What happens if I have insurance, but you don't accept it?
We have a few options if this is the case:
1) You can choose to pay for the session fee 'out-of-pocket', meaning that we don't bill any insurance provider.
2) I can provide you with something called a SuperBill after each session. This SuperBill will be given to you and you would then pass it along to your insurance provider. Some insurance providers will provide reimbursements for a percentage of the cost of each session. The possible reimbursement rate would be decided on by your insurance provider, so if you are interested in this payment option I would suggest calling them up and asking what your benefits are for out-of-network providers.
3) Maybe paying out of pocket is out of the question and you also aren't interested in dealing with a SuperBill. If that is the case for you, then I can help you find a counselor who may be a better financial fit for you. Check out my go-to referrals here.
What if the insurance you accept is my secondary insurance?
If this is the case, please do let me know as soon as possible. If we accept your secondary insurance, but not your primary insurance, we will still need to bill your primary insurance first. After the primary insurance processes the billing and ultimately rejects paying for it, we would then bill your secondary insurance provider.
I would need the information for both insurance providers on file so we can bill them correctly. This type of billing often takes longer than usual and sometimes even ends up with the insurance providers not covering any of the sessions. This option leaves you with a higher probability that you will have to cover the full cost of the sessions.
Typically, how long does therapy last?
Each individual session lasts between 45-55 minutes - give or take a few minutes for wrap up, scheduling and payment.
As far as the longer duration of therapy in general - this one really depends on what your goals are. The timeline of therapy can last anywhere from 1 session to however long you are wanting to work on your growth. If you are looking for skills and information to apply immediately to your daily life, then we are most likely looking at 6-8 weeks of regular appointments. If you are wanting a deeper dive, the overall duration becomes longer and will be determined together when we begin talking about your goals.
What do I need to bring to the first session?
Just yourself!
And preferably the filled out intake paperwork I would have sent you via email. If you didn't get that email, didn't have time to look at the forms or don't have an email address, then bring yourself to the office 15 minutes early to fill them out in the lobby.
What can I expect to occur during the first session?
The first session is the time where you and I get to know each other a bit better. Typically, I review the intake paperwork and leave space for any questions you may have about the process (usually we do that during the initial phone call though). Then we would dive into what is bringing you into counseling at this time. Sometimes I use a structured list of questions and other times we simply have a conversation about what is going on in your life.