Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• When is it appropriate to seek assistance from a psychologist?
• Are there risks to psychotherapy?
• What happens at the first session?
• How long are appointments?
• How often are psychotherapy appointment scheduled?
• What if I need to cancel an appointment?
• What if I miss an appointment?
• What are our professional fees?
• How do I pay for services?
• Can I pay with a credit card?
• What if I choose to seek insurance reimbursement for services?

WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM A
PSYCHOLOGIST?

Most people seek a psychologist when they or their children are concerned about issues
such as family conflict, excessive stress or anxiety, depression, behavior problems, or
other concerns about their daily functioning. Often, parents seek services due to
uncertainties about their child’s emotional functioning, behavior difficulties with their
child at home or at school, concern about their child’s learning abilities, or childhood
anxiety or depression.

ARE THERE RISKS TO PSYCHOTHERAPY?

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing
unpleasant aspects of your life, you or your child may experience uncomfortable feelings
like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand,
psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it.
Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant
reductions in feelings of distress.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FIRST SESSION?

In our first session, we will listen to you and attempt to develop an understanding of the
difficulties that have brought you to psychotherapy. We will usually take many notes
during this session and ask many questions. At the end of the evaluation, we will be able
to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to
follow, should you decide to continue with therapy. This will include how often we
believe we should meet, possible psychological testing that may be recommended, the
goals for the psychotherapy sessions, and the type of psychotherapy that we believe will
be most effective in helping you resolve your concerns.

HOW LONG ARE APPOINTMENTS?

Therapy appointments are usually 45-50 minutes in length. Often, appointment for young
children may be shorter. Psychological testing sessions typically last for one to three
hours.

HOW OFTEN ARE PSYCHOTHERAPY APPOINTMENTS
SCHEDULED?

Appointments are generally scheduled once a week or once every two weeks.

WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT?

If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please call to cancel as soon as
possible, not less than 24 hours in advance. Failure to cancel with a 24-hour notice will
result in your being charged one-half of the normal rate.

WHAT IF I MISS AN APPOINTMENT?

The above policy also applies when you fail to show up for an appointment. Failure to
cancel with a 24-hour notice will result in your being charged one-half of the normal rate.

WHAT ARE OUR PROFESSIONAL FEES?

Our fee is $150 per 45-50 minute therapy sessions. Appointments that last for 60-minutes
are charged at a rate of $200/appointment. The first appointment includes a diagnostic
assessment and this session is usually billed at a higher rate. In addition to weekly
appointments, we charge this amount for other professional services you may need,
though we will break down the hourly cost if we work for periods of less than one hour.
Billing for psychological testing is different. While fees are also based on our time, this
includes time spent scoring, interpreting, and writing a detailed report. Typically, the
charges will be between 1½ – 2 times the amount of actual face-to-face contact. The fee
for psychological testing is $200 per hour.
Other services include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 10
minutes, attendance at meetings with other professionals you have authorized,
preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other
service you may request of us. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require
our participation, you will be expected to pay for our professional time even if we are
called to testify by another party. Because of the difficulty of legal involvement, Our fee
is $250 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.

HOW DO I PAY FOR SERVICES?

All deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance amounts will be billed to you. In
circumstances of unusual financial hardship, we may be willing to negotiate a fee
adjustment or payment installment plan. You will be expected to pay for each session at
the time that it is held unless we agree otherwise or unless you have insurance coverage,
in which case we will bill your insurance.