Questions About Psychotherapy – FAQs

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in understanding how medications for mood disorders interact with the body and other medications you may be taking. Some psychiatrists may provide occasional therapy but their primary role is to provide medication. Psychologists are doctors who specialize in understanding mental health. They provide psychotherapy and do not prescribe medication.

Medication alone cannot solve all issues. What medication does is treat the symptoms. Our work together is designed to explore the root of the problem, dig deep into your behavior and teach strategies and provide tools that can help you accomplish your personal and relational goals.

Medication can be effective and is sometimes needed in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Not at all. Everyone needs help now and then. You already have strengths you’ve used before, but for whatever reason aren’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and provide you with the tools on how to implement them again in what is happening now.

The difference is between someone who can do something and someone who has been trained with experience to do help you professionally, along with the ability to go deeper and provide specific tools for you. A mental health professional can help you approach your situation in a new way and teach you new skills. In addition, you will gain different perspectives, be heard without judgment or expectations, and help you listen to yourself. Furthermore, therapy is completely confidential. You won’t have to worry about others “knowing my business.” Finally, if your situation provokes a great deal of negative emotion, confiding in a friend or family member allows for the risk that once you are feeling better you could start avoiding that person so as not to be reminded of this difficult time in your life.

Because each person has different challenges and goals for therapy, sessions will be different depending on the individual. I tailor my therapeutic approach to your specific needs.

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Circumstances are unique to each person and the length of time to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.

I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication are crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other one session a week. It’s the work you do outside of our sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.

It is not helpful to move from an individual to couple’s therapy with the same therapist due to potential trust issues. If you are concerned about your relationship and desire to start with couples counseling, I will work with both of you together. After this work, if one would like to attend individual sessions, I will be able to continue with only one individual.

If you have out-of-network insurance benefits, they may reimburse you for some of your psychotherapy costs. My fees are available upon request. Please contact me for a consultation.

For Out-of-Network clients

Getting care from this provider or facility could cost you more (if we are out-of-network):

If you have insurance and choose to proceed working with us, getting care from this provider or facility could cost you more than if you went to an in-network provider. 

If your insurance plan covers the item or service you are getting, federal law protects you from higher bills:

• When you get emergency care from out-of-network providers and facilities, or
• When an out-of-network provider treats you at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center without your knowledge or consent. 

Ask your healthcare provider or patient advocate if you need help knowing if these protections apply to you. 

According to federal regulations, a waiver can be signed to pay the full fees, which may be more than your in-network benefits, which may mean you have:

• given up your protections under the law.
• you may owe the full costs billed for items and services received.
• Your health plan might not count any of the amount you pay toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit. Contact your health plan for more information (regarding your out of network benefits). 

You should not sign any waivers, if you did not have a choice of providers when receiving care. For example, a doctor was assigned to you with no opportunity to make a change (or without choice). Before deciding whether to sign a waiver, you can contact your health plan to find an in-network provider or facility. If there isn’t one, your health plan might work out an agreement with a provider or facility.  

Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing. 

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a healthcare facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network. 

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay (in network rate) and the full amount charged (private fee) for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care–like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider. 

You are protected from balance billing for: 

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments, deductible, and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balance filed for these post-stabilization services. 

Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most these providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed. 

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.

You are never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get out-of-network care. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. 

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections: 

• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly. 
• Your health plan generally must:
  •  cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization). 
  • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
  • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits. 
  • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

For more information about your rights under federal law, visit: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumer-protections/Payment-disagreements