Getting Started
Initial requests for a consultation are usually made by telephone or email. Before establishing a time for an initial visit, we will discuss the concerns that prompted your call and determine if my services are a good fit for you. When indicated, individuals are referred to other experienced professionals . We will discuss whether you have insurance to cover my services. While I participate with a number of insurance programs, it is the responsibility of the consumer to know what coverage he/she has including deductibles and co-pays. Most insurance providers do not cover marital therapy or sexual therapy. Again, it is up to the consumer to inquire about insurance coverage for these services. If insurance does not cover the service, we will discuss my fees before the first visit.
The first visit is focused on gaining clarity of the concerns that you bring and routine business matters. My focus is to be clear about the issues you wish to address in therapy, how long you may have be struggling with the issues and the events or circumstances that resulted in your request for service. We will discuss a plan for further assessment and treatment. I will share details regarding my credentials and experience and you will have the opportunity to ask questions of me to determine if I am the right psychologist for you. Your comfort with me is an important ingredient to your success in using my services. If there is not a good fit, I can recommend other professionals. Lastly, you will be required to provide written consent for treatment. Included in the consent is a list of my obligations to you as the consumer.
After the assessment period of one to five sessions, I will provide you with feedback regarding my observations, findings, and recommendations. A treatment focus will be formalized in a collaborative fashion. It is important to know that any focus for treatment offered by me will always be based on scientific evidence. I do not use any unproven or new interventions that do not have a scientific basis.
The treatment process is an interactive process. When new clients ask about my success rate I tell them, “If you work your hardest at achieving your goals and I bring my full attention, energy and professional experience to the process we will have the best outcome in the least amount of time.”