Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Regular 45-50 minute sessions are currently $250. Intake appointments are $375. Other services are prorated based on the standard session fee. I offer paperless billing. Your credit card will be billed after each session.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not accept insurance directly. At your request you’ll receive a superbill monthly by email. It will have all the information needed to submit for insurance reimbursement. You’ll be able to access past superbills at any time through the secure client portal. Contact your insurance company for details including authorization and coverage.
What do I need to ask my insurance company about reimbursement?
Here are some questions to run by your insurance provider:
Do I have out of network mental health benefits?
Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
What is the amount I would be reimbursed for an out of network psychotherapy session?
Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
What is my coverage for telehealth sessions? Is it different for video vs. phone sessions?
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
I have a 24 hour cancellation policy. To avoid being charged the full fee for a missed, changed or cancelled session, contact me at least 24 hours in advance. You’ll be able to reschedule or cancel sessions online. You’re also welcome to email or call me.
How do you work with parents?
The amount and form of the parent consultation piece of counseling is individualized and changes as children develop. Contact with parents varies based on the the child’s age as well as the presenting issues.
For young children, counseling usually involves a lot of collaboration with parents - checking in with one another, comparing notes, sharing ideas and progress updates. I typically have monthly parent meetings for children who are in elementary school. If you drop your elementary schooler off for sessions we may decide to use part of the beginning or end of their session for a parent check in. Speaking with a parent or parents between sessions is common. Sometimes a parent or parents may join in a child's therapy session or part of a session.
As children leave elementary school and enter middle school and beyond, issues of privacy change developmentally. The parent consultation part of my work adapts accordingly. If your child is in middle school or older we will speak about how developmental considerations, including children's evolving sense of privacy and autonomy, impact the parent role in counseling.
Therapy with teens usually involves less parental involvement, although parents are still kept informed about their child's progress and are welcome to share feedback and concerns. With adolescents, it often works best if they play an active part in the therapist selection process. Parents may select a handful of options and go over with them with their adolescent, giving them the options to meet with a few to see who they feel most comfortable with. This can help a lot with buy-in.
It is my goal to establish a safe therapeutic environment for my young clients while also developing collaborative relationships with their parents. As a parent, you can expect that you will be informed of the treatment plan, progress toward goals, and situations regarding risk or harm. I will speak with your child about this (as age and developmentally appropriate) and encourage you to discuss it with him or her as well.
After your child’s treatment ends, my door is open for booster sessions, annual psychology check ups, consults or to pick up sessions again. Once I get to know families I’m glad to be available for parent consults on an as-needed basis. It’s not uncommon for families to remain in touch or reach out again as their child faces new challenges or developments. I love it when former clients come back to check in when they’re back home from college and beyond.
For certain issues, such as anxiety, it’s normal for people to continue to grow and fine tune their practices for managing it throughout life. It makes sense to check back in for booster sessions as new developments, triggers, relationships or situations provide opportunities to expand and strengthen knowledge, skills and practice in anxiety management.
How do you work with schools?
Links between social/emotional or behavioral concerns and learning/school-related issues are common. I’ll want to see you child’s recent and current report card and any relevant test results. As appropriate I may ask to speak with school staff such as your child's teacher(s), school counselor, school psychologist, learning specialist or principal/school head. With younger children who are having issues at school I sometime do school observations.