A little information on the business side of things…
Therapy or Counseling is an investment in your life, relationships, health, well being, and future. I ask that you keep an open mind, bring up any concerns or questions at any time, and do your best to make a committment to the counseling process. I’ll do the same.
Some common questions:
What happens at the first therapy or counseling session?
Our initial meeting is an opportunity to talk about your situation and what you want to see change. I’ll listen to your history and current challenges. My goal is for you to leave the initial consultation feeling heard and understood and with a sense of hope and direction as far as next steps.
How often will we meet?
Most clients come once a week. After the initial assessment, counseling sessions are 45-50 minutes in length for individuals and couples. Consistency brings the best results. Occassionally, people choose to come more often while others may reduce the frequency especially once things start to improve.
What type of therapy do you use?
Since each person is unique, I like to tailor the approach to what works best. Sometimes this means employing evidenced based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or any number of approaches. Since I’ve had a wide range of training and experience, I can use tools and strategies within a holistic framework and find what fits for you. I see myself more as a facilitator or partner since counseling is a collaboration. While this may be a challenging time in your life, I am “strength based”, meaning I also recognize you have skills and resources to tap into as well.
What type of payment do you accept?
Cash or check are preferred and are accepted at the beginning of each session. Please have checks made out prior to our meeting so as not to waste your session time. Visa or Mastercard are also accepted but cash or a check must be used for the initial session. After that, you can choose to use your cc on a regular basis or as a back up if you forget your payment, etc.
Do you take insurance?
I can work with you as an “out of network” provider. This is usually an easy process but you’ll need to contact your insurance company to determine if you have out of network benefits and to ask if you’ve met your deductible, if any, and what percentage (usually 60-80%) they will cover.
To ensure privacy, some people don’t use their insurance since it requires a mental illness diagnosis and may limit your ability to choose the most competent therapist for your situation. Managed care can limit the number of sessions. Insurers may seek personal details about your problems. Such info may become part of your permanent medical record possibly effecting future employment and insurance for health and disability. About half of my clients choose not to use their insurance since paying for the session yourself allows for quality therapy or counseling services and offers confidentiality without intrusive insurance company requirements.
If you choose to use insurance:
Most plans, such as POS, reimburse for counseling with a licensed counselor.
- Clients who see me as an Out of Network (OON) therapist generally receive 50-90 percent reimbursement of the counseling fee with 70% reimbusement as the average. It is your responsibility to understand your plan.
- I’ll provide you with the proper documentaion for you to submit for reimbursement.
Can I use my Health Savings Account/ Flexible Spending Account?
Yes. Using an HSA for individual or couples therapy is an alternative to avoiding insurance hassles and privacy concerns. HSAs can save you up to 35% and don’t require a mental health diagnosis. I’ll provide the necessary documentation if you wish to use an HSA/FSA.
What are your fees and do you have a sliding scale?
While this is a high quality counseling private practice, not an insurance driven mental health clinic, I strive to offer afforable options to accomodate individuals and couples. My fee is 135. for individual or 140. for couples or marriage therapy sessions. The initial assessment is 155. and that meeting is typically an hour or longer.
Some busy professionals prefer to schedule 90 min. therapy sessions and may choose to meet twice a month or monthly once things stabilize. It is 195. for 90 min. sessions.
I want therapy to be available for anyone needing help and will discuss a sliding scale that starts at 90. for those who can’t afford the full fee and can attend in the daytime between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please let me know if you need this type of flexibility with fees.
What is your cancellation policy?
Because I hold a session time for you, it is unavailable to someone else needing help, so I need a minimum of 24 hours notice if you must miss an appointment. This is standard with therapists and psychologists in the Philadelphia area.
Is counseling confidential?
I follow all guidelines and laws to protect confidentiality. See my intake forms for further clarification on your privacy.
