FAQS
- Who is eligible to apply for Ollie’s Branch?
Heart warriors with any type of childhood-onset heart condition and their parents, siblings, grandparents, or other primary caregivers.
- How many therapy sessions am I able to receive?
Heart family clients receive eight sessions with a therapist. This is eight sessions for each person if multiple in a family want to participate. Hospital staff from participating partner hospitals who work directly with heart families are offered six sessions.
- I am a healthcare professional. Can I receive services?
We offer six therapy sessions for healthcare professionals working at these hospitals: St. Louis Children’s Hospital, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Mercy Children’s Hospital St. Louis, Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Rady Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Staff must work in or directly with the heart center and have been in their position for at least six months. To receive a referral, email olliesbranch@theohhf.org.
- I don't have insurance. Am I still able to meet with a therapist through Ollie's Branch?
Yes! You are eligible for Ollie’s Branch regardless of your insurance status, and we will discuss options based on your needs when you apply.
- What if my child is an inpatient in one state, and then I go back home to another state when they are discharged? Am I able to continue meeting with my therapist?
You must be physically present in the state where your therapist is licensed to continue sessions. For example, if your therapist is licensed in Missouri but you live in Oklahoma and return there after discharge, and your therapist is not licensed there, you will need to work with a licensed therapist in that state.
In many instances, we can continue providing services to you or your family, but you may need to switch to a new Ollie’s Branch therapist in your home state. In these situations, you will start your session count over with the new therapist.
Please reach out to olliesbranch@theohhf.org if you are returning home and will not be able to continue with your current therapist. - My child is not inpatient or is no longer a child, but I would still like to work with a therapist to address my mental health needs. Am I eligible for Ollie's Branch?
Yes, you, your child, or your family can still participate in Ollie’s Branch even if your child is not inpatient, regardless of the age of your heart warrior. This program offers a lifeline to lifelong support.
- My child with a heart condition passed away. Am I eligible to participate in Ollie's Branch?
Yes, Ollie’s Branch services are available to families and caregivers anytime in their journey and for living children and those we keep in our hearts. If you are looking for additional support for grief or connecting other heart parents who have lost their heart warriors, please contact communityoutreach@theohhf.org for more information and resources.
- I already participated in Ollie's Branch a while ago—or someone in my family has participated—but new needs have arisen. Can I participate again?
Yes! Ollie’s Branch is a lifelong support service. If you have new needs and already completed sessions previously, please contact us at olliesbranch@theohhf.org to get started again in services through Ollie’s Branch.
- I am an adult heart warrior or the family member of an adult heart warrior. Am I eligible to participate in Ollie’s Branch?
Yes! Ollie’s Branch is available to adult heart warriors with CHD and their families.
- What other resources do you recommend?
OHHF’s Resources page links to many wonderful organizations based on the type of support you seek. For a specific recommendation based on your needs, please contact us at olliesbranch@theohhf.org. In addition, your hospital’s psychology and social work team is also a great resource.
- How does the process work?
You may refer yourself by completing our online application or speaking with your hospital social worker to have them send a referral to Ollie’s Branch. Once we receive a service request, we review the information in the intake form, identify a therapist within our community who may be a good fit, and make the match. The therapist will then contact you to schedule an appointment at a time that works for both parties.
- When I submit a request or contact you, how quickly should I expect to hear from you? Do I have to go on a waitlist?
An OHHF team member will respond to your request within a week, and you can expect to be matched with a therapist within a few weeks.
Unfortunately, due to limited funding, Ollie’s Branch can only serve individuals and families referred from an existing partner. Click this link to see our current hospital or social partners (see map). We will place your name and information on our waitlist should Ollie’s Branch become available in your state and reach out to you in the future to see if you may be interested in services.
- Will I receive a bill for services?
Based on your application, OHHF determines if you have any financial responsibility for Ollie’s Branch services. You may have no financial responsibility or be responsible for paying your copay or deductible if using insurance or a sliding fee rate if you do not have insurance, your insurance does not cover mental health care, or the therapist does not take insurance. We will work individually with you to meet your needs.
If you receive a bill from the therapist you were matched to and believe it to be an error or are unsure, please contact olliesbranch@theohhf.org, and we will help navigate this for you.
- How do I attend a session? Can I see a therapist in person?
Therapy sessions can be done virtually via Telehealth or in person if Ollie’s Branch has an in-person therapist in your community. Note that OHHF cannot guarantee therapists’ immediate in-person availability. Once you are scheduled, OHHF and your therapist will share instructions for joining the virtual session or attending in person.
- I don’t have a smartphone, computer, tablet, or iPad to attend a virtual session. Can I still receive therapy?
Yes, on the Ollie’s Branch Intake form, you can select that you need an iPad for virtual mental health therapy and our Telehealth vendor will send you an iPad to use for the duration of your care in Ollie’s Branch.
- How long is each therapy session?
Each therapy session is 50 minutes unless otherwise discussed with your therapist.
- Does OHHF receive any personal information or details I share with my therapist?
OHHF has the information you provide on your intake form, receives your self-reported data via a satisfaction survey at the end of care, and receives de-identified clinical data related to depression and anxiety using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) for adult clients or the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for minor clients at start and end of care. This data is crucial to showing the program’s impact to qualify for grant funding.
Review OHHF’s privacy policy.
- What happens if I miss a session with my therapist?
We understand that life while caring for a child with pediatric heart disease is unpredictable, especially for parents who are inpatient with their heart warrior. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, you do so at least 24 hours in advance. If you miss a session due to an emergency, we understand and will allow you to reschedule. However, anyone who misses two sessions will be removed from the program.
Note therapists in our community may have differing cancellation policies, and OHHF defers to those policies in place of the one listed above.
- How do you choose the therapists who are part of the Ollie’s Branch therapist community? Do they all have professional degrees?
Ollie’s Branch therapists are a diverse group of individuals who all have backgrounds in treating patients dealing with trauma, loss, anxiety, depression, and resiliency. All therapists are fully or provisionally licensed (This means a therapist can practice counseling under supervision while they complete the requirements for full licensure). in the market they support. If a therapist is provisionally licensed, the therapy practice has direct supervision until the therapist is fully licensed.
- I didn’t click with the therapist I was matched with. Can I try someone else?
Of course! While we think our therapists are wonderful, we also understand that therapy is a personal experience. Sometimes, you might not connect with someone for one reason or another. Contact olliesbranch@theohhf.org to let us know what isn’t working, and we will work to find a better fit.
