POLICIES & Frequently asked questions
How do I know if you are the right fit for me?
1
My honest answer is - you don’t… yet. Starting therapy is an uncertain step in building trust and getting to know one another - and seeing how that feels for you. I offer a free 10-15 minute phone consultation to new patients to help you decide if you would like to begin working together. I will check in regularly and determine together after our first three sessions if my style and approach is right for you, and welcome any points of discomfort or uncertainty along the way.
How do I know what therapy will cost?
2
If I am in-network with your insurance, you can read your summary of benefits or call your insurance company and ask for your copay for “outpatient mental health visits” as well as whether you have a deductible that needs to be met before this benefit kicks in.
If I do not accept your insurance, you will be charged the full self-pay fee of $250 at the time of each session (unless we negotiate a reduced fee together). Many insurances will also reimburse you for a significant percentage of out-of-network therapy sessions - in this case I am happy to provide you with a “superbill” that you can submit to them.
I do offer a sliding scale for reduced cost for patients in financial hardship - please inquire with me about this if cost is a concern keeping you from reaching out.
HOW OFTEN WILL WE MEET?
3
If you are new to therapy with me, I recommend we begin meeting once per week in order to get to know one another and begin working toward your goals at an effective rhythm and pace. We may also decide together that meeting twice per week would be helpful for you - and likewise in time you may wish to meet every other week as you make progress.
are you available in a crisis?
4
My practice does not have an on-call service and I may not always be monitoring my office phone and email in the evenings or over weekends. If you are in a mental health or safety emergency, please call 988 or proceed to your nearest emergency room (e.g., the Acute Psychiatry Service at Massachusetts General Hospital).
what is your cancellation / no-show policy?
5
Sessions are required to be cancelled at least 24 hours ahead of time. For late cancellations or no-shows, you will be required to pay the full session fee.
where can I be for a virtual session?
6
Because I am only licensed in Massachusetts, you must be physically within the state of MA at the time of our session even when we meet virtually. I use SimplePractice’s secure and HIPAA compliant portal for telehealth sessions, but it is also essential for you to have a private space with minimal distractions as if we were meeting in my office. I do not hold virtual sessions while patients are driving.
is therapy completely confidential?
7
I follow both legal and ethical standards to protect your confidentiality so that you can feel as safe as possible discussing personal and sensitive experiences with me. I use a HIPAA-compliant platform for virtual sessions and keeping patient records (SimplePractice). There are several exceptions to confidentiality for you to be aware of, including if you plan to use insurance (e.g., your company will be given a diagnosis code, and an “Explanation of Benefits” will usually be sent to the policyholder), if it would be in the interest of your treatment for me to consult with someone in your life and you give me written permission to do so (e.g., a former therapist, or a psychiatrist you work with), and matters of urgent risk to your safety and that of others (e.g., minors and elders). Any questions or concerns you have about these exceptions are welcome at the outset of therapy.
For patients under the age of 18, I take care to discuss all details and questions about confidentiality with both patients and parents/guardians also at the outset of therapy.
does your practice use ai?
8
No. While artificial intelligence (AI) may be a helpful research or task-completion tool, I do not believe we know nearly enough yet about its uses and risks as an aid in therapy, either clinically or administratively. Treatment plans and decisions will be made by you and me together, and any outside consultation I seek in the service of your goals is done with your knowledge, with appropriate health professionals, and in accordance with ethical and legal standards of confidentiality. Session notes are written by me.
On a more personal note… in a world of uncertainty and a culture that often does not allow for the messiness and complexity of our inner lives, I do understand the draw of a tool that offers solutions and answers at our fingertips. I am a therapist who believes that knowledge is power that can equip you in caring for your mental health and in navigating life decisions, and I will happily share self-help and technological tools that you can use to cope independently. At the same time, I believe we have so much to lose by looking to AI instead of ourselves or one another, and that the way through many mental health difficulties is the compassionate embracing of the suffering that makes us human. This inevitably includes confronting the many ways we (understandably) try to avoid the discomfort that comes with being vulnerable with others and ourselves, in and beyond therapy. With this in mind, I strive to help my patients develop trust in themselves and their own resilience.
“I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are in evil. ”