Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long have you been in practice and what is your degree?
I have been in private practice since 1988 and I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. I am licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) and a psychological associate (LPA).
2. What is your clinical approach?
Although I pull from different approaches including psychoanalytic, Gestalt, family systems, developmental, brain research informed, mind/body, if there had to be only one descriptive word it would be psychodynamic.
Basically, that means that I look at the way internal life influences external stressors. I investigate with you where the past and present intersect. We look at where your feelings and thinking come together to make up the story of your emotional life.
3. Where is your office located?
My office is in central Raleigh, a block from Cameron Village. The office is located at 629 Oberlin Road with a discreet parking lot off of Bedford Road. The building is used exclusively by psychotherapists, so chances are you won’t run into your dentist, accountant or neighbor. The waiting rooms are private to semi-private and usually you will be the only person in the waiting room at a time. Click here for driving directions.
4. What will happen at my first session?
Basically, I will ask you to tell me what concerns have brought you to seek psychotherapy. I will listen and ask questions as needed. You can have a chance to ask me any questions and get a feel for how it is talking to me.
5. Will you say anything or do I just talk the whole time?
Although the focus is on you, I do respond with questions, clarifications and feedback.
Some clients are very familiar with a therapy setting and start talking comfortably. However, frequently clients new to therapy feel choked up with emotion before they say anything. Both are fine and understandable. I try to make it as easy as possible to help you feel at ease without getting in your way.
6. Do I need to tell you everything the first session?
Understandably the more candid you are with me, the sooner I can begin to formulate an idea of what might be helpful to you. The professional relationship of confidentiality and privacy are in place to help you feel secure revealing yourself in that way.
However, therapy is a process and revealing yourself needs to be at a pace with which you are comfortable.
7. How do I know if you are the best therapist for me?
Besides considering training and experience, a therapeutic match is something that tends to feel like a good fit. To that end, there is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting. I often recommend that folks make an appointment with more than one therapist to see how they feel talking to each. Although this may seem at first like a lot of trouble, it is essential that you feel comfortable with your therapist. If it becomes apparent that I am not the best fit, I will be glad to help you with a referral.
8. Why don’t you file insurance?
The best way I know to insure that your clinical information remains confidential is to keep all information between you and me. My billing information only goes from my hand to yours. No computer records, no billing department, no 3rd party ever receives your information. It is your decision if you’d like to file the claim with your insurance company.
9. Does insurance cover your services?
Most insurance companies do cover my services. To find out, call your insurance provider and ask about the benefits for outpatient psychotherapy. Some plans have a session maximum or a yearly total maximum that is applicable after the deductible.
10. My insurance plan is a PPO – will they cover me?
I have not signed on with any panels. Again – I have found them to be intrusive and counterproductive to the integrity of psychotherapy. At times you will have a plan that says they cover mental health services only to find out that the provider they have contracted with is required to submit mounds of paper work with your personal clinical information. I find that these barriers are designed to discourage & restrict treatment rather than insure quality and confidentiality.
Frequently however, your plan will have what is called an out of network benefit which will allow you to receive reimbursement for a provider that is not on their panel. Many times you will not be told about this benefit unless you ask for it by name.
11. What hours do you work and how long do sessions last?
I see clients during daytime hours—with a few afternoon and evening sessions available. My sessions typically last 45 minutes.
12. How often do you see clients for sessions?
After an evaluation period we discuss a regular time for sessions and how many times a week. I see clients between once and three times per week.
13. Do you ever see clients every other week?
Rarely, if ever. A major component of the healing power of psychotherapy is its dependability. I have found that less than once a week is not as effective.
14. I am not sure if I need psychotherapy or if it would help me. Could I come to you to find out?
Absolutely. The evaluation period is for exploring if you would be helped by psychotherapy and if so how. I am invested in only doing therapy that has every chance of being successful.
|
