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 minutes for individuals and couples. Consistency brings the best results. Occassionally, people choose to come more often while others may reduce the frequency once things start to improve. Some busy couples prefer to schedule 90 min. therapy sessions and may choose to meet twice a month then monthly once things stabilize.
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, Discover, 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. You’ll need to contact your insurance company to determine if you have out of network benefits and to ask about your deductible, if any, and what percentage they will cover.
To ensure privacy, some people don’t use their insurance since it requires a mental illness diagnosis and may interfere with 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- 80 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 documentation for you to submit for reimbursement.
.What are your fees?
My fee is 135. for individual counseling or 140. for couples or marriage therapy. Sessions are 45 min. The initial assessment is 155. and that meeting is typically an hour or longer.
I want therapy to be affordable and offer a few sliding scale slots for those with true financial concerns. Please let me know if you need this flexibility and we can discuss it.
Can I use my Health Savings Account/ Flexible Spending Account?
Yes. Using an HSA for individual, marriage, or couples therapy or counseling 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
What is your cancellation policy?
Because I hold a session time for you, it is unavailable to someone else needing help, so a minimum of 24 hours notice is required if you must miss a counseling appointment or you will be charged half the full session fee. This is a strict policy and since charging a full fee is standard with therapists and psychologists in the Philadelphia area I feel this is a fair compromise.
Is counseling confidential?
I follow all guidelines and laws to protect confidentiality. See my intake forms for further clarification on your privacy.
