We are passionate about providing a positive, happy space for teens and young adults to improve their mental health. We are all moms. We know the struggles this generation is having right now and we are here to help. We have walked in your shoes and we have experienced living with these problems and issues. We have heard the stories from our friends and know the pain that is out there. It is a mental health epidemic right now for these teens and young adults. We are honored to be a part of your journey. We are your stop for a healthy mind.

Cristina Ramos, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Cristina Ramos is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a passion to work alongside her clients to overcome any obstacles that they may encounter. Cristina believes that through counseling, one can find their right path that suits them and works within their values. As a counselor, Cristina’s counseling sessions are empathetic and serve as an open space where all clients can bring their most honest and pure emotions, feelings, and thoughts; a place where they can explore and be their most authentic selves.

Cristina’s Clinical Experience

Cristina specializes in working with young adults and teens who struggle with anxiety, trauma, depression, self-harm, self-esteem, and life transitions. The world can be overwhelming and daunting for this population. Cristina will walk alongside her clients helping them uncover their truths, dig deep and find strategies to live their best lives. Working with a myriad of modalities, she empowers clients to see that change is possible through goal setting and small actions.

Cristina’s Education 

After graduating from Stephen F. Austin with a double major in Psychology and Child Development, she earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas. She has provided therapy in mental health hospitals, residential treatment centers, and private practice. Cristina grew up living around the world and is fluent in Spanish.

Cristina’s Areas of Practice

Her areas of practice include:

• depression

• anxiety

• self-harm

• trauma

• self-esteem

• life transitions

Counseling Services Provided by Cristina

• Pre-teen counseling

• Teen counseling

• Young adult counseling

• Parent consultations

• Telehealth appointments only

On a Personal Note

Cristina enjoys international travel, baking and self-care. She comes from a big family and has lived all over the world, giving her plenty of experience “being the new kid”. She is bilingual and is currently learning a third language.

We invite you to read her The Mind Spot blog posts.

Let’s talk!

 Covid-19 Office Protocols

Our clients are the reason we come to work every day. It is our privilege to provide exceptional counseling services in a safe environment. In every effort to limit exposure to COVID-19, we have implemented specific practices at The Mind Spot above and beyond the CDC guidelines.

1. Each of the counseling offices and the reception area have individual HEPA filters in circulation.

2. Masks are optional

3. Paperless work-flow

6. Virtual counseling sessions are available

7. Clients are asked to arrive no earlier than 5 minutes prior to their scheduled session

Our COVID-19 policy will be monitored and changed as needed to keep clients and staff safe. Thank you for your patience and adherence while in The Mind Spot office.

 YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS

To protect consumers from unexpected medical bills from out-of-network care, Congress signed the “No Surprises Act” into law, effective January 1, 2022.(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

WHAT IS “BALANCE BILLING” (SOMETIMES CALLED“SURPRISE BILLING”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment,coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.”

This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit. “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care -like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. 

You are protected from balance billing for:

EMERGENCY SERVICES

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable  condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. Thisapplies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology,radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon,hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections  not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance  bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections. You’re never required to give up your protection frombalance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

Your health plan generally must:

• Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

• Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

• Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing)on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

• Count any amount you pay for emergency services orout-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:

Texas Secretary of State 512-463-5555

For more information about the Federal law, visit:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf