Common Queries
All the Answers You Seek, In One Place
Welcome! Therapy is a personal investment you can make for your mental, physical and spiritual health. I look forward to helping you choose the best path for your healing journey!
Have a question you’d like to ask? I’m committed to giving patients the best care and experience I can. There’s no such thing as a bad question when it comes to mental health. Check out the answers to the FAQs below, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions.
Why choose online therapy?
Working through mental health is a beautiful healing process. It is an investment in self! You may know of online therapy as e-therapy, telehealth, counseling, etc. Some benefits of online therapy are as follows:
*Ease of use and accessibility: Online therapy is completed with easy to use online platforms, that I can easily guide you through if needed as well! Online therapy is also easily accessible for those who are managing chronic illness. For example, fibromyalgia can leave us suddenly feeling unable to get out of bed for appointments; why allow that to get in the way of managing your mental health when you can log right into your phone for support?
*Effectiveness: In my experience, and according to research that has been completed in the mental health field, online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for all sorts of mental health difficulties.
*Convenience: Finding time for self can be difficult at times, let alone sitting in traffic, making sure you schedule driving time into your day, etc. Online therapy allows you to meet your needs for self-care in your own home, where you can choose the time that is best for you!
*Choice: With online out of network therapy, you can freely choose your provider, and as long as you are in CT or MA and feel you’re in a confidential location to have therapy, you can go anywhere for your session!
How does online therapy work?
Using online therapy is easy to do! All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer that can connect to the internet and a location where you can talk in private.
Tips for good connection:
-make sure you are near your router if you have poor wi-fi connection, or, plug your device directly into the router
-if using your phone, using unlimited data may work better than your wi-fi connection (turn wi-fi off)
-choose a time for therapy when others in your home are not using the wi-fi too
Do you take insurance?
I do take Husky/Medicaid insurance for the state of CT only. For all other insurances, I am an Out of Network Provider, meaning I do not participate directly with other insurance companies. I am able to provide you with a receipt for each session (superbill) to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Keep in mind, some insurances may require a diagnosis to submit a superbill, even though I am out-of-network with them. For this purpose, if you choose not to have a diagnosis submitted to an insurance company, you may become a private pay client (meaning you are not electing to submit superbills to your insurance). Many insurance companies offer out-of-network services, so it is worth it to check with yours!
If you are not sure about your out-of-network coverage, please contact your insurance provider directly.
Here are a few questions to ask that will help determine what your benefits are:
Does my health insurance plan include out-of-network behavioral/mental health benefits?
Do I have an out-of-network deductible? What is the calendar year start date of my deductible?
If I have a deductible, what is it and have I met it yet? Do I have a co-pay or co-insurance?
Is there a limit on the number of sessions my plan will allow; if so, what is the limit?
Do I need a referral?
What are your service rates?
You may use the below CPT codes to find out if/what your insurance may reimburse you if you choose to become an out-of-network client.
*Please note all rates are respectfully based on your clinician's education, experience, advanced trainings and certifications, etc.
90791 – Individual therapy intake single session: $225 or Family therapy/Couples therapy intake single session: $250
90837 – Individual appointment 55 minutes: $175/session
90832 – Individual appointment 25 minutes: $87.50/session
99354 – 30 minutes add on to 90837 session: $90/session
90847 – Family/Couples appointment 45 minutes: $200/session
90839 – Crisis appointment 50-55 minutes: $175/session or $225 on non-office days/hours/holidays
90853 – Group therapy 60-90 minutes: $30/session support group, $50/session clinical group
Additional services:
EMDR intensive initial consultation (2.5 hours): $450
EMDR intensive session (2 hours): $350
EMDR half day session (4 hours): $700
Consultation with other providers: $90 per 30 minutes, or prorated based on therapist's current rate
Initial Phone Consultation for prospective clients: 15 min - Free
Paperwork Policy:
For therapy to establish disability paperwork completion or other reasons: you must be established in therapy for a minimum of 90 days or a minimum of 6 sessions before your therapist will consider completing paperwork.
Paperwork must be completed within your scheduled session(s). Paperwork requested for completion outside of sessions will be charged a pre-set rate (note rates below).
Therapists are not obligated to complete paperwork when a client requests it. At times, your therapist may request you reach out to your PCP or psychiatrist for paperwork completion, as this may be a requirement of said paperwork and/or they may be better equipped to complete it for you.
-Charges for completion of paperwork outside of session time-
Disability, FMLA, PMLA, etc. $100
Treatment summaries $25 per page (a copy of your treatment plan is not a treatment summary, and is available for free upon your written request)
Letters verifying treatment ` $25 per page
Court policies: please view your practice policies form before your initial session
*We regretfully do not provide letters for Emotional Support Animals at this time.
What is my cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend your scheduled session, please cancel at least 48 hours in advance. This gives an opportunity to offer a session to someone on our waitlist. If you fail to contact us, or "no show," you will be charged the full session fee. Out-of-Network reimbursements do not cover this charge, so you will be responsible for the full payment.
*Sessions are considered a "no show" if after 10 minutes into the start time of your scheduled session, you do not arrive to session.
Why am I mostly an out-of-network or private pay provider?
Many health care plans offer little or only specific coverage for mental health services. In addition, some require “prior-authorization” before you can start treatment. This means the insurance company must approve your treatment, before they will reimburse an in-network provider. Authorization can be denied, but if it is authorized, you are limited to whom is in network only.
When the authorized sessions are completed, therapists must re-justify any additional services if needed. Your insurance company may then require further information that is confidential in order to approve continuation of therapy. Even if the therapist justifies this need, your insurance company may still decline services! Who is your insurance company to decide what you feel is best for your mental health?
In addition, insurance companies require therapists to give a mental health diagnosis (i.e., “major depressive disorder” or “post-traumatic stress disorder”) for in-network reimbursement (as well as sometimes, for out of network reimbursement). Mental Health diagnoses can be fluid (meaning they can change in time). Some diagnoses could impact: Your ability to obtain certain life insurance; your ability to obtain disability; confidentiality issues due to the increased number of persons involved in the insurance claim process; possible loss of or changes in employment where you may be required to disclose a mental health disorder diagnosis from your record. This may mean when applying for a particular job, concealed weapons permits, financial assistance, or other issues including court cases in which your diagnosis may be required to be disclosed, and/or subpoenaed, could occur.