Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Is telehealth as effective and safe as in-person therapy?
I offer flexible care to meet your needs - whether that’s in person or telehealth. I am happy to now offer limited in person appointments located in Rye, NY.
If you choose teleahealth, research suggests that telehealth is just as efficacious as therapy conducted in person. According to the research and expertise of David Mohr, PhD, director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, “What we’ve seen is that telehealth is essentially just as effective as face-to-face psychotherapy—and retention rates are higher.” The American Psychological Association (APA) also supports the use of telehealth for many mental health concerns. More information can be found here. Based on my years of experience using telehealth, I find that exposure therapy for anxiety disorders is very effective when delivered via telehealth. We may also meet in person for community based exposures if your treatment plan indicates.
That being said, there are some conditions that are not as appropriate for telehealth. Serious mental illness (SMI) such as psychosis and schizophrenia, self injurious behaviors, suicidal thoughts/behaviors, and substance use/abuse are not appropriate for this platform.
I use a secure HIPAA compliant platform for sessions, providing protection for your privacy. I do request that clients refrain from recording sessions in any way as this compromises the security of your private health data and the work we do together.
Do you accept insurance?
Insurance companies dictate the types of services I may provide and for how long, which is to the detriment of the care I provide my clients. As such, I am an out-of-network provider with all insurance providers. While I don’t contract directly with insurance companies, I do provide a superbill with the necessary codes for services and diagnoses for you to submit for reimbursement. Please contact your insurance provider directly to inquire about rates of reimbursement, which are typically around 60-80% (after your deductible is met) depending on your plan.
Payment is due in full at the time of each session, paid via a secure electronic medical records system, cash, or check.
How to inquire about reimbursement through your insurance: Please call your insurance provider and ask about seeing an “out of network” psychologist. Inquire about your deductible, and ask about the following behavioral health CPT code reimbursement rates: 90791 (intake), 90832 (30 min individual), 90834 (45 min individual), 90837 (60 min individual), 90846 and 90847 (family/parenting/couple codes). Also ask about the number of certified visits allowed by your insurance provider. Once you submit the superbill for reimbursement, check the EOB (explanation of benefits) to best understand coverage.
Not all services will be reimbursed by insurance. These may include phone call consultations, attendance at school meetings, time spent preparing reports, travel, consultation with other members of the treatment team such as psychiatrists and school therapists, longer sessions (90+ minutes), and other non-direct patient care services. These are considered out of pocket.
What should I expect from our first session?
Prior to our first appointment, we will chat briefly over the phone to get a sense of your needs and what’s bringing you to treatment. I will then send you an intake packet that includes clinic policies, consent forms, symptom measures, and a questionnaire about you. When those are completed and returned via the secure online portal, we will schedule our first appointment. The i
ntake appointments are opportunities for us to get to know one another. Your history, goals for treatment, and current concerns will be assessed, allowing me to begin formulating a treatment plan. I look forward to intakes as a chance to understand what you need from me as a therapist and to begin building a kind and caring relationship with you.
Are you available between sessions?
While I do not provide crisis services or after hours skills training as you might receive in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), I am happy to provide occasional support via e-mail or 15 min phone calls during office hours. If you are in need of frequent between session support, I recommend a DBT provider or a higher level of care (intensive outpatient, partial hospital, residential). Outpatient may not be appropriate for your needs.
How long are sessions? What is the frequency of treatment?
For most individuals, 45 min weekly is appropriate. For intensive or accelerated treatment options, longer and more frequent sessions are available. As you step down from treatment and experience symptom reduction, we may meet less frequently, or for shorter durations in order to facilitate practicing independent skill mastery. These decisions are made collaboratively and based on clinical presentation and what the data suggests will be most beneficial for your treatment.
What are your hours?
I’m available weekdays and do my best to accommodate your schedule. My hours for between session consults, phone calls, or e-mails are weekdays 9-5pm.
What is your cancellation policy?
I kindly request at least 24 hours advance notice of any cancellation to avoid being billed the full fee for the session. With at least 24 hours’ notice, I am usually able to offer your appointment to someone else. Thank you for understanding.