Many people think that they don’t need/deserve therapy because “things aren’t that bad”, or that therapy is only for “crazy” people. The truth is, being proactive to improve your life before things get unbearable can often significantly decrease time spent in therapy. I have worked with many people who didn’t necessarily need therapy; they would have functioned without it. They choose; however, to work on things so that they would be able to enjoy their life not just get through it.

No. If you are interested in medication, I recommend that you meet with a psychiatrist.

Most people find that once a week is the most beneficial in the beginning. M

eeting less frequently can make it difficult to gain and maintain momentum, as the focus tends to be more on symptom relief the working on the core issue(s). Once things have begun to improve, it’s not uncommon to decrease the frequency down to meeting every 2 tor 3 weeks. Ideally, there will be one or two sessions after the goals have even met, to insure that the positive changes are “cemented”.

It’s normal to want to know how long therapy will take, but unfortunately, trying to predict how many sessions you’ll have is kind of like an auto mechanic trying to diagnose what’s wrong with your vehicle over the phone. There are numerous factors that determine the length of therapy, such as the nature of the presenting issue, personality factor, the amount of effort a person exerts during the course of treatment, current life stressors, and any relevant historical events that may contribute to the severity of the presenting problem. One of the first things we will do is set a goal(s) and to work together in determining how we will know when our work is finished.

My goal is to be respectful of not only your time and money, but also of your own natural pace. It is not my place to rush you through the process. Not only would that be disrespectful to push you when you’re not ready, but any positive gains that could result would be only  temporary. I encourage my clients to let me know if they feel things that are moving too quickly or too slowly for them. It’s important that we work together as a team to determine what works for you.

Yes, I am a provider for Blue Cross/ Blue Shield PPO. If you do not have Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO insurance, I have found that most insurance plans will reimburse you for my services, even though I am an out-of-networks provider. I can provide you with a billing statement indicating that you have paid, which you can then submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

There is no right answer to this; many factors play into this decision. Obviously, insurance can help defray the cost of therapy. Most clients I’ve worked with have used their benefits successfully without encountering any problems. Over the years, I have seen a significant increase in those who have insurance but prefer to pay out of pocket to insure their privacy (from the insurance company and/or their human resources department). Many are now voicing concerns about having to be labeled with a diagnosis in order to receive benefits. If you are going to use a third party to help pay for your treatment, please keep in mind that your information will have to be shared with your insurance company, including your diagnosis to receive benefits. I cannot guarantee confidentiality of your personal information once your claim is submitted.

Fees are comparable with what other psychologists in the area charge. It is $170 per clinical hour, with the initial appointment being $185. If you are going to use a third party top help pay for your treatment, please keep in mind that your information will have to be shared with your insurance company, including your diagnosis to receive benefits. I cannot guarantee confidentiality of your personal information once your claim is submitted.

You may pay with either cash, personal checks, credit or debit cards. Payment is collected at the beginning of each session.

An appointment time is like a hotel reservation – it is reserved for you alone and it cannot be given away to anyone else. If there is a need to re-schedule, it’s helpful to provide as much notice as possible so that your appointment time can be offered to someone else. If a cancellation is received less than 24 hours before the appointment time, or if the client does not show up for the appointment, he or she is then charged. A 24 hour notice for cancellation makes schedule openings available to others who might need them and prevents wasted time for the therapist (waiting for someone who is coming, preparation time, etc….). Many people are surprised that their insurance companies cannot be billed for missed or cancelled appointments. For further information, please refer to the appropriate section in the forms.

Sessions are typically 55 minutes. There have been times when a client and I have set up a double session in order to allow enough time to address a particular topic.

It’s not unusual for people to return to therapy. Sometimes it’s because new challenges have come up. Other times, people will come in for a “tune-up”. Some may simply want to make sure that they’re still on the right path and are being proactive with their mental health. For others, a return to therapy means that they needed time to acclimate to the positive changes and are now ready for the next step. Depending on why people return, they find that on session is enough or may return for more.