Frequently Asked Questions

 

Process of therapy:

 

After you schedule your appointment, you will be sent paperwork to complete online before the first session. At the initial assessment, we will discuss: your health history and symptoms; identify your challenges, obstacles, and strengths; and collaborate together to develop specific personal goals of what to accomplish so we can measure your progress during therapy. In therapy sessions, we will work together on your goals using various evidence-based treatments based on developing new skills and healthy coping strategies. In between sessions, you get will handouts and journal prompts to practice these skills, and during session we will review how it was to use these skills in real life. I will listen non-judgmentally, help you problem solve the obstacles to using the skills, and cheer you on when you use them to improve your life.

 

Fees

  • 70 minutes $250

  • 50 Minutes $200

  • 70 minutes $250

  • 50 minutes $225

    A limited number of appointment times are available on weekend mornings.

  • 50 minutes $235

    Therapy at my office near Atlanta, Georgia area

  • 50 minutes $215

    Therapy while walking outside in Decatur, Georgia park

 

As is the case with other extensively trained and highly qualified therapists with many years of experience, I am not on any insurance panels (with the exception of Lyra Health EAP) and most of my clients pay privately for my services. For my self-pay clients, this gives you several important advantages including protecting your privacy (your insurance company does not have access to your diagnosis or what was discussed in our sessions) and control of our work together (you and I decide on the length of therapy, what you want to cover in therapy, and the type of treatment you prefer, not the insurance company). This provides you with the best experience and services.

Here is a good article about the cost of therapy.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/therapy-expensive-insurance_n_5900048ee4b0af6d718992e7

 

Forms of payment

 

Credit cards and HSA debit card.

Cancellation policy Your appointment time has been specially reserved for you. Please provide at least a 24 hour notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment to avoid being billed for the session. If you cancel or reschedule within 24 hours of your appointment time, or no show, you will be charged the full session fee.

Confidentiality I will not reveal that you are seeking therapy or what is discussed in therapy, with a few exceptions. Your safety is very important. If there is an immediate threat to your safety or that of others, then I am required to follow federal and state laws and disclose information. I will provide you with written guidelines on confidentiality at your first appointment.

Length of Therapy Therapy is a process and the time it takes to feel better depends on the person and situation. Everyone is different. For those whose issues have been going on for years, have a history of childhood trauma, and these have greatly impacted their quality of life and their relationships, the process will take longer. Typically, we will start with weekly sessions. Generally it can take 10-12 sessions for clients to start to notice improvements in their life and the benefits of our work together. For some, once everything is stabilized (you are consistently using skills learned in our therapy sessions to address challenges in your life), we can transition to maintenance sessions that are every couple weeks or monthly. Eventually, you may find that you are able to more successfully navigate your feelings and relationships, as well as handle problems that arise in life. At this point, we would end therapy with a session celebrating your achievements.

Insurance I am not in network with any insurance companies though I am able to provide you the documentation to file for out of network billing. There are also companies (I am not affiliated with any of these) that can do the filing for you for a fee.

Out of network benefits Many insurance companies offer an out-of-network benefit where you can see any therapist, pay the therapist, and then be partially reimbursed. I can provide you with a super bill (receipt of services) that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Contact your insurance company directly to ask about out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits. Some questions you can ask include:

  • Does my policy include mental health coverage?

  • Does my policy include out of network benefits?

  • How much is my deductible and how much has been met?

  • What is the coinsurance percentage?

  • Are there any limits on how many sessions per year?

  • Is telehealth allowed for this policy?

  • Can you give me a Call Reference Number for this call?

Emergencies I am not immediately accessible outside of scheduled appointment times. If you are experiencing an emergency please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room so that you can get immediate care. If you are located in Georgia, you can also call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (800) 715-4225. In Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina you can also call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS

(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

  • When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

    “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

    “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care - like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

  • Emergency services

    If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

    Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

    When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

    If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

    You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

  • • You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.

    • Your health plan generally must:

    o Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

    o Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

    o Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.

    o Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

    If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:

    The Georgia Secretary of State: (404) 656-2817.

    Visit https://www.cms.gov/files/document/model-disclosure-notice-patient-protections-against-surprise-billing-providers-facilities-health.pdf for more information about your rights under Federal law.