Q: Are you accepting new clients?
God has blessed me with a full bounty of clients that has resulted in a very full practice. I occasionally take new clients and other times I need to say, “My practice is too full.” If I cannot take you on as a new client, I’ll do my best to provide you referrals to another therapist. Please call me to discuss.
Q: What kind of people do you work with?
I work with individuals who are adults and fully launched into the workforce — no longer dependent on their parents. I do not work with children, adolescents, or college-aged young adults.
Q: How long is a session and what’s your fee?
I provide a 50-minute clinical hour. If you are late for a session, my ending time does not change.
Please call to discuss my fee. I re-evaluate my rates every 12-18 months. I advise clients 2-4 weeks in advance, if there is an increase. If my rate does not fit your budget — I am happy to provide referrals to other therapists who offer reduced rates or a sliding scale.
Q: Do you work with Couples?
No, I do not work with couples but am happy to provide a referral to other therapists who specialize in marriage counseling.
Q: Do you provide Telehealth options?
Yes, I provide Telehealth options to residents in NY and FL. I use Doxy which is a HIPPA-compliant video conferencing system. It is similar to Zoom. There is no software to download. I also do audio sessions using the phone.
Q: What states do you work in?
I am licensed in the state of New York. In addition, I am recognized as an Out-of-State Provider in Florida. That means I provide both in-person and Telehealth options to NY residents and I provide Telehealth-only options to FL residents. Since I spend time in Florida, there are weeks or months of time where I can only provide Telehealth sessions to New York residents
Q: How do I know if my sessions will be covered by my insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider and I do not process insurance claims for you. If you have out-of-network benefits, I will provide you a receipt so you can turn it into your insurance for reimbursement. You still pay me my full fee at the time of the session — and you are then responsible for working with your insurance company to obtain reimbursement directly from them.
Please be aware that if I provide you a receipt so that you can get reimbursement from your insurance company, I am required by your insurance company to include a mental health diagnosis for you. This is a personal decision as to whether you want a mental health diagnosis going into your medical records.
Here are the types of questions you should ask your insurance company:
- Explain my benefits for mental health therapy:
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Is there a difference in coverage if I see an in-network mental health counselor versus an out-of-network mental health counselor?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- Is there a deductible that needs to be met and, if so, how much is my deductible?
- Is pre-approval required from my primary care physician?
Q: Do you accept a Health Savings Account (HSA) VISA/MasterCard to pay for services?
Yes – I accept cash, check and all major credit cards, including those associated with an HSA. Payment is always due at the beginning of each session.
Q: What about Medicare?
I have opted out of participating in any Medicare programs. I can still see you as a client but I cannot give you a receipt to turn into your insurance company. Medicare will reject your claim because of my opt-out status.
Q: How long will therapy take?
I really wish I had the answer to that question. Each person is different. After we meet, I’ll have a better idea of that and, of course, we can discuss it at any time during the counseling process. I provide homework that you can do between sessions which often results in faster progress.
Q: What kind of results can I expect?
Each situation is different. I am blessed to witness true change happening in people’s lives. Smiles becoming brighter – fear waning — love growing – pain fading – confidence building – careers flourishing — families growing closer — depression lifting — and hope returning.