Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will answer my phone call or email
message?
A: I will personally respond, generally within 24 hours during week days
Q: What will my first appointment consist
of?
A: Your first appointment will be a consultation visit lasting approximately
70 minutes. This is a time for me to become acquainted with your current
life and what you wish to address in therapy. It is also a time
for you to get a sense of who I am and how I work. Generally, by
the end of this consultation, I will be able to offer some initial
observations and recommendations for how to proceed.
Q: How can I evaluate my insurance plan for mental health
coverage?
A:Contact your insurance health plan to determine if outpatient psychotherapy is covered. The
customer service phone number should be on your insurance card. There may be a separate phone number for mental health benefits.
Some insurance companies have comprehensive information on their websites.
Ask if the full cost of treatment is covered, or only a part. Benefits vary widely. Ask about limits of coverage such as the number of visits per year or annual or lifetime maximums.
Find out if there is a group of “preferred providers” or a "network," that you must choose from or if you can choose any qualified provider. If you a member of an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), you generally must see a therapist who is contracted with the HMO in order to receive any benefit. Otherwise the entire fee for services will be your full responsibility. If you are member of a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), you must choose from the “network’ in order to receive the maximum financial benefit. Generally with PPO’s, you will also have “out-of-network” benefits, which allow you to choose any qualified provider and your out-of-pocket expenses will be higher.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A:I do work with insurance companies as an out-of-network provider. It
is a simple process and I will be happy to help you with it. First,
contact your insurance company and inquire about your mental health
"out-of-network benefits". Generally, insurance companies can reimburse
anywhere from 50% to 100% percent depending on your plan and deductible.
You will pay my fee upfront. Then, I will provide you with the necessary
form for you to submit to your insurance carrier for reimbursement.
Q: How long are all subsequent sessions?
A: Most individual sessions are 45 minutes. However, I
find that some clients prefer longer sessions. If we decide that
longer sessions are more useful, we will work that out together.
Q: Is what I share with my therapist confidential?
A: Your confidentiality is protected by state law
and by the rules of my profession. All information concerning patients
is held confidential and is released only through procedures consistent
with the law and professional ethics. If you have questions about limits
of confidentiality, I will be glad to discuss these with you.
Q: What if I think I need to be evaluated for
medications or I am already prescribed medications?
A: I am licensed and trained to practice psychotherapy and I do not
prescribe medications. However, I am well acquainted with most
psychotropic medications and frequently consult with physicians who prescribe
these medications in an effort provide you and your physician with
observations that might be helpful in your medication management.