FAQ's

1 | Can I use my insurance?

I am currently only accepting private pay clients. My license, training, and education will allow you to be qualified for out-of-network reimbursement with your insurance plan if this is part of your policy. If that is the case, I am happy to provide a super-bill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.

2 | What are the benefits of out of net work or private pay?

Being out-of-network or choosing to pay privately (without insurance) helps to ensure your utmost confidentiality and privacy when working together. I do not need to release your records to any third party without your consent. Also, when using your insurance, I must diagnose you with a mental health condition that will become
part of your medical record. If you choose to pay privately or pursue out of network benefits, information about the nature of your treatment and the issues discussed in sessions will remain solely between you and I. Thus, it is important to consider which option you prefer and are most comfortable with prior to beginning treatment.

I recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your benefits:

Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?
What are my out of network mental health benefits?
Do I have a deductible?
How much of that deductible have I already met?
Do I have a copay or coinsurance? What is it?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
Do I need authorization or is approval required from my primary care physician?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?

3 | How long does therapy last how often do I need to come?

The length of time therapy takes varies for each client and is influenced by the presenting problem as well as the goals of the counseling process. I prefer to see clients on a weekly basis for the first several months to develop an accurate understanding of who you are and your developmental history as well as understand your needs and formulate a specific treatment plan. Once we feel that progress has been made or your symptoms have improved, we can reduce frequency of treatment to biweekly, monthly, or as needed.

4 | How do I know if I should pursue individual or couples counseling with you? Do I have to choose?

According to the American Counseling Association, it is not ethical for a therapist to see a client for both individual and couples therapy at the same time due to potential breaches of confidentiality or issues of loyalty. Therefore, when beginning treatment with me, it is recommended that you choose between individual or couples therapy.

If you are interested in couple’s therapy and your partner is also willing to attend, I often encourage couples to come in together for the first session. This will allow each partner to have an opportunity to share their perspective and decide if couples therapy is a good fit for them. I will also be able to assess the role of each partner in the relationship dynamic, clarify goals, and then we may address relationship concerns in individual therapy, if you choose to do so.