Frequently Asked Questions about Therapy
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My rate is $325 for each 45-minute individual appointment.
Payments are accepted via major credit cards.
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No, I do not take insurance. I’m considered an “out-of-network” provider.
That being said, the type of health insurance that you have may provide out-of-network benefits. If your health insurance provides these benefits, you’ll likely be eligible to receive a reimbursement for therapy at a specific percentage of your total paid costs once you meet the annual deductible. At the beginning of the month, I’ll email you a receipt of services (this is called a “super bill”) if you have out-of-network benefits so that you can submit it to your insurance company.
For example, your health insurance provides you with out-of-network benefits that comes with a 60% reimbursement rate once you meet the $1000 deductible. This means that you’d need to pay $1000 out of pocket (and submit the accompanying super bills to your insurance company as required documentation) before you can begin to be reimbursed at 60% of the cost that you’ll pay once you’ve met the $1000 payment requirement. You’d also be required to submit the super bills to your insurance company on an ongoing basis (e.g., every month) to ensure reimbursement.
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You would need to call the Member Services number on the back of your insurance card to confirm that you have out-of-network benefits. When you talk to the Member Services agent, ask:
1. Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient psychotherapy or mental health services? (Usually, a PPO provides these types of benefits.)
2. What is my deductible, and how much of it have I already met this year?
3. What is my out-of-network coinsurance for outpatient mental health services?
4. Do I need a referral or pre-certification from an in-network provider to see an out-of-network provider?
5. How do I submit claims for reimbursement?
6. What is the rate for reimbursement for the CPT diagnostic code 90834-95 or 90834-GT (i.e., 45-minute individual therapy session provided by teletherapy)?
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There is no clear-cut or correct answer to this question. It largely depends on your goals and situation. Some individuals find relief and choose to end therapy after 6-8 weekly sessions, while others decide to engage in therapy long term (more than 20 sessions). Often, individuals choose to remain in therapy (after having addressed their initial concerns) to work through additional issues that come up. Whatever your situation, we can work together to help you decide what would best support your needs.
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We will meet via teletherapy using a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Once we schedule an appointment, I will send you the link to our virtual session. You can join our session (without having to download software) from wherever you are, as long as you’re in a private space with good internet connection.
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First, request a free 15-minute consultation by completing the survey on the Contact Me page. You’ll meet with me by phone for a 15-minute consultation. The purpose of this brief initial phone call is for me to get an idea of your concerns and for us to confirm that we’re a good fit to work together. I’ll call you at the number you provide me in the contact form or by email. We’ll briefly discuss what brings you to therapy at this time, along with what you’d like to get out of therapy. This is also a chance for you to ask me any initial questions you have for me. By the end of our phone call, we can decide to schedule your first appointment or make an alternative plan.
If we decide to work together:
I meet with clients 1x/week for 45 minutes.
(As we meet, the most important component of therapy is developing a good working relationship and feeling comfortable with how fast or slow we work together. I will encourage you to check in with yourself periodically about how you feel. If you sense that something feels off, please check in with me so we can address it.)
In the first few sessions, I will get to know you and your primary concerns. To better understand how your concerns may have developed and how it has been affecting your daily life, I will collect information about possible triggering events and background information. Background information includes mental and physical health history; relationships with family members, work colleagues, friends, and other individuals; and interests or hobbies. The information gathered will be used to guide our work together. By the end of these initial sessions, I will recommend next steps, and we would agree on the initial direction for therapy. Later sessions will usually be driven by you and what you’d like to address. We’ll also continue to discuss recurring themes, or core issues – along with the thoughts and emotions that come with these issues – together. In addition, I will teach you skills that you can use to address week-to-week concerns and thematic issues.
As part of ongoing assessment, I like to ask for feedback and check in with you about how therapy is going for you. In addition, I also like to collect data that can indicate how you are doing as a quantitative indication of whether therapy has been working for you. I will tailor therapy based on your presenting concerns, core issues, and response to therapy.
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I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Late cancellations (cancellations made within 24 hours), as well as no-shows, will be billed the full session rate.
If my schedule allows it, I will reschedule your appointment within the week.
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Although the initial consultation is meant to confirm fit, sometimes gauging a therapist-client match doesn’t happen until after the first session or the first several sessions.
If I realize that I cannot provide the support that you’d like or need after I have collected additional information during our initial sessions, I will discuss this with you during our session and provide you with referrals to other therapists who may be able to help you.
If you realize that I am not as good of a fit as you initially thought, please bring this up to me during our session. I am happy to provide you with the contact information to other therapists who may be able to provide you with the support you need.
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I am not a crisis counselor and do not handle emergencies.
If you are in crisis and/or require immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
Other crisis/emergency resources include:
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988 or view their website.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 or visit the Crisis Text Line website for more information.
The Trevor Project: Connect with a trained counselor anytime by calling 866-488-7386. Or, text START to 678-678. Visit The Trevor Project’s website to learn more.
Mobile crisis team: Call 988 and visit The Mobile Crisis Team website
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In my experience, individuals who are motivated, engaged, growth-oriented, and willing to receive ongoing feedback are those who get the most of their sessions with me. In addition, those who commit to attending regular, ongoing therapy sessions and complete the recommended homework/skill practice in between sessions find their experience fulfilling and worthwhile.
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Getting started is easy:
1. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation by clicking on the “Contact Me” or “Book a free 15-minute phone consultation” button below.
2. Meet for the phone consultation and book a first appointment to create a plan together.
3. Identify what a fulfilling life looks like for you, what your core values are, and learn and practice effective coping skills.