How do I know if I can benefit from therapy?

Taking the first step to seek out therapy means you have already made several observations about yourself. You may notice that you are at a place in your life where your days feel more difficult than usual and your relationships with others may be suffering. Perhaps you have been online reading different articles on psychology or self-help because you feel something is not quite “right”. Or maybe you have been noticing physical symptoms that you are have brought to the attention of a doctor or other healthcare professional who may suggest that psychotherapy could be an option to help alleviate those symptoms. Perhaps you feel that just talking about your problems will help. If this sounds like you, working with a trained professional may be your next step.

How long do we meet for?

The initial intake appointment is 60 minutes. Ongoing sessions are 50 minutes. There is no set number of sessions one will need in order to treat a presenting problem. The length of psychotherapy will vary according to your needs and the goals you would like to accomplish. In general, psychotherapy can continue so long as there is a benefit to you. But this is a decision that we will come up with together based on your personal needs.

How often do we need to meet?

For adults, treatment is optimal if we are able to meet once a week so I can do initial assessments, learn about your background, identify immediate goals, and lay out a plan for treatment. With children and teens, I will meet with the parents and child during the first session. From there, I prefer to meet with the child alone and then meet with the parents every 4-6 weeks to inform them on progress. This allows time for the child to develop a trusting relationship with me as a basis for working on the presenting problem.

How do I explain therapy to my child?

This is a question parents often ask when they are bringing their child to therapy for the first time. It is helpful to explain that a therapist’s job is to help the child figure out what to do when they have been struggling with a problem. It is also important for the child to know that this will be a time for them talk or play without interruption. The session is just for them and they do not need to share it with anyone else.

Due to the virtual nature of our sessions, I do not recommend scheduling virtual therapy for children under the age of 10. In-person therapy sessions are often preferred at a younger age.

Do you take insurance?

Yes! I am currently accepting Aetna, United Health Care and Optum.

If you do not have one of these insurers, you can often be reimbursed for a percentage of each session if you have a PPO plan and identify me as an “out-of-network” provider. I can provide you with a monthly statement to submit to your insurance plan.

Here are some helpful questions to ask your insurer:

Do I have mental health coverage for an out-of-network provider? Do I have a yearly deductible I must meet before being eligible to receive benefits? How many sessions are allowed per calendar year?

Is this a confidential space?

Therapists are held to strict legal standards of confidentiality. Your information, records, and conversations with me cannot be shared with others unless you give me specific permission to do so. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality where a therapist is legally required to provide relevant information to others.

These exceptions are as follows:

A client is determined to be a danger to himself/herself or to someone else. A child, older adult, or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect. A client is involved in a lawsuit and records are subpoenaed. A client is in a life-threatening medical situation, and the therapist has pertinent information.

What is a Good Faith estimate?

A “Good Faith Estimate” explains how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers, including therapists, need to give patients/clients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. The Good Faith Estimate will provide information on your expected out-of-pocket costs. As a client, you will receive your Good Faith Estimate when you get your initial intake packet.