FAQs

No two clients will ever be given the same, “prescriptive” services. I tailor my counseling strategies to the unique needs and personality styles of each individual. My therapy sessions run for 50 minutes, and you will have my undivided attention during this time. Some people need to come to counseling weekly, while others may need to come once or twice a month. Following an initial intake session where we thoroughly discuss your background and needs, we will develop a treatment plan. This plan is always amenable to change. If you’ve never been to counseling before, try to imagine sitting in the living room of an old friend. Therapy is often as simple as a conversation. Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry, sometimes you ask questions and sometimes you give answers. My goal is to make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and safe to work on issues causing trouble for you.

As with my counseling services, no two evaluations are ever the same. I am thorough in gathering background information together with your help, conducting observations in both the counseling and naturalistic settings if possible, and selecting instruments which are sensitive to the cultural backgrounds and specific needs of my clients. I am careful to try and rule out other disorders which may “look like” the area of concern. For example, some doctors and therapists may only look at ADHD when a parent comes to them with concerns about inattention, distractibility, and difficulty with work completion. I know firsthand that these symptoms, while at first glance may seem indicative of ADHD, may be a sign of a different issue (e.g., anxiety, learning difficulties, processing difficulties, to name a few). Think of it this way: if you went to your physician with a stomachache, the goal should be for the doctor to perform a comprehensive exam. While it’s possible that you have something as benign as indigestion, your doctor should ask plenty of questions, or even perform some diagnostic assessments in his office for other concerns. This may lead to further testing such as labwork or x-rays, and you may find out that your stomach pains may actually be radiating from your chest and are due to your heart! In a similar way, it is my goal to ensure that my evaluations take a comprehensive approach.

I provide services to clients on a self-pay basis only. At first glance, use of insurance may seem beneficial, as it may lower your out-of-pocket costs. However, there are significant downfalls to the use of insurance when it comes to mental health services. First, insurance companies do NOT see you as an individual with needs that are unique. In order to be eligible for services with insurance, you must be given a diagnosis. In certain cases, you may just need help navigating your current life or family circumstances, such as help with parenting, communication between you and your child, or assistance with typical grief reactions; this does not in my opinion necessitate me diagnosing you with a “disorder”, per se. Once given a diagnosis, the insurance companies dictate that treatment goals focus on your diagnosis, not necessarily on the many other factors which may have brought you to therapy in the first place. Second, insurance companies dictate session frequency and length. In some cases, they provide you with only a handful of sessions, and have the right to terminate services at any time for various reasons. As the client, this leaves you suddenly without mental health care, sometimes without notice. In terms of session length, although my sessions are typically 50 minutes, I have had circumstances where a family needed more time with me, and with self-pay, I am able to offer this option. When utilizing insurance, your session lengths are pre-determined and neither you nor I have control over that. Finally, with self-pay, I can assure you that your records and information are completely safe and held in strictest confidence. With insurance, your mental health (and required diagnosis for treatment coverage) become part of your medical record. This may have an effect on future medical coverage or even life insurance coverage, and aspects of your health record may be accessible by other agencies. With self-pay, your records stay with me only, and are not shared except in the case of your express written consent, or in cases protected by law (e.g., your safety or the safety of others is at risk). The most effective treatment occurs when both you and I can coordinate and determine your services together and make any decisions necessary to promote success; not when a managed care company dictates the decisions we make.

Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don't have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.

Your therapy or evaluation appointment has been set just for you. I request that my clients provide me with a minimum of 48 hours prior to canceling an appointment, as it is often difficult to fill an appointment slot once it has been canceled. Failure to cancel a minimum of 48 hours in advance will result in a charge to you for the usual hourly fee.

Forms for our initial session together will be emailed directly to you via a HIPAA-compliant and secure portal upon scheduling an appointment. Please complete these forms prior to our initial session together so that we can focus our time together on discussion rather than on completing and reviewing forms.

Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the courage to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then. In our work together, I’ll help you explore and identify your strengths and how to implement them to reduce the influence of the problems you are facing.

Medication can be effective but it alone cannot solve all issues. Sometimes medication is needed in conjunction with counseling. Our work together is designed to explore and unpack the problems you are experiencing and expand on your strengths that can help you accomplish your personal goals. I also work regularly as a team with psychiatrists and neurologists for clients who are taking medication to ensure your treatment goals are most effectively reached.