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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Q: Who will answer my phone call or email message?
A: I will personally respond to all phone calls and emails
within 24 hours during the business week.
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Q: What will my first appointment consist of?
A: Your first appointment will be a consultation
visit lasting approximately 60 minutes. You and I will discuss
the difficulties you are experiencing. At the end of the consultation
I will summarize what we have discussed and propose treatment
options for you.
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Q: How long are subsequent sessions?
A: Each following session is 50 minutes long.
Most patients attend sessions on a weekly basis, but others opt
to attend sessions twice a month. Frequency of visits is determined
by necessity and/or the request of the client.
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Q: How long does my child or I stay in therapy?
A: The length of your treatment depends on the
issues that you need to address. After our first meeting, I will
assess and offer a suggested length for your therapy. It is
worth noting that some patients report feeling better after a few
sessions.
As you make progress
you and I can discuss the option of maintenance sessions.
These can be conducted monthly or even every other month and are
designed
to monitor the changes and continue the growth and progress you
will have made.
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Q: How will I know if I'm getting better?
A: After our first session together, we will
identify the goals that you would like to accomplish during therapy.
We will continue to check your progress by evaluating these goals
periodically. Sometimes, I may use measurements
such as mood inventories that produce a score so that progress
is actually measured. These are helpful when, for instance, depression
is being treated and the improvement is incremental and less noticeable.
Clients are then amazed at how much they have improved by
looking at their answers to an inventory weeks
ago, for example. When I am treating children, I will ask the
parents each session in mood or behaviors, and ask them about any
feedback on these areas they have received from school. Grades
and Citizenship comments from teachers tools to measure progress
along with the parents’ report.
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Q: Is what I share with my therapist confidential?
A: Your confidentiality is protected by the ethics
of my profession and by State and Federal laws; see:
www.dmh.ca.gov/Admin/regulations/confidentiality.asp
All information concerning patients is held confidential
and is released only through procedures consistent with the law
and professional ethics. With regard to disclosures to insurance
carriers, the amount of information I am required to disclose for
treatment authorization and continuing care varies greatly. I strongly
encourage my clients to know these details about their insurance
coverage and in what health care database their records may be stored.
For information on the varied levels of confidentiality of records with
regard to insurance vs. private pay, see:
www.psychologistshelp.org/choosing/straight_talk.php.
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Q: What if I think I need to be evaluated for medications or I am already prescribed medications?
A: I am licensed and trained to practice psychology,
not medicine. However, I also consult with psychiatrists who
prescribe medications to provide you with a medication consultation
and/or
continued medication management if that is indicated and desired
by the client. We would discuss the reasons why I would recommend
a referral for a medication evaluation and I would answer any questions
or concerns you might have.
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Q: I
have heard that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy emphasizes homework.
Can you describe what might be assigned?
A: Therapy is a process that takes place beyond
our time together. It is important that you transition what you
learn in therapy to your everyday life. Therefore, we will decide
on homework assignments that you can work on between sessions. Homework
consists of activities such as reading, keeping a structured journal
of your moods, thoughts, behaviors, which results in improvement
in your mood and in your relationships.
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Q: Where can I go to learn more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or PCIT?
A: For more information on Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy, visit the Beck Institute’s website at:
cttoday.org
For Parent Child Interaction Therapy, visit:
pcit.phhp.ufl.edu
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Q: Do you take insurance?
A: I am on provider panels with some insurance
carriers, and, if you will be using your insurance carrier, I will
verify your coverage and co-pays before our first appointment.
I can also work with insurance companies as an out-of-network
provider. It is a simple process and I will be happy
to help you with it.
First, contact your insurance company and inquire about your mental
health out-of-network benefits. Generally, insurance
companies can reimburse anywhere from 50% to 100% depending
on your plan and deductible. You will pay my fee upfront. Then,
I will provide you with a receipt to submit to your provider
for reimbursement.
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