Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT TO EXPECT

• I am asking that you consider coming at least once a week to begin treatment, as this commitment helps create the therapeutic alliance that is so crucial to progress.

• Intake & Evaluation

  I will ask you to fill out some forms, and we will discuss the distress and symptoms that bring you in to the office, ascertain how these issues are impacting your current life, and get some background on the issues. We will see if my personality and training works well with your personality and needs.

• Treatment

  Together we will create a therapeutic plan to address the distress and symptoms, looking at options and resources to create the optimal results. These plans evolve, and we will take time to evaluate progress and restructure as needed. Treatment is usually one hour per week, unless other arrangements are agreed upon by both of us. Zoom can be used if needed to provide continuation of care at times, but face to face sessions are preferable, particularly in the beginning of our work.

  For couples, I will be seeing you together in a session, and we will examine the "stuck places" that repeatedly happen in a relationship, work on better communication, build empthy towards each other, and with yourself, and find tools to help you both reach past the anger, loss, dissatisfaction, betrayals, and disconnection from one another.  Perhaps you will find you can be with each other in a richer experience of being together, or you may find other options need consideration.  To be able to bring love and respect to either of those paths is healing.

RATES & INSURANCE

• Evaluation

  $265.00 (1 ½ hours)

• Treatment

  Individual session $175.00 (1 hour)
  Couples session $220.00 (1 hour, 15 minutes)

• Group Therapy

  We will discuss if group therapy is helpful in conjunction with individual work, and set a fee at that time.
  
  I am open to discussing a sliding scale in some situations.

• Insurance

  The only insurance I am accepting is Medicare Original. If you have a supplemental, your fees are entirely covered. If you don't have a supplemental, you will have to pay 20% of Medicare's approved fee amount.

  There is a possibility your insurance plan offers Out of Network Benefits. Please call them to confirm you can get those benefits and how to do so. I will supply a super bill you can submit to them if they allow Out of Network benefits, but you will be required to pay at the time of the session.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• ADULTS

  By law, your psychotherapy work with me is confidential. I will need your written permission to provide any information to others. There are a few legal exceptions:

  • Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, which I am required by law to report to the appropriate authorities immediately.

  • If you are threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must by law notify the police and inform the intended victim.

  • If you intend to harm yourself, I will make every effort to work with you to ensure your safety. If you do not cooperate, I will take further measures without your permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure your safety.

• LEGAL SUITS

  If you bring suit and some parts of your mental health while working with me is an issue in your suit, aspects of your records involving only those listed mental health symptoms in the suit will be subject to subpoena. If you are being sued for issues involved in your mental health, the defense will have to prove the relevance, your lawyer will probably move to squash the information, and it will be up to the judge. The law is very protective of your right to privacy in this instance. It is best to consult with your attorney either way.

  I do NOT do custody evaluations for children or elders, that often come up in legal actions.

• COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

  Our treatment plan may include coordinated work with others, such as your primary care physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or a child's teacher, principal, or school counselor. I'll need your signed permission to coordinate with others.