Frequently Asked Questions
1
Do you provide sessions via telehealth and/or in-person?
I provide both. Telehealth services are provided through a HIPAA-compliant platform called Simple Practice and I am in office one day a week. I am only able to offer sessions to Pennsylvania residents due to licensing restrictions.
2
What does getting started with therapy look like?
It's important to me that you work with someone who is best suited for you and what's bringing you to therapy, and a 15-minute phone call before scheduling is helpful for ensuring that. If we find that it wouldn't be a good fit, I am happy to provide you with referrals.
During these calls, I usually ask you to tell me a little bit more about what's bringing you in, any initial goals you may have for our work together and previous therapeutic work, if any. Hopefully by the end of our call, you’ll have a good idea of my approach, style and a bit of a preliminary road map for what working together could look like.
If we decide to move forward, I will confirm contact information to e-mail you intake forms detailing my policies and information about my practice as well as the therapeutic process overall. This is also when we discuss availability and scheduling.
3
Do you take insurance?
I am currently in network with Independence Blue Cross, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Aetna and Quest plans. Most of these plans “carve out” or use other insurance providers for mental health benefits. If you look on the back of your insurance card, you will see a line for who to call for mental health benefits — some common ones are Magellan or Highmark, which I am also in network with. By calling that number, you can learn more about your individual responsibilities for co-pays, deductibles, number of visits allowed, etc.
Some plans ask for just a co-pay, the same as when you visit a doctor, but others will ask you to meet your deductible before providing any payment on their end. This means that you will have to pay the full price of a session until that number is met.
For all other plans, such as United Health Care or Cigna, I am considered an out-of-network provider. This means that although I do not accept or work with your insurance provider, if you choose to work with me, I can provide you with a receipt (or superbill) to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs. Reimbursement rates are unique to you and your plan, so if you have any questions about utilizing that benefit or what your reimbursement rate would be, then I encourage you to reach out to your insurance provider.
My private pay rate is $120.00 per session. I also offer sliding scale appointments (lowered rate) on a limited case-by-case basis.
Therapists (including me) set these rates to account for things like office rent, insurance, continuing education and training and electronic medical record keeping/platforms to provide HIPAA-compliant therapy on. When you work with a therapist, you are paying for healthcare services from a trained and credentialed professional who completed a graduate program and clinical supervision for a minimum of two years post-graduation to attain licensure and credentialing -- these set fees are also intended to reflect that education and training.
4
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept all major credit cards, debit cards and HSA/FSA cards. Payment is due at time of service and card must be kept on file to schedule an appointment.
5
What happens if I need to cancel?
If possible, please let me know if you won't be able to make an appointment 48 hours before. I'll do my best to re-schedule you for a different day and/or time that week if possible. If you cancel the day of our appointment without a valid reason (such as sickness, emergency, etc.) or no show/no call, I charge a cancellation fee.
6
Do you provide any other services besides individual therapy?
I don’t work with couples or families, but you are always more than welcome to bring a loved one or support to a session! We can talk more to identify goals for bringing another person into sessions periodically, and if you find that working alongside your partner or family member is more aligned with your wants and needs, I will give referrals to couples and family therapists.
