FAQ

The easiest way to determine if the therapist is covered by your specific insurance plan is to look on the mental health and substance abuse/chemical dependency provider list on the website of your health insurance. If you cannot find this information on the Internet, you should have a toll free number on your insurance card where you can call the insurance company and determine if a specific therapist is on the provider list. You can then request a specific referral for that therapist. Be sure to write down any authorization numbers or other important information. You then need to call the therapist directly to determine availability and schedule an appointment.

When the therapist is not listed as a provider, ask if you have out of network benefits. If you do, the therapist can provide you with an insurance receipt that you can send to your insurance provider and get partial reimbursement for fees you pay.

When clients choose to use their mental health or substance abuse insurance benefits, there is a certain amount of autonomy as well as privacy and confidentiality that is sacrificed. Most insurance companies require a psychiatric diagnosis be assigned to the client and this can be detrimental by establishing a medical record of a pre-existing condition should the client choose to switch health plans at a future date. This can result in denial of future coverage or riders that exclude the specific mental health or substance abuse disorder for a period of time. Then, the specific insurance company often must assess the type of treatment (i.e. individual, family, marital, or group, etc.) as medically necessary to treat the diagnosed psychiatric condition of the primary client. In addition, most insurance plans, while they may suggest that numerous sessions are covered in a calendar year, they typically only authorize a few sessions at a time. In order to obtain authorization for additional sessions, the insurance plans require that the treating therapist provide the insurance company with treatment plans, progress reports, and justification of medical necessity for continuing treatment. Insurance companies also frequently require referrals to the client's family physician or a psychiatrist for purposes of evaluating the need for psychotropic medication. While medication can be a necessary and very effective treatment modality in some cases, it is not always necessary and not always the best alternative in other cases. Clients have a right to know what information is being sent to their insurance companies and what types of treatments are available given their individualized clinical assessment and personal circumstances. Back to Top

· Where are you located and what are your office hours?

The office is located in Northwest Phoenix in the Metro Commerce Center, one block west of I-17 and just north of Peoria Ave. Office hours are Monday through Thursday by appointment only. Some early morning and evening appointments are available. There is also a satellite office in Payson with hours by appointment only on Mondays. Back to Top

· Do you provide online therapy?

No. The therapist believes that without the ability to see nonverbal communication signals and/or hear voice tone, much of the therapeutic relationship is unable to develop. Studies have shown that one of the highest predictors of successful outcomes in psychotherapy is not the actual method or technique but rather the client's experience of a positive and healthy therapeutic relationship with the therapist. This is very difficult to establish in an online format. Back to Top

· What are your fees?

The fee for an initial psychotherapy session is $115. Following that, fees for individual, couple's, and family therapy are $95 per session. Sessions are approximately 45-50 minutes long. Fees for group therapy are $45 per 50-minute groups and $60 per 80-minute groups. Group clients who pay in advance at the beginning of the month receive a 25% discount. Payment can be made with cash, check, or credit card. Receipts for potential out of network partial insurance reimbursement are provided upon request for covered services. Please read the information above regarding insurance for additional information. No third party billing arrangements are available unless otherwise specified. Fees for seminars, weekend intensives, training and consultation vary per event and services provided. Fees for interventions vary by package of services offered. Please call for additional information. Back to Top

· What are the differences between psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, therapists, counselors, and coaches and how do I decide which one to go see?

Many clients are confused by all these different titles. Some of them overlap but there are some distinct differences in terms of degrees and qualifications as well as the specific services provided.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors (M.D., D.O., etc) who received additional training to specialize in psychiatry. They typically have approximately 12 years of college education. Their primary roles are to provide psychiatric evaluations and prescribe psychotropic medication for clients when needed. Some psychiatrists also provide psychotherapy but most simply prescribe medications and often have clinicians in their office that provide the talk therapy. Family physicians and nurse practitioners are also able to prescribe psychotropic medications but psychiatrists typically have a more specialized practice in medication for mental health symptoms.

Psychologists have doctorate (PhD, PsyD, etc) degrees that require usually a minimum of two additional years of school beyond a master's degree. They are allowed to use the title of "Dr." but are not medical doctors. In addition to providing psychotherapy, psychologists often offer psychological testing that evaluates intellectual, mental, emotional, and social functioning.

Psychoanalysts are therapists (often who are also psychologists) that specialize in a treatment approach called psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is one of the original forms of mental health treatment and typically focuses on uncovering the individual unconscious dynamics that maintain current symptoms. Psychoanalysis is typically long term treatment.

Psychotherapists are clinicians who are authorized to provide psychotherapy that may include individual, couples, family and group therapy. They may be psychologists, psychiatrists, and nurse practitioners, or they may be master's level therapists and counselors. The master's level psychotherapists hold various master’s degrees in a number of different disciplines including clinical social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, and education (MSW, MC, MFT or MFCC, MEd, MA, MS, etc.) Some states require that these professionals be licensed to provide psychotherapy and some states have voluntary certifications. Arizona had voluntary certification until recently and began requiring licensure in July of 2004.

Other therapists and counselors include substance abuse and addiction counselors, pastoral counselors, rehab counselors, and guidance counselors. These professionals may hold any number of degrees from a one or two year certification to master's and doctorate level degrees depending on their specific training. They also may be qualified to provide psychotherapy in addition to their specialty. They may or may not be certified in their specific field of practice and they often are certified or licensed in more than one field of practice (professional counseling and substance abuse counseling for example).

Coaching is a relatively newer form of guidance that is designed to motivate clients to achieve their goals and potential rather than focusing on problems and symptoms. Many coaches are also professional therapists and counselors but not all of them are. There is typically no formal education that is required to become a coach and many coaches offer both motivational and spiritual counseling.

Please note that this is a general description of the various differences and that often professionals have numerous services that they are qualified to provide. You have a right to know the specific qualifications including training and experience of the provider you choose. Back to Top