About Me
Welcome to Whatley Counseling Services! I am Dr. Cierra Whatley, a licensed psychologist and someone who loves to see people hit their stride. My values include facilitating growth, connecting to community, self-love, self-respect, and autonomy which are necessary for quality of life. These values have guided me in my education and career. I earned a BA in Psychology at The Ohio State University, an MEd in Counseling from Howard University, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Akron, in Akron, Oh. I completed my training at the APA-Accredited psychology internship at Duke University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. I began my career at UNC-Charlotte, and am currently working at Stanford University. We all experience suffering in life. But oftentimes our suffering is worsened by social conditions, hostile environments, strained relationships, and stuckness. I want you to know that you have choices. You can build a life that reflects your values, you can seek to have your needs met, and have a life that is worth living. I work best with clients who are seeking wellness and healing after trauma and stagnation.
Why therapy with me?
Interpersonally, I’ve been described as warm and supportive. I can’t wait to cheer you on in your endeavors! I conceptualize clients within the context of their lived experiences and the communities they exist within. considering the context of a client’s full lived experience within family, culture, values, and the process of meaning-making. Utilizing the framework of liberation psychology, multicultural and feminist therapies, and pulling in evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & CBT-Insomnia, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for trauma. I aim to provide culturally responsive care to clients of all backgrounds who are needing to make a change in their lives. In therapy you will find a supportive place to experience difficult emotions and speak hard truths.
I am licensed in the states of California (CA# 33730) and North Carolina (#5705). I'm accepting clients who reside in these states, and have available appointments on Fridays
Good Faith Estimate
The federal “No Surprises Act” you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health services will cost. Under the law, healthcare providers are required to give clients who do not have insurance or are not using insurance an estimate of expected chargers for mental health services. This act also requires that health care providers inform their clients of this right. You have the right to ask your health care provider for a good faith estimate before you schedule a 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 of your bill or take a picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about the Good Faith Estimate, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
Costs
I am not currently on any insurance panels and thus require fee-for-service. You will be charged a fee of $250 after each appointment. Of note, I can provide documentation (Superbills) for submission to your insurance company for reimbursement.