Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is what we talk about in therapy confidential?
Maintaining confidentiality within the therapeutic relationship is the most important aspect of building trust and creating a safe environment for therapy to occur. When you first come to the office, you will be given forms to sign that will go over what the limits to confidentiality are. There are specific legal and ethical requirements that we will go over, that mandate therapists to disclose confidential information. Other than these, no information can be released without written informed consent by the client. Informed consent might be given to allow your therapist to talk to other healthcare providers or to family members you wish to involve in your treatment.
For minors, confidentiality is also upheld, but if there is a situation whereby the therapist feels it is improtant for the parent/guardian to know, the therapist will usually work with the minor first, to talk to the parent/guardian together.
Q: Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
I am a provider on the follwing insurance plans:
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, United Behavioral, United Healthcare, Aetna, Medicare, Neighborhood Health Plan, Fallon, Boston Medical Center Healthnet Plan (BMC), Commonwealth Care, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) and Cigna (out-of-network).
To determine your mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, ask to speak with someone in member's services for behavioral health. Some helpful questions you can ask them are:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is my co-pay/deductible amount?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is prior authorization required from my primary care physician?
Q: What about medication vs. talk therapy?
For some individuals, treatment with talk therapy alone, is not as effective as it could be if medication were also a consideration in the treatment. Certain symptoms are so debilitating that a person is not able to fully benefit from therapy until they can be treated with medication and hence, become more able to engage in the therapy process. Before medication is considered, a person will have opportunities to discuss any reluctances and ask as many questions as needed to make sure it is the right decision for them. As a therapist, I do not prescribe medications. Therefore, I would be referring you to either a primary care doctor, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner specializing in behavioral health, to prescribe any medications.
Q: What is therapy like?
Therapy can be an opportunity to discover new things about yourself and to be heard and listened to in an unbiased, compassionate way. It is important to be willing to be open and honest with your therapist and with yourself. This can be an emotionally painful and difficult process, but it also leads to greater self-understanding and acceptance and greater satisfaction in one's life. Therapy differs based on the individual's needs, the relationship that develps between client and therapist and the effort the client puts into the process. 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 deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
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.
Q: What if you don't take my insurance or I choose not to use my insurance
You have the option to not use insurance or to see me as your therapist, if I do not take insurance. Some insurance companies will have out-of-network benefits that may cover some of the cost of a session. The fee for a session is $150.00 per 45minute session. There is a reduced fee available, based upon income, which is determined on a case-by-case basis.