Frequently Asked Questions
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes, I currently have space available for new clients.
Do you offer virtual therapy?
Sessions are in person, except in cases of inclement weather, illness, or extenuating circumstances. If it is not safe to travel or either of us is experiencing any symptoms of cold/flu/Covid-19, we will meet virtually through a HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Clients with chronic illness may also find the option to meet virtually helpful if on occasion their symptoms preclude them from traveling to the office, but they are feeling well enough to participate in a session. Telehealth is a great resource for us to ensure your access to therapy when the unexpected comes up. But generally speaking, I don’t offer all-virtual therapy, so plan to come regularly in person.
Can I come to therapy every other week or once a month?
This is a hard question to answer, because everyone’s needs are different. The short answer is maybe, but not to start.
Given the concerns my clients typically bring to therapy, I’ve found weekly sessions to be clinically appropriate and most beneficial for at least the first ~3 months of therapy. Many clients continue to come weekly until they are ready to end therapy altogether, while others reach a point at which it’s both clinically appropriate and more sustainable in their routine to come twice a month.
If a client has been coming to therapy twice a month and feels ready for another reduction in frequency, we can schedule sessions on an as-needed basis, depending on availability. This is rare, however, as clients are typically ready to discontinue therapy altogether by that time.
I strongly encourage potential clients who are interested in twice monthly or monthly therapy primarily due to financial constraints to begin therapy with a therapist who provides services at a rate that would not create hardship to attend on a more regular basis, in case more frequent sessions are needed to make the progress they desire. Since therapy is not a quick fix, but usually a gradual and deeply personal process, this maximizes clients’ freedom and flexibility to attend and eventually discontinue therapy on a timeline that aligns with their true needs, rather than experiencing financial pressure to end therapy before they are ready. That said, I know that affordable care is increasingly difficult to access within our very flawed healthcare system. Open Path Collective is one available resource that helps connect clients with therapists who are able to provide services at a cost of $30-$70 per session.
Are there any policies I need to be aware of?
You will receive more information about practice policies when you complete your intake paperwork. However, below are some policies it may be useful to know about in advance:
Sick Policy
If you are experiencing even mild symptoms of cold, flu, or Covid-19, I require that we meet via telehealth. Just send me a message, and I’ll provide a meeting link.
Cancellation Policy
We will agree upon a time to meet regularly at the start of treatment. I ask that you provide advance notice of at least 48 hours if you are unable keep this commitment. Of course, if I am unable to keep our appointment time, I will notify you in advance as well. Advance notice allows us to find another time to meet, and allows me to coordinate the schedules of other clients to accommodate that. If you cancel your appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice, or if you no-show your appointment, you will be responsible for the session fee. Sometimes things happen beyond our control, so every client has a late-cancel/no-show fee waiver to use at their discretion. Because it is up to you when you would like to use it, your fee waiver will be applied at your request, not automatically. A fee waiver renews 6 months after its last use, so you may use it again.
Fragrance-Free Policy
Please do not wear any products that contain fragrance to sessions, including perfumes, colognes, scented lotions or hand sanitizers. If you are unsure whether a product is too fragrant to wear, please err on the side of caution and leave it off.
How much will therapy cost?
Rates
Phone Consultation, 15 min Free
First Intake Session, 60 min $225
Regular Session, 50-55 min $190
Insurance
I’m out-of-network with insurance companies. I partner with Mentaya, a platform that automatically submits claims to your insurance company for every therapy session you attend, making the process of getting reimbursed for out-of-network therapy hands-off for you. If you have out-of-network benefits, you should be eligible to be reimbursed for ~30–70% of the cost of therapy after you’ve met your out-of-network deductible. In exchange for handling the claims submission process for you, Mentaya charges a fee of 5% of the claim amount (5% of $190 = $9.50 fee charged per claim). Once you sign up, you don’t have to do anything else — you will receive the reimbursement you are owed directly from your insurance company when they have finished processing each claim. To check if you have out-of-network benefits and find out how much your insurance will reimburse, use the free benefit checker — it takes about 1 minute.
I only recommend companies that will truly benefit my clients and that I believe to operate ethically and transparently. You don’t have to use Mentaya to get reimbursed — you can do it yourself for free if you’d like. Using Mentaya’s service is 100% optional, and as your therapist I do not benefit in any way from your participation. If you intend to use out-of-network insurance benefits, it’s also important to know that whether you submit the claims yourself or sign up for Mentaya, insurance companies only reimburse for treatment they consider “medically necessary.” This means your insurance will only reimburse you for therapy if you meet diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder, and this diagnosis will be shared with your insurance, just like physical diagnoses are shared when you go to a doctor’s appointment.
Other Ways to Save
Other ways to save on therapy include taking advantage of programs offered by your employer. By using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) card to pay for therapy, you can save 20–30% since the money in these accounts is not subject to income tax. Some employers also reimburse employees for the cost of therapy, up to a pre-determined benefit amount. Check with your workplace to see if any of these benefits are available to you.
Payment Methods
I accept debit and credit cards, including HSA/FSA cards. I am not able to accept cash or payment via apps such as Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
Other Considerations
Lastly, as you consider investing your time and money in yourself by going to therapy, it is helpful to know that every couple of months I am out of the office for about a week at a time, totaling about 9 weeks of office closure per year. In addition, clients typically cancel 3-5 sessions per year due to travel, illness, and scheduling conflicts. Due to these missed sessions, a commitment to weekly meetings usually comes out, on average, to meeting about 3x/month.
Can you tell me about parking and accessibility at your office?
The building has a free parking lot. There are two disability parking spaces located closest to the entrance, but please note the loading space is not quite large enough for a van ramp if you are a wheelchair user and traveling alone. There are no steps to enter the lobby. From the lobby, there are both stairs and an elevator to the second floor. My office is located in Suite 230 on the left side of the hallway.
There are gendered restrooms available for use on both floors. Unfortunately, the building does not have any gender-neutral facilities.
Lighting in my office is soft, and fluorescent lighting is never used. Lighting can always be adjusted as needed, so please feel free to ask. Blankets, heating pads, and ice packs are available for your comfort.
