FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will my health insurance cover your services?
It depends.
Individual therapy is usually covered (meaning you may be able to get some of the cost reimbursed by insurance) if there is a “mental health diagnosis” I can assign to you after your intake session.
Couples counseling is generally not covered by health insurance as it is not considered treatment for a medical condition or in insurance company lingo, a “medical necessity.” A few insurance companies do actually cover couples work. To find out if yours does, call your insurance company and ask them if you are covered specifically for couples therapy about relationship issues.
If you are concerned about coverage, please talk directly with someone at your insurance company to check your status before you come to your initial consultation.
I am not an official in-network provider for any insurance companies. This means you pay me directly, usually by putting your credit card information into my secure system, which automatically charges your card.
If you meet the criteria and you want to try to get insurance reimbursement, at the end of each month I will supply a “superbill” with all the necessary information and diagnosis codes so that you can apply for reimbursement from your insurance carrier.
What can I expect to happen at our first session?
When you arrive, please have a seat in the waiting room. When it’s time to begin, I will greet you and invite you into my comfortable office, where I will ask you about yourself and what has brought you in to see me.
Ideally you will find enough comfort and safety to be able to begin your emotional work. You will find me to be very active and empathetic in the sessions. I am not a traditional silent, “blank slate” therapist. I offer lots of feedback and ask lots of questions to make sure I understand your life and the context of your problems.
Therapy sessions can be emotional, but I will not allow you to become too overwhelmed. You are in control of your therapy.
My office will be a comfortable place where you can work on your issues at your own pace with my support and guidance.
What is the investment for therapy?
Couples therapy is $300 per 60 minutes, prorated to however long the session is.
Individual therapy is $250 per 45 minutes or $300 for 60 minutes, prorated to however long the session is.
Intensives or retreats can be purchased as a “bundle” and are priced differently. See the retreats and intensives page for details.
Do you work with LGBTQ couples and individuals?
Yes. I welcome clients of any gender and sexual orientation.
How soon can I get in to see you?
Typically, I’m able to see new clients within a week to 10 days of when they let me know they desire an appointment.
How often will we meet?
For individual therapy, I meet with clients once a week. This is not set in stone. Depending the client’s circumstances and wishes, we can meet more than once a week.
For couples therapy, I llike to start by meeting once a week. If a couple is in crisis, I can meet more than once a week. For example, some couples see me three days in a row in the beginning. I understand that couples are busy and have varying work schedules, sometimes involving travel. I work with each couple to determine how often we meet in order to work with complicated schedules.
More questions and answers
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. Our work together is confidential. Nothing can be revealed to anyone without your written permission. However, there are a couple of exceptions. I am legally required to report all incidents or suspicions of child or elder abuse or neglect, as well as if a client poses a danger to himself or others. Also, while I’ve never had it happen, my records could be subpoenaed by a court of law.
In thinking about starting therapy, there is concern not just about confidentiality but also about privacy. How do you ensure privacy?
I have worked with many people who have been concerned about privacy because of their security clearances or high profile careers. For those needing complete privacy, I can offer you a session time when the office waiting room is clear or by making arrangements to come to your location. If this interests you, please call at 703-651-6626.
How long does each therapy session last?
Couples — The initial session lasts 2 1/2 hours. After that, each session can last from 90 minutes to 3 hours, or more. This time frame is flexible as some forms of therapy require longer sessions, or some people prefer longer sessions to make progress more quickly or because they can’t come to therapy often.
Individuals — The first session is 90 minutes. After that, sessions can be 45 minutes or longer, depending on your preference and what is happening in each session.
How long will therapy take?
It varies, depending on your goals and the complexity of the issues. Therapy can last just a few months for a couple with specific communicaton issues. Couples therapy generally will last more than a year if there are issues of betrayal or infidelity.
Many individual clients work with me for years, as they deepen their understanding of themselves and their relationships. The length of therapy depends on your motivation, on how hard you’re willing to work, and how deeply you want to explore yourself and your relationship.
Do you ever meet with individuals in couples therapy separately?
The short answer is almost never. The couple is my client, and as a PACT therapist, I want to see how you are together, not separately. On occasion, I may feel that seeing members of the couple separately is clinically appropriate and necessary.
How do I make an appointment?
The first step is to set up a 15-minute free video consultation. I generally do not start working with people without meeting with them first to ensure that we are a good fit for each other. You can schedule a consultation here.
What if there is a need to cancel or change an appointment?
Your therapy session is time I have reserved just for you. I require 48 hours notice in advance by phone or text if you cannot keep your scheduled appointment in order to give me enough time to fill the session, if possible. You will not be charged for the session if the time can be filled with another client. If I cannot fill your time with another client, you will be charged the full fee. Of course, there are occasional exceptions to this policy — emergencies, illness, etc.
