Frequently Asked Questions

The goal of therapy is to reduce emotional pain and improve a person’s experience in the world and in relationships. Therapy is different than talking with friends or family because you will have a safe and confidential space where you can share without judgement. Having a professional assist you could be the most effective and efficient path to the life you deserve. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to arrange a free 15-minute phone consultation.

The first step is finding the right therapist. I offer a free phone or video consultation so you can decide if I would be a good fit, and we can explore how I might be able to help you. During the first few sessions we will define the goals and we will work together to help you achieve those goals. Sometimes things can seem worse before they get better as you try new ways of approaching problems. Being open to new ideas and trying new things will likely improve the outcome.

How long therapy will take is dependent upon a client’s learning curve, life circumstances, severity or chronicity of an issue, and a client’s desired appointment frequency. Some experience relief after simply sharing their story in the first session, while others may not see significant change for the first month to six months, and others longer. My goal is to help you meet your goals and to stop seeing you as soon as possible!

Online therapy, also known as distance counseling or Telehealth, is the practice of providing therapy services via email, telephone, video or other electronic means. Most often, sessions are conducted over phone or video. Distance counseling is appropriate for addressing most issues and can make counseling more accessible to those who have trouble making in-office appointments.

 

Distance counseling is not appropriate for everyone. If you would like more information on online therapy, please contact us today.

What you say in therapy, your records, and even your attendance are confidential. Confidentiality is a key element of what makes therapy work. You have the right to a safe and confidential therapy experience.

However there are some exceptions:

• When you give written permission to release information
• When your records are subpoenaed for legal reasons
• When reporting is required or allowed by law (example: child abuse or neglect, extreme danger to self, elder abuse, danger to others, or viewing or possession of child pornography)

Therapy is definitely an investment of time, energy and money. My fee is $115 for individuals and $160 for couples per 50 min session. If the fee is a concern for you, please schedule a consultation call and I would be happy to discuss my income based sliding scale options. I aim to provide affordable and accessible services. Sessions can weekly or bi-weekly depending on your needs and goals. I require at least 24 hours’ notice for change or cancellation of appointments.

I am currently not participating with any insurance carriers. However, if your insurance covers ‘out-of-network providers’ (typically PPO insurance plans) they may reimburse you for part of my fee. You should contact them to determine what the reimbursement rates on your plan are. I am happy to provide you with proof of service so you may recover some of your costs.

 

Keep in mind, there are many reasons an insurance company may not reimburse for sessions that you have paid for. This may be because you do not have a diagnosis, or the diagnosis you do have is not covered. It may also be because they do not reimburse for out of network providers, or for telehealth. Reimbursement should be viewed as a bonus, not a financial necessity in order to participate in therapy with me.

When scheduling your appointment and considering your payment options there are several advantages to private pay that you may want to consider:

 

Confidentiality

Insurance companies expect satisfactory documentation before they will pay (or reimburse) for your therapy sessions. All therapists, counselors and psychologists are directed by federal law to keep confidential records. When you make the decision to use your insurance company, counselors/therapists must ask you to sign a waiver that allows us to communicate this confidential information to your insurance company. At a minimum, this confidential information includes dates of service and a mental health diagnosis. In the event your insurance company requires preauthorization for treatment and/or reviews your file, additional information, such as therapeutic session notes, must be provided to your insurance company.

 

It’s important to note that this information becomes part of your record and could be used by insurance companies to raise your insurance rates as well as prevent you from being able to obtain life insurance (N1), disability insurance, as well as future private health insurance should you make the decision to become self-employed in the future.

 

Insurance companies are members of the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) and medical conditions and mental health disorders are reported by the insurance companies to the Medical Information Bureau. This information, including mental health diagnoses, may not only have an effect on your future insurance coverage but it can also affect your eligibility into the armed forces and can even negatively affect your driving record and ability to participate in risky sports. When you apply for health insurance, life insurance or disability insurance, your perspective insurance provider obtains a report of your records from the MIB. This is information is particularly important when you are making a decision about therapy for your children.

 

Because insurance reimbursement rates are low, paperwork is time-consuming, and coverage is tightly managed and limited, more and more counselors, therapists and psychologist are making the decision not to participate in managed health care insurance networks. This may affect your ability to get the best care possible.

 

Treatment
When paying for counseling out-of-pocket your treatment can be individualized to best fit you. Many times for insurance companies to pay for counseling they will limit the types of diagnoses that can be given, will not cover charges for marital counseling or personal growth, and may limit the duration of the treatment (i.e. only allowing a certain number of sessions and/or limiting the length of a session).