Intake FAQs

 
 

There's no such thing as a silly question!

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Are you offering Telehealth sessions during the COVID-19 crisis?

Yes! Our practice has been offering Telehealth sessions to our clients since March and will continue to do so until it is safe for our clinicians and clients to return to our physical practice location. Our integrated and HIPAA-compliant online platform can be used for Telehealth sessions using a computer, cell-phone or tablet.

Click here for more COVID-19 related FAQ’s.

What can I expect from therapy? Do I have to lie on a couch?

The therapeutic process can vary from one individual to the next and often depends on the circumstances/challenges that led you to seeking therapy at this time in your life. Whether you’re struggling with managing a specific stressful situation or are looking to explore connections between your past experiences and their impact on your present-day life (relationships?), our therapists are skilled in “meeting you where you’re at” and will support you in your journey towards achieving your therapeutic goals.

Though our couches are quite comfortable, you absolutely don’t have to lie on them (unless you want to)! Your therapist will typically sit across from you and will engage in a face-to-face conversation. However, some clients may find it more freeing to lie on the couch to help reduce inhibitions and engage in deeper self-reflection without worrying about their therapist’s reactions. Either way, it’s your choice!

How will I know if I’ve picked the right therapist?

We believe that one of the most important factors in successful therapy outcomes is finding the right fit between therapist and client.  Consequently, we try our best to match our clients with the therapists that they want to work with. Each of our clinicians have their preferred approach to providing therapy, so we encourage you to read their individual profiles and find one that “speaks to you” before scheduling an appointment.

Regardless of the therapist you choose, our goal is always to provide a therapeutic environment that is safe, empathic and non-judgmental, where we focus on collaborating with you as the ultimate expert in your own life!

What happens in the first session?

It is quite common to be nervous (or excited, as a helpful reframe!) before your first session with a new therapist. The goal of the intake session is for you to get to know your therapist and for them to get to know you (commonly referred to as “building a therapeutic relationship/alliance”). This relationship between you and your therapist will serve as a critical foundation for ongoing self-reflection and processing, that will ultimately facilitate insight, growth and long-lasting change!

Each therapist has their own intake process but you can expect to answer some of the following questions during/after the first session:

  • What is bringing me to therapy at this time?

  • What are some of my goals for therapy?

  • Who do I consider to be my supports when I’m struggling?

  • This is my first time in therapy! How does it work?

    OR

  • What have I found to be helpful in previous therapy relationships? What do I wish was different?

  • What is my therapist’s approach to providing therapy?

  • What is the framework within which they conceptualize their clients’ struggles/challenges, and how can they help?

How often will I be meeting with my therapist? How long do appointments last?

Every relationship takes time to develop, and the one with your therapist is no different. We strongly recommend that our clients engage in once- or twice-weekly therapy, especially in the beginning of the process, to establish a trusting and meaningful relationship with their therapist. Most clients find that with consistency, it becomes easier to challenge/change unhelpful thought patterns, develop/practice new coping and communication skills and understand/process uncomfortable emotions. Ultimately, the ongoing frequency of sessions is best decided between the client and their therapist.

The intake/first appointment is 60-minutes. Every subsequent appointment is either 45- or 55-minutes.

How does confidentiality work?

Sessions with your therapists are private and confidential. There are, however, some limits to this confidentiality, as follows:

  • Serious threat to health or safety of yourself and/or others

  • Ongoing abuse/neglect of a child or minor (reported to Department of Children and Families and/or other appropriate agencies)

  • Ongoing abuse/neglect of an elderly person (reported to Department of Elderly Affairs and/or other appropriate agencies)

  • Ongoing abuse/neglect of a disabled person (reported to the Disabled Persons Protection Commission and/or other appropriate agencies)

  • Judicial Proceedings where your records are being subpoenaed

In order to ensure the best quality of care, your therapists may share information from your sessions with our practice’s independent consultants, as is common practice in our field.

Can I use insurance for sessions?

Yes, you can use behavioral health benefits associated with your health insurance coverage to pay for sessions. Please click here to request an appointment — the form will give you a basic overview of whether we accept your insurance. You will only be responsible for any portion of the total charge unpaid by your insurer, payable once you receive an invoice from us.

You can also also always reach out to us directly to confirm whether we accept your insurance coverage.

What are my payment options?

We accept all major debit/credit cards for payment of all invoices issued to you. We do not accept cash/checks, or Venmo/PayPal/Zelle transactions as a valid form of payment

Clients have the ability to opt-in to AutoPay to settle balances immediately once invoices are issued, charged to the card(s) on file. This alleviates the burden of a large month-end debit, as all balances must be settled in full at the end of the month.

What is your cancellation policy?

All clients are able to reschedule/cancel any appointments with greater than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice without incurring any penalties.

Any/all other appointments rescheduled or cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment start time will be assessed a $250.00 fee. While our clinicians will attempt to accommodate any requests to reschedule an appointment within the same week, any such requests made within 24 hours of the original start time will still be assessed the $250 fee.

Clinicians do not have the ability to waive these fees; limited exemptions will, however, be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Do you offer reduced fee/sliding scale?

Yes, we do! Please specify that you are seeking a sliding scale arrangement when requesting an appointment, and our Intake Team will be happy to share details regarding eligibility and availability.

I’m still unsure and have other questions…

Please contact us with any additional questions you may have — we’re here to help!