Do You Accept Insurance?

Currently, I do not accept insurance through my private practice services. However, you are able to request reimbursement for services from your insurance company. As a part of services, I provide what we call a "Superbill." This is a listing of all services provided, including applicable "CPT" codes (codes used for insurance billing purposes), and even all payments you've made. Insurance companies will often allow you to submit these bills for reimbursement for services that you paid for out of pocket. HOW to do this varies by insurance company. To find out or learn more about your insurance company's policy on reimbursements, call the customer service phone number located on the back of your insurance card. I’d be happy to walk you through this process in session.

Why Don’t you Accept Insurance?

Apart from the difficulty getting “credentialed” with insurance companies, there are two main reasons why insurance is often not accepted by many therapy providers:

1. There are options to utilize your insurance that are often easier.   Namely, the two options above. Applying for insurance panels (as a clinician) is a pain and sometimes takes a very long time (not including any time spent on a wait list), only to find out you won't be allowed as an in-network provider. That's frustrating. Often the success rates for utilizing Single Case Agreements and/or Reimbursement for Service Requests are better (thought not always).

2. Confidentiality.   One of the requirements for submitting insurance claims is there must be a diagnosis from session number one. For some, a diagnosis provides clarity in to "what's going on with me," but for many others (the majority, I've found), diagnoses tend to be more of a burden. First, it's an often-unwanted label. On top of that, it's a label that tends to follow you around for years, even if the diagnosis has resolved (and can even affect your insurance premiums, though this is debatable). Aside from labels, insurance reimbursement requires me to submit documentation for proof of service, proof of necessity of service, and proof of progress. This means my progress notes get sent off, which comes with it a number of risks to confidentiality and security of information. Do note: Single Case Agreements carry with them the same requirements whereas requests for reimbursement often do not.

How much are the services you offer?

Currently, my current service costs are determined by the private practice I work at. A list of services and costs can be found on their website HERE, or by navigating to the Financial Policies page on their website at sunflowerpbh.com. If you are interested in consultation or public speaking services, I work directly with my clients on determining fees for services. Contact me for more information.

What Therapy techniques do you use?

This is a tough question as it always varies by individual. Cognitive therapies tend to work the best for issues such as depression and anxiety (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), though even this changes based on need. For example, if the primary presenting issue is grief and loss, more Emotion-Focused or Narrative-based and Humanistic approaches work best. This is one of the things we typically discuss during our initial consultation, as well as throughout the process of therapy. The research has been fairly clear on this: There is no SINGLE therapeutic technique that works across all situations and individuals. Additionally, true evidence-based practice is informed not only by the models that have been researched, but the personal preferences of the client themselves.

What does the assessment process look like?

This also varies by individual, and is determined by the goal outcomes from assessment as well as the presenting concerns discussed during our initial meeting. However, generally speaking, all assessments begin with a clinical interview that includes a thorough medical, psychological, and social history. Following the clinical interview, we will discuss next steps including any tests or questionnaires that you might need to complete at home, as well as testing that will need to be done in the office. Collateral documentation may also be requested of you (e.g., grade reports, prior evaluation reports, teacher questionnaires, IEPs, etc.). Once testing is complete, I spend time scoring all the tests administered, interpreting the results, and writing a comprehensive report that discusses the results, what they mean, and recommendations. Finally, we will meet for a “feedback session” whereby I will walk you through the report, focusing heavily on recommendations.