FAQs

COVID-19 update

While SARS COV-2 remains an ongoing public health risk, HIPAA-compliant tele-health sessions are being offered to existing clients. With limited availability, new clients will be considered beginning in early 2021.

How many sessions are recommended? How soon will I feel different?

Results vary from person to person. Some people feel immediate shifts in a session, and more significant long-term change builds incrementally. Years of stress and related patterns were put into place over time. Similarly both time and space are needed to establish new patterns and behaviors as well as to restore and repair. While there are prescriptive and protocol-driven forms of short-term therapy available, lasting sustainable change requires attuned approaches tailored to each individual.

For example, benefits from a nine-month period are quite different from results after three years or more of professional support. The former may appreciate having gained awareness of her patterns and valued having a neutral space to hear herself as well as receive feedback. The latter may see his life changed with a greater sense of confidence, growth in his career as well as more satisfying, loving relationships. As trust and security are established over time with a practitioner, more can be explored and experimented with. As initial goals and outcomes are fulfilled, new themes and directions for working together reveal themselves along the way.

How long are sessions? How often will I need to come in?

Sessions are typically 45 minutes. A weekly commitment allows awareness and insights to be reinforced over time, establishes consistency and provides the opportunity for a special relationship to grow between you and your therapist.

In rare cases, other arrangements will be considered particularly when an individual has an existing long-term therapeutic relationship and wants to include adjunctive trauma-informed treatment. (At this time due to scheduling limitations, I am not taking on clients seeking non-weekly adjunctive treatment.)

How long do I have to change or cancel a scheduled appointment?

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please provide a minimum of 48 hours notice before your appointment time. If you do not cancel or ask to reschedule with sufficient advance notice, you will be responsible for the session fee. For a forgotten appointment with no notice (or no-show), you will be charged the practitioner’s full fee.

Clients who submit claims to insurance are personally responsible for fees related to late cancellations and not showing up for appointments. Insurance will not cover these incidents.

What are your rates? Which forms of payment do you accept?

Rates will be discussed during the initial introductory phone call. Please email (at top of page) or use the contact form to schedule a session. Payment is due at the time of service. Various forms of payment are accepted for your convenience.

Will my insurance cover your services?

I am not currently an in-network provider contracted with insurance companies, Medicare nor Medicaid.

There are many different insurers and each plan is unique based on your benefits, coinsurance, deductible or any other member out-of-pocket costs. It’s important to review your coverage documents, benefit plan or contact your insurance administrator for details.

If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you will likely be able to seek reimbursement for a portion of services. Please inquire with your insurance plan administrator regarding the details of your out-of-network benefits for behavioral health. Some helpful questions to ask your insurance company:

  • Do you need pre-approval for outpatient mental health services (or a referral before seeing a specialist)?
  • What is your annual deductible? Have you met it yet? How much have you accumulated to date? Does my deductible follow the calendar year, or reset following a plan year?
  • Are medical and behavioral health integrated, or are they separate deductibles?
  • What percentage are you responsible for after meeting your deductible?
  • How does your plan calculate the reimbursement rate for out-of-network services?
  • What is your out-of-pocket maximum if any?
  • Is there a limit to the number of sessions for outpatient mental health?
  • How long do you have to submit a claim?

At your request, you will be provided a monthly invoice (or ‘superbill’) for you to submit to your insurance company. Please note that reimbursement is not guaranteed, which depends on your individual plan’s coverage and claim processing. Regardless of the outcome with your insurance company, payment is due after each session.

Some helpful references on insurance and the costs for mental health:

What do I need to know about my insurance benefits? from Mental Health America

What you need to know about mental health coverage from the American Psychological Association

Types of Out-of-Network Reimbursement from Fair Health Consumer

A Guide To Allowed Amounts by Rachel Norman, Better

Why do therapists charge so much? by Patrick Bryant, PsychCentral

Why is therapy so expensive? by Nicole Pajer, HuffPost

Working with a professional is an investment you choose, which can have lasting positive impacts on all areas of your life. Greater fulfillment, ease, happiness and vitality – while difficult to assign direct monetary values to – are just a few of the advantages of having professional support.