FAQS
1. How can counseling/therapy help me?
Therapy can be a place where you gain insight, understanding, problem-solving skills, coping strategies, hope, clarity, and action steps in a safe and non-judgmental environment. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
2. What is the role of the therapist?
I provide a safe and non-judgmental environment in which you can grow and flourish. My job is help you create measurable goals and to see you reach them. Also, I will work with you on honing skills that will be applicable to the presenting problem, for example problem solving, assertiveness, emotion regulation, coping, stress management, and interpersonal skills as needed. In other situations, my role is to give you hope and help identify underlying issues that may be causing a problem in your life.
3. I have had negative experiences with therapy in the past, should I still make an appointment?
It is understandable if you are hesitant to see a new therapist after having a bad experience with one in the past. Your previous therapist might not have been a good fit for you or his/her approach might not have been the right kind of therapy. Certain therapeutic approaches are more suited than others in dealing with certain issues. For example, research suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is very well suited to help those with anxiety issues and OCD as compared to other therapy models. As a result, if you are not sure if you should make an appointment, I would be more than happy to spend some time talking with you on the phone to address any of your concerns; if after our discussion we feel that I am not a good fit, I can help you find someone that would be.
4. What are some important factors in choosing a therapist?
One of the best predictors of successful outcome in therapy is a strong therapeutic alliance between the therapist and client. Having a strong therapeutic alliance means you believe your therapist understands you, has empathy and compassion towards you, can help you, and believes in you. Another important factor is their approach. For example, if you are having marital issues, you might want to find someone experienced in Gottman Method Therapy. Finding a therapist that has experience working with people with symptoms similar to yours is also an important factor. You would not want to seek a therapist for sexual identity issues if you will be his/her first client dealing with this issue.
5. What makes a problem?
In general, a problem that may require some outside help occurs when it significantly adversely affects your work, academic performance, relationships, mood, or other life domain. Going to therapy can be a place where you can get clarity for your problem and work with a professional with whom you can problem solve and get unstuck.
6. What are the differences among all of the types of therapies?
There are many different types of therapies; a few well-known ones are cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution focused therapy, psychoanalysis, acceptance and commitment therapy, and gestalt therapy. If you click here, it will take you to a site where you can find out more information about each type of therapy. In my About Me page, I discuss the models that I tend to use in my practice.
7. Does seeing a therapist make me weak or flawed?
Absolutely not. If a student who is struggling in math and asks for help, would you think he/she was weak or flawed? Going to therapy is a sign of strength, courage, and wisdom. It is wise to seek help when needed.
8. What do you charge for a session if I have insurance, but have not met my deductible?
If I accept your insurance and am considered an in-network provider, my charges will be at a discounted rate called the “allowed charge.” The allowed charge is a discounted fee that insurers negotiate with doctors, hospitals and other health care providers in their network. Negotiating charges reduce costs for you and the insurance company. It's a key reason why insurers create incentives to use in-network providers and why you pay more when you don’t use in-network providers. Unlike providers outside the network, those who are in-network have agreed to accept the discounted fees as full payment for services rendered. Each insurer has its own list of allowed charges.
For example, say if I accept UPMC insurance and you have UPMC insurance, but you have not met your deductible. If my normal fee for a 55 minute session is $150.00, you would only be charged $100.00 for the 55 minute session because I am in contract with UPMC insurance saying I would accept $100.00 as full payment for services rendered for a 55 minute session. This 100.00 payment would go towards your deductible. Once your deductible is met, then you will have a copayment, coinsurance, or no payment.
A deductible is the amount you pay in a calendar year before your health plan begins to pay. For instance, if your deductible is $2,000, you must pay that amount out-of-pocket for covered health services before your insurer begins paying your health care costs.
A coinsurance is a percentage of the charge for medical care you must pay. If your plan's coinsurance for a given service is 20 percent, the plan will pay 80 percent, and you’ll pay the rest.
A copayment is a flat dollar amount you pay for a covered service each time you use it. For example, many insurers require a $20 copayment to see a therapist.
Therapy can be a place where you gain insight, understanding, problem-solving skills, coping strategies, hope, clarity, and action steps in a safe and non-judgmental environment. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
2. What is the role of the therapist?
I provide a safe and non-judgmental environment in which you can grow and flourish. My job is help you create measurable goals and to see you reach them. Also, I will work with you on honing skills that will be applicable to the presenting problem, for example problem solving, assertiveness, emotion regulation, coping, stress management, and interpersonal skills as needed. In other situations, my role is to give you hope and help identify underlying issues that may be causing a problem in your life.
3. I have had negative experiences with therapy in the past, should I still make an appointment?
It is understandable if you are hesitant to see a new therapist after having a bad experience with one in the past. Your previous therapist might not have been a good fit for you or his/her approach might not have been the right kind of therapy. Certain therapeutic approaches are more suited than others in dealing with certain issues. For example, research suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is very well suited to help those with anxiety issues and OCD as compared to other therapy models. As a result, if you are not sure if you should make an appointment, I would be more than happy to spend some time talking with you on the phone to address any of your concerns; if after our discussion we feel that I am not a good fit, I can help you find someone that would be.
4. What are some important factors in choosing a therapist?
One of the best predictors of successful outcome in therapy is a strong therapeutic alliance between the therapist and client. Having a strong therapeutic alliance means you believe your therapist understands you, has empathy and compassion towards you, can help you, and believes in you. Another important factor is their approach. For example, if you are having marital issues, you might want to find someone experienced in Gottman Method Therapy. Finding a therapist that has experience working with people with symptoms similar to yours is also an important factor. You would not want to seek a therapist for sexual identity issues if you will be his/her first client dealing with this issue.
5. What makes a problem?
In general, a problem that may require some outside help occurs when it significantly adversely affects your work, academic performance, relationships, mood, or other life domain. Going to therapy can be a place where you can get clarity for your problem and work with a professional with whom you can problem solve and get unstuck.
6. What are the differences among all of the types of therapies?
There are many different types of therapies; a few well-known ones are cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution focused therapy, psychoanalysis, acceptance and commitment therapy, and gestalt therapy. If you click here, it will take you to a site where you can find out more information about each type of therapy. In my About Me page, I discuss the models that I tend to use in my practice.
7. Does seeing a therapist make me weak or flawed?
Absolutely not. If a student who is struggling in math and asks for help, would you think he/she was weak or flawed? Going to therapy is a sign of strength, courage, and wisdom. It is wise to seek help when needed.
8. What do you charge for a session if I have insurance, but have not met my deductible?
If I accept your insurance and am considered an in-network provider, my charges will be at a discounted rate called the “allowed charge.” The allowed charge is a discounted fee that insurers negotiate with doctors, hospitals and other health care providers in their network. Negotiating charges reduce costs for you and the insurance company. It's a key reason why insurers create incentives to use in-network providers and why you pay more when you don’t use in-network providers. Unlike providers outside the network, those who are in-network have agreed to accept the discounted fees as full payment for services rendered. Each insurer has its own list of allowed charges.
For example, say if I accept UPMC insurance and you have UPMC insurance, but you have not met your deductible. If my normal fee for a 55 minute session is $150.00, you would only be charged $100.00 for the 55 minute session because I am in contract with UPMC insurance saying I would accept $100.00 as full payment for services rendered for a 55 minute session. This 100.00 payment would go towards your deductible. Once your deductible is met, then you will have a copayment, coinsurance, or no payment.
A deductible is the amount you pay in a calendar year before your health plan begins to pay. For instance, if your deductible is $2,000, you must pay that amount out-of-pocket for covered health services before your insurer begins paying your health care costs.
A coinsurance is a percentage of the charge for medical care you must pay. If your plan's coinsurance for a given service is 20 percent, the plan will pay 80 percent, and you’ll pay the rest.
A copayment is a flat dollar amount you pay for a covered service each time you use it. For example, many insurers require a $20 copayment to see a therapist.
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Clarity Psychological Services, LLC
6200 Brooktree Road Suite 110 Wexford, PA 15090 Phone: 412-628-2818 Email: [email protected] |
Serving the North Hills area, including Wexford, Butler, Beaver, Gibsonia, Ross, Warrendale, Cranberry, Pine-Richland, McCandless, Mars, Allison Park, Franklin Park, Hampton, and Pittsburgh
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