assigned?
What should I expect at the first session?
Do I have to be home when the counselor is there?
What if I want to transfer to another counselor?
I’m a member of the foster care treatment team, how do I get notes?
Permanency Plans, Adoptions, Insurance
Does POH accept Insurance?
Our DFPS case is closing (adoption, reunification, etc.), what do we need to do?
How does POH help foster kids prepare for their permanency plan?
Do I need to tell anyone if my insurance changes?
Can our counselor continue working with our child after a DFPS case is closed?
General Mental Health Treatment FAQs
How can Therapy Help me?
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
What is Therapy like?
About Pursuit of Happiness
What services does POH provide?
Pursuit of Happiness offers Counseling Services & CANS 3.0 Assessments for children in foster care, adults, and for the Geriatric Population.
Foster Care Counseling Services
- Individual Counseling
- Sibling Counseling
- Child-Centered Family Counseling
- CANS 3.0
Geriatric Counseling Services
- Individual Counseling
- Family Counseling
What makes POH special?
We have been serving foster children & families in Texas since 2011. This is a specialized population, and we understand that their mental health needs are unique. We work hard to hire counselors who have a heart for this population and who can commit to continuing services with children in their caseload as long as needed.
Our counselors are trauma-informed and work to co-create a treatment plan with the child’s treatment team to ensure specific needs are addressed.
Since 2024, we have expanded our services to include general counseling for children and adults throughout the lifespan. We have an additional group of counselors who have a heart for working with the Geriatric population as well.
How can I apply to work with POH as a counselor?
We are always looking for quality clinicians who have a heart for working with this special group of kids. If you are interested in working with us, please send us an email to [email protected] with your resume and the cities you are willing to cover for in-home counseling services.
You must have experience providing mental health counseling to children with trauma (ages 3+) and be fully licensed as a LPC, LCSW, or LMFT. Sorry no interns/associates.
Does POH testify in court?
According to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Counseling (the licensing regulatory board of Texas) counselors are not legally or ethically able to provide recommendations or opinions on custody or placement. We share our notes directly with DFPS and are willing to participate in treatment team meetings, but we ask that our counselors not be subpoenaed to testify in court.
Court testimonies by the counselor are not always in the best interest of the therapeutic relationship. If a subpoena is issued, Pursuit of Happiness has court fees that must be paid to the counselor prior to preparation for testimony begins.
No one other than the party issuing the subpoena will be responsible for court fees.
Here is the relevant portion of our informed consent:
I understand that if I require Pursuit of Happiness to print paper copies of records, I will pay a sum of $1 per page to Pursuit of Happiness. If a request is made for an affidavit to be filled out or documents to be notarized, there will be a $50 convenience fee for this service. In the event that a counselor from Pursuit of Happiness is subpoenaed to testify in court, the party issuing the subpoena will be responsible for all associated fees. These fees, which must be paid in advance, are as follows:
- Preparation time (including submission of records): $220/hr
- Phone calls: $220/hr
- Depositions: $250/hour
- Time required in giving testimony: $250/hour
- Mileage: $0.40/mile
- Time away from office due to depositions or testimony: $220/hour
- All attorney fees and costs incurred by the therapist as a result of the legal action.
- Filing a document with the court: $100
- The minimum charge for a court appearance: $1500
A retainer of $1500 is due in advance. If a subpoena or notice to meet attorney(s) is received without a minimum of 48-hour notice there will be an additional $250 “express” charge. Also, if the case is reset with less than 72 business hours notice, then the client will be charged $500 (in addition to the retainer of $1500).
Finally, all fees are doubled if the clinician had scheduled plans to go out of town.
Where are you located?
We have counselors available for in-home & telehealth counseling all across the great state of Texas. To view our coverage map and search by your zip code to view our service areas, please visit our coverage area map.
Submitting a Referral for Counseling
How do I submit a referral for counseling, and what should I expect after I do?
Who can complete the forms?
Children in Foster Care: Forms can be completed by a legal guardian or medical consenter (DFPS Caseworker, placement agency case manager, caregiver)
Children not in Foster Care: Forms can be completed by a legal guardian
Adults: Forms can be completed by you–please use “N/A” for questions that don’t apply.
I submitted the forms. What do I do now?
As soon as we receive the referral, we'll reach out to local counselors to determine availability and then email you and the treatment team (DFPS caseworker, Placement agency case manager, etc.) to introduce the counselor.
Is anything else needed before counseling can get started?
For children in Foster Care: Yes. Please email the following to [email protected]
1. Medical Consenter Form 2085-B (everyone who is a medical consenter will be listed on this form and should have access)
As soon as this is received, we can share links with the treatment team to access notes directly. These links will update automatically as notes are submitted—which makes life a whole lot easier!
Can I request a specific counselor?
Yes! If you’d like to request a counselor by name, you can do so when you complete our online referral tool. Please enter the full name of the preferred counselor in the “Patient Diagnostic History and any treatment preferences” section of the referral.
How do I submit a referral for CANS 3.0?
If we are already providing counseling for your kiddo, no need to submit a new referral. Please just reach out to us directly ([email protected]) and we'll get this set up immediately.
If we are not currently working with your child, please submit a referral for CANS 3.0 using the same referral link as you would use to submit a referral for counseling! There is an option at the bottom of the referral to select your desired services.
Please note that a CANS 3.0 can only be performed once per patient per rolling year and CANS 3.0 is only available for children in foster care ages 3 and older. Please Only submit a CANS 3.0 request if there has not been a CANS Assessment completed within the past year.
Who can submit the referral for counseling?
Anyone is able to submit the referral for counseling. Before doing so, please make sure that everyone on the treatment team is on the same page!
Also, please be prepared to provide the name and contact information (including email) for the treatment team so all can be included in the counseling introduction.
What if there are no counselors currently covering my area?
If our interactive map does not show current coverage in your area, please go ahead and submit a referral so we can review additional options that may fit your needs.
Also, please check back often; We are constantly growing and look forward to working with your family!
Once Counseling has started
What should I expect after a counselor has been assigned?
Once a counselor is assigned, we will email an introduction and the assigned counselor will be your primary contact from that point on! You can communicate with your assigned counselor directly for questions about scheduling, counseling goals, or to share additional information about this case.
Your counselor will reach out to you within 1 business day via phone/email. If they can’t get in touch with you, they’ll reach out to the treatment team for additional support.
Please complete the following before sessions begin:
1) If you haven't done so already, please make sure to complete the informed consent to treatment prior to the first session.
If you have questions on whether or not your informed consent has been received or if you have any trouble with the form, please contact your assigned counselor directly. A legal guardian or medical consenter can complete this entirely online here: Informed Consent to Treatment
2) Please send us the contact information (name, email, and phone number) for the caregiver and any additional members of the treatment team (caregiver, placement agency, DFPS, CASA, etc.) that we may not have included here so we can include them in the process and communicate as needed.
3) Please send the following directly to [email protected]:
- Medical Consenter Form 2085-B (everyone who is a medical consenter will be listed on this form and should have access)
- Court appointment linking CASA & Ad litem to the case (if applicable)
What should I expect at the first session?
The first session is typically the intake appointment. This session usually lasts about an hour and is an information gathering session where the family and counselor co-create a treatment plan based on the unique needs of the child.
The patient and caregiver/legal guardian must be present for the intake appointment.
Do I have to be home when the counselor is there?
Yes. Any time a counselor is in your home, there must be a legal guardian or medical consenter present at all times.
What if I want to transfer to another counselor?
We understand that the therapeutic relationship is the heart of the mental health dynamic–and it is the number one indicator for therapeutic progress. We want you to feel comfortable and confident about the counselor who is assigned to you.
That said, if an issue arises, we ask that you first attempt to communicate with the counselor directly so they have a chance to make changes and discuss with you.
If the issue relates to scheduling, please explore options with the counselor and treatment team, if at all possible, prior to requesting a transfer.
If you’ve already attempted to communicate with your counselor and have not been able to resolve/repair the issue, the counselor can provide you with the contact information for the appropriate person who can work on a transfer.
We’ll do our best to get you reassigned to another counselor who may be a better fit.
I’m a member of the foster care treatment team, how do I get notes?
We are happy to share notes with the treatment team, and we recognize how important it is for you to receive timely notes to remain in compliance. We’ve designed a system that allows you access notes whenever is convenient for you.
Here’s a checklist of all we need to be able to share notes with you and communicate freely with all members of the treatment team:
- Signed Informed Consent to Treatment
- Medical Consenter Form 2085-B (everyone who is a medical consenter will be listed on this form and should have access)
- Court appointment linking CASA &/or Ad Litem to the case (if applicable
As soon as we receive the required documents, we will share a link with you to access notes directly that will update weekly as new sessions occur and notes are submitted. For questions about what we have on file please email your assigned counselor and [email protected].
Permanency Plans, Adoptions, Insurance
Does POH accept Insurance?
Yes. We accept Medicare, Traditional Medicaid, Superior Healthplan, Aetna Medicaid, Cooks Medicaid, and Parkland Medicaid.
The easiest way to see if we are in network with your plan is to submit a referral. We’ll verify insurance and either send an email to introduce the assigned counselor or discuss options.
Our DFPS case is closing (adoption, reunification, etc.), what do we need to do?
Every time a case closes, we like to discuss insurance to make sure there aren't any surprises.
Continuity of care is important to us, and if at all possible, we’d love to continue working with you after your child is no longer in foster care.
We are in network with Traditional Medicaid, Superior Healthplan, Aetna Medicaid, Cooks Medicaid, Parkland Medicaid, and Medicare. Sometimes when a case closes, insurance changes and the families are not aware that they need to communicate that with us.
Please let us know if anything changes with insurance so we can verify that we are still covered.
***If anything changes, and you don't verify with us first, you will be responsible for private pay.
How does POH help foster kids prepare for their permanency plan?
Our counselors work with the treatment team and caregivers to gather as much information as possible regarding permanency plans for the kiddo. The assigned counselor uses that information to create short-term and long-term clinical goals so that the child can prepare for the upcoming changes, as clinically appropriate.
Do I need to tell anyone if my insurance changes?
Yes please! We are in network with Traditional Medicaid, Superior Healthplan, Aetna Medicaid, Cooks Medicaid, Parkland Medicaid, and Medicare.
Please let us know if anything changes with insurance so we can verify that we are still covered.
***If anything changes, and you don't verify with us first, you might be responsible for private pay.
Can our counselor continue working with our child after a DFPS case is closed?
We would love to! If you’d like to continue working with your counselor after a DFPS case closes, please email please email [email protected] and your assigned counselor so we can verify insurance and counselor availability.
General Mental Health Treatment FAQs
How can Therapy Help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
What is Therapy like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
Contact Us
If you are currently working with one of our counselors and have questions about treatment goals, session frequency, etc., please contact the counselor directly. Every time a counselor is assigned, we send a Counseling Referral Confirmation introducing the assigned counselor with all of their contact information. Speaking directly with the counselor is typically the best way to communicate about an ongoing case.
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To submit documentation or to request access to notes, please email:
Dwona Orona
Administrative Coordinator
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