Frequently asked questions are asked frequently for a reason! They are important, and many people have them. Here are a few answers to some of them:

What is teletherapy?

Teletherapy is online therapy. It is referred to as virtual, remote or video therapy delivered synchronously online. I use the same evidence-based interventions online as I do in-person therapy. 

When I first launched my private practice I intentionally designed it as a hybrid model (in-person and virtual). I wanted to increase access to quality psychotherapy from the traditional bounds of zip codes, commuting or walking distance.  It is important to me to modernize access so that people can receive support from the comfort of their couch, office, parked car or in between classes.   

What do I need?

All you need is a comfortable private space, good internet, and a smart phone, tablet, laptop or personal computer. 

How long is a session?

Sessions are typically scheduled for 50 minutes. Some clients receiving EMDR may elect for extended sessions of 60-90 minutes. These clinical and scheduling decisions and associated fees will be discussed in advance. 

Where are you licensed to practice?

Since I hold dual licenses to practice in New York and New Jersey, I can support clients in both. Therapy is considered where the client is physically located at the time of session so if you are in either of these states during our session we can meet! 

I have chosen to practice in both states to also support continuity of treatment for New York and New Jersey residents, workers, and students who often cross state lines. 

How often would we meet?

It is most common to meet weekly and adjust our frequency based on your needs. Depending on your specific needs, psychotherapy can provide short-term relief, for a specific issue, or have longer-term objectives. (We may do this in order to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development). As needs change we will continue to discuss treatment goals and scheduling together.

How much will this cost and how will I pay?

A 50 minute session fee is $225.

I accept payment from all major credit cards through SimplePractice, which allows clients to upload their credit card information. Then I use the Stripe function of SimplePractice to charge your credit card on the same day as your session. For weekly clients, this means that your credit card will be charged once per week.

If for some reason you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment, you will be charged the full appointment fee on the scheduled date-of-appointment, unless you have contacted me with 24-hour advance notice to cancel the appointment.

What about co-pay and Insurance?

By remaining out of network I am better able to protect your confidentiality, since I have no direct relationship with the insurance company. Although I am not in-network with any insurance provider, you should know that many insurance companies cover out-of-network providers and will reimburse a majority of the cost of our sessions.

If your plan covers out-of-network providers, you will be responsible for payment at the time of service and your insurance will then reimburse you. Insurance benefits are complicated and sometimes difficult to understand; read the questions below to establish what questions you might ask your insurance provider to better determine how much your plan covers.

Simply call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask these questions:

• Does my policy include out-of-network benefits for outpatient behavioral and mental health services?
• Does my policy require a referral or pre-authorization for psychotherapy services?
• What is my annual deductible for out-of-network mental health benefits? How much of this deductible have I met to-date?
• What is the policy year? (i.e. When does my deductible reset each year?)
• What is the coinsurance percentage for mental health services that my policy covers? (This is the percentage that your insurance will cover once you meet your deductible.)
• Is there a limit on out-of-pocket expenses each year? What is that limit? (Note: This is the maximum amount you will pay in a policy year; once you exceed this amount, your insurance will pay 100% of all healthcare expenses. This amount resets each year, which is why it is important to know when your policy resets each year.)
• Does my policy cover 50-minute sessions? If yes, how many per year?
• How do I submit invoices for reimbursement? (Most insurance companies allow for invoices to be submitted via email.)

In order to find out about out-of-network coverage provided by your policy, please contact your insurance company directly. 

Good Faith Estimate Information

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises 

Will this be private? How do you keep things confidential?

I use SimplePractice, a HIPAA-secure platform, for all of my record-keeping. I use Google Suite with a BAA (Business Associate Agreement) for all of my email communications, which is also secure. I use Signal, a secure app for text communication.

This looks good, what’s my next step?

Contacting me is easy! We can discuss what you’re looking for in therapy, and any questions or concerns you may have during a free consultation video or phone call. In order to schedule this call please contact me here.