FAQ

What is the difference between using insurance reimbursement and paying out of pocket?

This is a great question!  In order to use your insurance coverage, the person seeking therapy must qualify for a mental health diagnosis.  Just like any other medical treatment, this becomes part of the person's medical record, to which insurance companies have access. Many people want to use insurance to pay for services, so it is important to be informed of how this process works. However, there are times when individuals and couples do not want to use insurance coverage. Typically this is because they do not want to be labeled with a diagnosis or because they are seeking couples therapy, which is often not covered under many insurance plans.  It could also be that your provider is not contracted with your specific insurance company. In all of these cases, a person may choose to pay out of pocket instead of going through insurance. To be sure, we would encourage you to check with your specific insurance plan to see what is and is not covered before you start. 

How long does therapy take?

The length of time spent in therapy is directly related to pace of progress made towards treatment goals. Goals are primarily co-created by the client and the therapist and are related to the issues and symptoms initially reported. Part of therapy is regularly checking in on treatment progress.  But everyone progresses at their own pace and it is often difficult to estimate ahead of time exactly how long it will take to make progress. Sometimes therapy can be very brief, possibly just 4-6 sessions; sometimes therapy takes months or years. Many factors contribute to the length of time, including the severity of the issues, the engagement of the client, the other people who may be involved in treatment, etc.  Should you have additional questions or concerns about the length of time, it's always best to bring it up in session.

How does play therapy work?  

Play therapy is a specific evidence based psychotherapy modality.  It goes beyond "just playing" with kids and requires specialized training and supervision in order to attain the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential. Many therapists incorporate play into their work with kids, however, Play Therapy is different.  To better understand the RPT benefit, check out the Association for Play Therapy (APT) website for clarification.  Play allows children to relax and engage in the process, but it is also the language in which children primarily communicate. Play helps children work through issues and build self esteem. It develops resilience, advocacy, social skills and emotional regulation. During play therapy, the process is most effective when caregivers are involved. At some point in play therapy, a caregiver may be asked to attend sessions along with the child, in order to learn the necessary skills to help the child solidify therapeutic progress and to prepare for termination of services.