Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is your fee? Do you accept my insurance? My fee is $145/ session. I accept flexible (FSA) or health spending account (HSA) benefits, which some people use to reduce their out-of-pocket costs or to pay for my services in full. You can ask your insurance provider if you have out-of-network (OON) coverage, which may reimburse you for a portion of the service fee. IMPORTANT: You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers must give persons who don’t have or will not use insurance an estimate of the expected charges for therapy services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including therapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.
2. What is the free 20-minute consultation? This is a virtual call to explore if we are fit for working together. Think of it as a vibe-check. It helps us to feel each other out before starting a formal therapeutic relationship. The consult gives us both an idea if we are a fit based on your therapy goals, my style, your expectations about therapy, fees and payment policies, scheduling and cancellation policies, and other general questions that you may have. Please remember that this call is not a therapy session or meant to provide you with therapeutic support.
3. What happens after the consultation? If we decide to move forward, we'll set an appointment to start the intake/ assessment phase of therapy. You'll complete online paperwork before the appointment. These first steps of treatment include what's called informed consent, which requires your written permission for participation and explains how we will engage in therapy. The intake phase involves sharing past and current personal information about you related to your overall health and other important details. This phase is important for the therapy process because it gives me insight into the various factors affecting your life. *NOTE: If you and I decide that someone else may better fit your needs, I'm happy to provide other resources to support you in your journey.*
4. What happens after the intake phase? We work together to identify what you'd like to get out of therapy and we discuss various strategies to work toward those goals. This is called a treatment plan and serves as our guideline for tracking progress as we enter mid-phase of treatment. I may also ask you to repeat certain questionnaires and provide me with feedback to help us determine if we need to update the treatment plan or change our strategies.
5. How many sessions will I need or how long does therapy take? Everyone is unique and the number of sessions or length of time depends on many factors. For example, how long it takes for us to build rapport, your level of engagement, the frequency of the sessions, your personal history, life situations, applying the new strategies in your daily life and so much more affect how you will respond to treatment. I invite you to discuss any concerns you have about your therapeutic experience with me to explore your options.
Get the support that you deserve today with Anxiety and Trauma Counseling in Benicia and Vallejo, CA
6. How does therapy come to an end? There are many circumstances that can lead to ending a therapeutic relationship. Ideally, it ends because you've met your goals and no longer want or need my support. If so, we'll develop a plan to end treatment and maintain your progress. Sometimes you or I may determine that another provider can better support you. Or, there are times where people aren't ready for the difficult work that therapy can involve and choose to try again later. Scheduling changes and life circumstances can also result in the need to end therapy or switch to another provider. Regardless of why it ends, my intention is to support you with a positive therapeutic experience.
7. Why is it important to work with a licensed therapist for my mental health needs? Licensure with the state demonstrates that a therapist has completed the requirements - including a minimum of more than 3000 experience hours - to legally and ethically provide mental health treatment to the individuals they support. A licensed clinician must continue their education to keep their license in good standing, keep their skills fresh and comply with the most current laws and ethics that apply to their field of practice. While unregulated professionals may offer certain benefits, licensed therapists are held to a high standard of care and accountability to promote your best interests and well-being. I invite you to check the licensure status for me and any other therapists that you are considering here: https://search.dca.ca.gov/.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me here.