FAQ
Q: What will my first appointment be like?
A: Typically I schedule an initial 1 hour appointment. It will be a time for me to get to know more about you, your situation, and what brings you to see me. It is also a time for you to get a sense of what it is like to work with me. At the end of the hour we can talk together about goals and set an initial plan for our work.
Q: Will you accept my insurance?
A: I do participate in some insurance plans, and otherwise I work as an out-of-network provider. In either case you will be asked to pay the fee and I will provide a receipt or other necessary documentation for your reimbursement. I encourage you to read the flyer Managed_Care_and_Psychotherapy that provides important information about insurance.
Q: What are your fees?
A: We will agree upon fees at the initial visit. My usual fee is $110 per session. If you have concerns about affording my fee, please discuss them with me. I do offer some sliding scale fees.
Q: How often would we meet?
A: Typically, I set up weekly appointments. However, if both of us think it would be beneficial we could meet more or less frequently.
Q: How long does therapy last?
A: The length of therapy varies based on a variety of things including the therapeutic goals, the complexity of what you are seeking help with, your motivation, and a number of other factors. While some people accomplish goals in a few sessions, others may utilize therapy effectively for a year or more. Typically, after the first few sessions I can provide a general sense of how long I believe it is likely to take to accomplish our goals.
Q: Are you licensed?
A: Yes, I am a New York State Licensed Psychologist #016581. You can verify my license at www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm
Q: Is what I talk about confidential?
A: Everything that you talk about in therapy is legally and ethically protected by confidentiality. Even the fact that you are seeing me for therapy is confidential. I take confidentiality very seriously and consider it a cornerstone of psychotherapy. There are some exceptions to confidentiality that you should know. These are:
-If there is reason to believe that you are an immediate risk to
yourself or someone else
-If there is reason to believe that a child (<18), elder,
or disabled person has been abused or neglected
-In a legal proceeding a judge may order that information about
your treatment be disclosed
These situations have rarely occurred in my practice. If a similar situation occurs, I will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action. I sometimes may find it helpful to consult other professionals. During consultation, I make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of my client. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential.
If you intend to use private insurance, then I would recoment you read Managed_Care_and_Psychotherapy for information about how insurance may impact confidentiality.
Q: Does seeing a therapist mean there is something wrong with me or does it mean I am weak?
A: No. Everyone can benefit from help at some point in life, and it is a real sign of strength to acknowledge that and to take proactive steps towards seeking help. People I have worked with in psychotherapy are often among the most courageous people I have known.