FAQ

Yes.  I most certainly do.

I accept Aetna, Optum, which includes several brands, and BCBS.  BCBS will be billed through Excellus BCBS locally as per BCBS network policy.  Currenlty, I am still awaiting final approval for Carelon.  Unfortunately, I am not taking new clients with Cigna at this time.  

Please note, I am not able to offer services via Medicaid or Medicare.   If you are in need of services and have Medicaid or Medicare, I will be happy to assist you in locating a provider of services that will be able to take those insurances.  I am able to accept Self-Pay for services.  However, this does require a release form to be signed (per law) that states you will not seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier for any performed services.

If you are with BCBS (any of them), Carelon, or Self-Pay, we'll be using SimplePractice.  Otherwise, Alma.  Before we proceed to complete any of that information, though, it's best to set up that 15 minute consultation.  It's free, after all.  And, if the available times don't work for you, don't fret; use the email link at the top of this page, or call the phone number, and we will work out a suitable time to meet.

Whether you'll be using the Alma Platform (Google Meet, with HIPAA-compliant Business Associate Agreement (BAA)) or the SimplePractice platform (includes their own HIPAA-compliant telemedicine medium for video sessions), once you determine which insurance you have and which platform is assigned to that carrier within my practice.

Depending on which platform I'm using for you (and that depends on the answer to Question #2), a few different things.  Both of these require documents such as Privacy Practices, Payment Policies (including No-Show and Late Cancellations), Credit Card Authorization,  perhaps some self-assessments to help me focus on areas of major concern (including anxiety and depression, and risk to harm), Consent for Telehealth Consultation, New Client Intake, for examples. 

The answer to this depends on our (not just my) findings during the Initial Evaluation session.  At times, in matters of high acuity (immediate need), over twice (>2 time) a week.  As a standard, though, most clients start off with weekly or even bi-weekly therapy sessions.  After a time, perhaps a week or two, after crisis is over, reducing to once a week.  As confidence and improvement occurs, reduction in frequency is a typical progression.  Bi-weekly, tri-weekly, monthly, etc.  After a time, it's common to schedule quarterly, or even leave sessions unscheduled and call as needed.  However, the risk to this is that changes in a client's mental health might be so severe, getting in for a "crisis" session may be difficult with a full calendar for the provider.  For this reason, I generally recommend no less frequently than quarterly.  Remember, it is my job and my pleasure to help you succeed on your own in both autonomy and self-sufficiency.  

This appointment is the one appointment I will likely have a lot of questions for you.  I'll apologize to you in advance for that.  Therapy is not the provider asking 40-50 minutes of questions.  This is a time for me to gather information specific to your needs (the intake forms were more for a getting to know you; thank you for completing them) as well as for you to decide, at least for now, if you would like me to be your mental health treatment provider.  Yes, this is rather like a job interview for me.  You haven't hired me yet past this Evaluation.  And there is never a contract for a number of sessions.  Even the Good Faith Estimate (if you're Self-Pay,  per US Law, I make one available to you for an estimated number of sessions, but treatment is up to you) is not a contract between us.  One of our goals for the first session is to determine how future sessions might go in an effort to reach your therapy goals - which we will agree to as well.  The goals are yours; not mine.   The number one indicator of success in therapy is the therapeutic relationship and trust you have in your therapist.  If you are at all uncomfortable, it may be additionally uncomfortable to tell me.  And of course, you don't have to.  At any time.  

That's a tough question; we have not even met yet.  Additionally, it depends on your goals, the degree to which you're struggling, and how hard you want to work in therapy.  It can be very hard work at times.  Part of my job is to join you in the therapy and help you to not have deep painful sessions each time.  We don't want to get stuck in what therapists call perseverating, or engaging in prolonged thought beyond what might be helpful or typically appropriate.

I combine multiple models of therapy based on the needs of the client.  Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  You're in charge of the process.   We will work to help you understand why you interpret current experiences in your life in ways that come from triggers from past events and relationships.  Our thoughts determine our emotions, and our emotions determine our responses to the events - in split seconds.  I will hold space for all of your emotions, and help you make meaning from the events of your life.  As for what you want to talk about, you decide.  I may press for why something is important enough to discontinue where we left off, but I'm not going to make you go back to where we left off if something on your mind is more important in the moment.

Also, those therapy models mentioned in the beginning of the prior paragraph.  They're actually less important (I only use evidence-based models) than how you feel about our interactions.  Really, your comfort (despite knowing that therapy will mean some pretty deep conversations and uncovering of emotional meeting to your experiences) is the most important thing for you to consider.  It's the number 1 indicator of therapeutic success.