Okay, I'm ready to start therapy, what's next?
What can I expect working with you?
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
Okay, I'm ready to start therapy, what's next?
Once you took a moment to review my areas of service, insurance/ rate information and it sounds like it may be a good fit for you, the process is easy:
- Reach
out to me through the website, and tell me a bit about what’s
bringing you into therapy/ what you’re looking for, along with
what insurance you’re using (or if not using insurance)
- We
will schedule a consultation call. This is optional but recommended.
In this ten-minute call, you’ll be able to share with me what’s
bringing you into therapy and I will address how (or if) I can help
and address any questions or concerns you may have for me
- I’ll
e-mail you intake paperwork for you to fill out, sign and e-mail
back to me
- We schedule your appointment! We usually meet within one to two weeks, depending on availability and our schedule.
While it can be helpful to speak to family and friends and get their input and advice; a therapist can offer an objective perspective on things. A number of benefits are available from participating in behavioral health treatment. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, and body image issues. Many people also find that psychotherapists can be a tremendous asset to working on personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and daily stressors. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to help improve self-growth or learn to deal with unresolved trauma. Frequency of attendance can depend on the severity of the issue so some may attend weekly sessions, once monthly or a different variation that can be discussed with your therapist.
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What can I expect working with you?
I’m a very goal-oriented, direct person that uses humor in session but is also able to hold space for when we need to work on more challenging topics. I will respect your discomfort but may also challenge you with it as well. You can expect to feel safe in a non-judgmental environment.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
I do accept insurance, including Aetna, Optum, United Healthcare, Oxford and UMR. I work with a third party (Alma) that will run your eligibility to check your benefits/ coverage. However, ultimately, it’s up to you (the client) to know your benefits as payment is your responsibility. To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask include:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
As long as you have a good internet connection, a webcam and a working microphone, you can do teletherapy. (Also known as telehealth, virtual therapy, online therapy). You will receive a link that’s a HIPAA secured connection for our session. This is exactly as if you were in a room with the therapist and therefore proper decorum is encouraged. It’s advised that you not be in a public place and are able to have quiet and privacy to ensure confidentiality on your end.
You must be physically located in New York or New Jersey at the time of session, which is where I’m licensed. If you are on vacation or traveling and will be out of state at the time of session, it’s your responsibility to notify the therapist in advance.
