Focused
Mindful Therapy
How Long Does Therapy Last?
By far, the most common question that I get asked is "how long will I be in therapy?" Individual sessions typically last between 45 minutes and 1 hour, but I always block off at least 1 hour for sessions, just in case.
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Now that you know how long each session is, I'm sure you're wondering how often you will have to come in. The answer is, it depends. Some of my clients come in every week, some come in every other week, and some come in just once a month. How often you come in will depend on your treatment plan and needs. Plus, how often you need to come in will likely change as we make progress and you feel more able to space out your sessions.
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Therapy is a process and it is tailored to each individual client. Because it is designed to fit your unique needs, I cannot estimate how long you will need to continue treatment. However, the goal of therapy, as I see it, is to get you out of therapy! We can work together to come up with a timeline and we will continue to assess our progress along the way.
How Can I Pay?
When seeking therapy services, you may choose to pay privately (without insurance) or to use your insurance coverage. There are pros and cons to both payment methods. In brief, using insurance requires the release of clinical information from our sessions, which will then become part of the insurance company's files on you. Moreover, in order for insurance to pay for my services, you must have a clinical diagnosis and they may dictate the parameters of our treatment (e.g., how many sessions you can attend, how often your sessions may be, etc.) Paying privately, on the other hand, may cost you more money out-of-pocket than if you use your insurance benefits. Regardless of which method you choose, I accept cash, credit, debit, and check.
Insurance
If you choose to use your insurance benefits, I am in-network with Medicare. If your insurance is through another company (e.g., Blue Cross), I am able to see you using your Out-of-Network benefits and can provide you with a form to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Whether in-network or not, be sure to call the toll free number on the back of your health insurance card to find out if your plan includes mental health benefits. If mental health benefits are covered, ask for the following information:
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Is this provider in-network or out of network
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Number of sessions covered per benefit period
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Amount of the deductible and co-pay
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Authorization needed for your appointment
Is My Information Confidential?
Therapy is a space where you can safely share information that you might not feel comfortable sharing with other people in your life. It is your legal right that all records are kept private, but there are rare circumstances in which confidentiality cannot be protected. It is important to understand these limitations as well as how the use of insurance impacts confidentiality. You can find additional information in the HIPPA document available on the Forms tab of this website and I am available to discuss it with you to provide clarification where possible.
What Should I Expect at My First Appointment?
Your first appointment is a time for a thorough evaluation and you will likely be asked a good deal of factual information about yourself. This might include things like the reason you’re seeking treatment, what your symptoms are, history of past problems and treatment, medical history, past use of drugs and alcohol, and how some of the important areas in your life (work, family, hobbies, etc.) are going. This is a time for us to discuss your concerns, develop realistic treatment goals, and design a plan for meeting those goals. This is also a time for you to evaluate your treatment provider in order to ensure that you feel comfortable with the person and the setting.