New Clients: Request a Brief Introductory Meeting

We are glad you are considering working with us! We provide counseling and psychotherapy services in-person and virtually. You are welcome to request a brief introductory meeting, a free 15-minute-long informal conversation by phone or secure video call to answer your questions and discuss what you may expect from counseling. If we can assist you, we’ll schedule your first counseling appointment. If we can't meet your needs but know of a colleague who may be able to help you, we'll forward you their contact information.

This informal conversation is not a clinical assessment or a counseling session. However, what you discuss will remain confidential unless your counselor is concerned about your safety or someone else's.

Current Availability

• Dr. Cruz-Ortega is not accepting new clients at this time.
  • Dr. Cruz-Ortega only offers individual counseling for adults. He does not offer couples or family counseling.
  • ​Please, include the specific days & times you are available for counseling appointments on the secure form below to help the psychologist determine when there is an appointment available for you. Dr. Cruz-Ortega sees clients on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 12:00 pm ET to 7:00 pm ET.
  • Services available in-person (Columbus, Ohio) and via secure video call (telehealth).
    • Telehealth sessions are only available to residents of Ohio, Florida, and states that participate in The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). Click here to see a map of the states that participate in the interstate compact: https://psypact.org/page/psypactmap
• ​Ms. Vargas is NOT accepting new clients at this time.
  • Ms. Vargas offers individual and couples counseling.
  • Ms. Vargas offers services in-person (Columbus, Ohio) and via secure video call (telehealth only available to Ohio residents).​
• Please, include the days and times when you are available for counseling sessions in the form below. If there is an opening that matches your schedule, you will receive an email with the day and time of your appointment or with instructions for scheduling your appointment through the online client portal.

Review these links to help you gauge whether we can be helpful

• Services and Areas of Specialty
• Our training, credentials, and approach to counseling:
  • Luis G. Cruz-Ortega, PhD; Licensed Psychologist
  • Vanessa Vargas, MS, MA; Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
• ​We are in-network providers for Aetna, Cigna, Evernorth, Lyra Health, Humana, Medical Mutual of Ohio, OhioHealthy, and OSU Health Plans, among others. Please, check our frequently asked questions page for more information about costs, insurance, and how to access out-of-network benefits.​

​If you need immediate assistance:

• Call 911 or go to your nearest hospital's emergency room
• Crisis Line (Central Ohio, 24/7, confidential, free): 
  • 614-276-2273
  • netcareaccess.org
• The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
  • Call: Dial 988
  • Text: Send a text to 988
  • Web Chat: https://988lifeline.org/chat/
  • Resources: https://988lifeline.org/
• Crisis Text Line (24/7, confidential, free)
  Text “4HOPE” to 741-741

If the secure encrypted form is not loading below, you may access it here:  https://hushforms.com/drluis