FAQs

 Therapy FAQs

Bariatric Psychological Evaluation FAQs

Clinical Supervision FAQs

• Therapy FAQ’s

Are sessions covered by my insurance? We are currently not accepting insurance. I can provide you with a superbill which you can provide your insurance. Your insurance may provide you partial reimbursement for your service. I recommend you contact your insurance provider prior to service if you are interested in this option.

How do I seek reimbursement from my insurance company? We recommend you contact your insurance provider prior to service to find out if they provide reimbursement.

Do you have evening and weekend appointments available? We have a limited evening available which usually fill quickly. Please schedule a consultation to discuss whether we can accommodate your schedule. We do not offer weekend appointments.

Where do sessions take place? Presently, we are offering online only telehealth online video counseling appointments at your convenience for everyone's safety.

Who do you work with? All of our services are for adults 18 years of age and older.

What if counseling isn't working? We can engage in discussion regarding why you feel it may not be working for you. We can discuss other options and recommendations regarding your treatment. Counseling is a process. For most people, it takes time to build a relationship with a counselor in order to feel comfortable sharing.

Can I receive counseling from you if I live in another state? We are only licensed in the state of NJ, therefore only allowed to provide counseling to someone while they are physically in the state of NJ during our therapy session.

What’s your location? We are presently providing therapy services online only at this time using a secure telehealth portal.

• General and Online Video Counseling FAQ’s

Can I use my phone for my therapy session? We provide sessions through our secure online telehealth online video counseling portal for safety and privacy. Many of our patients use their cell phones for their sessions. You can use most devices that connect to the internet including a desktop, tablet, or cell phone. For tablets and cell phones you will need to download the application to access our secure portal.

What if I don’t have access to internet? It is recommended to sit in a private quiet area where you feel comfortable to engage in session. You can use whatever secure form of internet for your device. Some patients have used WIFI, mobile data, or a hard wire connection. Unfortunately, if you don’t have access to the internet, then you will not be able to participate in telehealth online video counseling services at this time.

Do you offer telehealth, online video sessions, or phone sessions? Yes, we use a secure HIPAA compliant platform to offer online video counseling. We do not offer telephone therapy sessions because there’s no guarantee that it’s secure for confidential therapy sessions. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact us. Our platform is easy to use. It’s as simple as a click of a button.

I’ve heard EMDR therapy is helpful for trauma. Can we still do EMDR therapy during video sessions? Yes, we can. We are having successful EMDR sessions and continue to meet therapy goals.

How long does therapy take? There are a lot of factors that contribute to the length of counseling, so it’s difficult to predict until we begin working together. Typically, clients commit to counseling for 6 months and progress is measured quarterly.

How often do we meet? We have found that meeting weekly improve my clients’ progress toward their goals. For that reason, I meet with my clients weekly. We will establish a set to time to meet each week and that will be our reoccurring weekly appointment.

But wait! Why do we meet so much? Doing healing work at the level that will provide long-term change takes time. It’s a commitment. Trauma work takes building a relationship, learning coping skills to manage your mood and emotions, and processing past traumatic experiences. Clients that invest in time to get better may have less relapse into old patterns.

Do you give homework? Yes, especially in the beginning in hopes that over time working on coping skills and self care will become a habit for you. We will suggest things for you to do at home that supports the work we do in our therapy sessions. We have found that clients make significantly faster progress when they do the homework. Much of the homework is to support the work we do in session and focused on practicing healthy coping skills and self care.

What can I expect to happen during our time together? Generally speaking, during the first 1-2 sessions, we will do a thorough history and establish specific goals for your therapy. The next 3-4 sessions, we will develop a tool kit for dealing with the current stressors that brought you to counseling. In the last part of therapy, we will do the deep diving work to help heal the roots of the problems that brought you to counseling.

What kind of results can I expect from counseling? Our clients feel less anxious, more in control of their thoughts and emotions, and less reactive in their relationships. You will gain knowledge of healthy coping skills to manage your emotions. You will gain understanding of the relationship between life experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

What if I need to cancel our appointment or I get sick? We have a 24 hour cancellation policy, so if you need to cancel, make sure you give me 24 hours notice to avoid paying the late cancellation fee, which is the full session rate.

What is your availability? Clients are seen via telehealth online counseling on weekdays. My schedule has some flexibility and evening hours are available. We can discuss this further during a Free Consultation which you can schedule by clicking here. We have openings for new clients.

Do you take insurance? We are not contracted with any insurance companies directly, however, we do offer a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement using your Out-of-Network benefits. We recommend you contact your insurance company PRIOR to starting therapy to find out what their policy is and how it works.

I am ready to get started. What do I do next? We offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if we make a good fit based on your needs. Click here to schedule now and we will help you move forward.

• Bariatric Psychological Evaluation FAQ’s

How long does the bariatric evaluation take? The bariatric evaluation takes about one hour to complete. Prior to meeting one on one with a counselor to complete the bariatric evaluation, you will be provided a link to our patient portal where you will have paperwork and several assessments to complete. All assessments and paperwork should be completed at least 24 hours prior to your appointment to allow the counselor time to review them before your evaluation.

I'm nervous, what kind of questions are asked during the bariatric evaluation? Prior to the evaluation, you will complete assessments and questionnaires related to all aspects of your life, weight history, and eating patterns. During the actual evaluation session with the counselor, you will discuss your history, the reason you are seeking bariatric surgery, your understanding of the bariatric procedure you’re having, and explanation of the lifestyle changes you will need to maintain. There are no trick questions, this is a straight forward process.

How do I schedule a bariatric evaluation appointment? When you are ready to schedule an appointment simply schedule an appointment through our patient portal. Once the appointment is completed you will have access to our telehealth portal to complete your initial paperwork prior to your scheduled appointment.

Do you offer evening hours for the bariatric evaluation? We have limited evening hours available for appointments. If you schedule online, you will see our availability and can schedule directly. If you do not see a time you need, please call us to see if we can accommodate. We’re pretty flexible. Please call with any questions regarding scheduling.

How soon can my doctor obtain the results of the bariatric evaluation? We offer a 24 hour turn around time where we fax your doctor with documentation regarding the results of your bariatric evaluation. The actual bariatric evaluation will be mailed to you and your doctor within 5 business days of completion.

Can you do my bariatric evaluation if I live outside of the state of New Jersey? We are only licensed in the state of NJ. All bariatric evaluations must be conducted in the state of New Jersey where we are licensed to practice. If you live out of state, you must be physically in the state of New Jersey during your bariatric evaluation appointment. You must provide the address of your location at the start of your appointment.

How much does the bariatric evaluation cost? Bariatric evaluations are $250. This includes the completion of the pre-assessment forms, the 50 minute bariatric evaluation with a Certified Bariatric Counselor, and providing copies of your completed reports to you and your medical doctor.

What is the turn around time for my bariatric evaluation results? We usually provide the results of the bariatric evaluation at the end of the appointment when we review our recommendations. Within 24 hours, a form indicating the results of your bariatric evaluation will be sent to your medical doctor. Many doctor offices find this sufficient, but others require the actual evaluation report. We provide both the clearance form and evaluation report to you and your doctor. Your bariatric evaluation report will be completed and mailed to you and your medical doctor within 5 business days. ** We may need additional information in order to make a decision if you are in the care of a mental health therapist or a medical professional is providing you psychotropic medication. We will need you to provide an authorization for a release of information for us to consult to determine if you are a valid candidate for the procedure.

How soon can I receive paperwork that my bariatric evaluation report was completed? Within 24 hours of completing your bariatric evaluation, you and your medical doctor can be provided documentation regarding the results.

How soon can I receive my bariatric approval following my bariatric evaluation? For most people, we will be able to inform you of your approval status at the end of your evaluation. We may need additional information in order to make a decision if you are in the care of a mental health therapist or a medical professional is providing you psychotropic medication. We will need you to provide an authorization for a release of information for us to consult to determine if you are a valid candidate for the procedure.

How long is the bariatric evaluation valid for? Most bariatric evaluations are valid for one year from the date of completion. It is recommended to have the bariatric evaluation once you have completed all your classes and nutritionist appointments. This way you are well educated and informed for the procedure and can answers questions comfortably during your appointment. This will also help to maintain the window of time to have a valid evaluation when it's time for your surgery.

What to do if I don't get cleared for bariatric surgery because of the outcome of my bariatric evaluation? When you meet with your counselor during your bariatric evaluation, we will discuss your results and recommendations. You can speak with your surgeon regarding recommendations and options as well.

What does it mean if my bariatric evaluation says "cleared for bariatric surgery with additional counseling"? This means that the counselor has cleared you for bariatric surgery and recommends that you receive counseling services to address some areas, which can help with maintaining your progress and mental health pre and post-bariatric surgery. We can provide referrals from our resources if additional counseling is needed.

How can I get counseling for bariatric surgery approval? Pending what the issue or concern is to be addressed, you can seek a counselor/therapist with expertise in that area.

Why would counseling be a recommendation following the bariatric evaluation? Many people who struggle with their weight find that there is a relationship with food and emotional wellbeing. Addressing the root cause issues surrounding these relationships and gaining knowledge of healthy coping skills may help with maintaining weight loss and having a healthy relationship with food.

• Clinical Supervision FAQ’s

How soon can I start my supervision? Completed paperwork must be submitted and approved by the NJ Consumer of Affairs Board prior to starting supervision. This process can take several weeks. Upon documented board approval, we can begin the process.

How much does supervision cost? Supervision is $125 per meeting. Meetings are 50 minutes. We meet on a weekly basis as required by the board. We follow all provisions mandated by the board in terms of supervision. Please refer to NJ Consumer Affairs Board of Marriage and Family Therapy website for additional information. Some employers provide compensation for supervision. We recommend you contact your employer to find if they offer reimbursement for clinical supervision services.

What happens after we gain approval? Once the board approves you for clinical supervision, you sign an agreement of supervision with us detailing expectations. We set a weekly time to meet, then we get started.

Can you supervise me if I work with another counseling agency? Sure, we can provide supervision if you work for another facility. We need written documentation from the agency where you are employed stating that they are aware and agree that you are under our clinical supervision.

Do you provide clinical internships or employment for LAC’s? Yes, we can provide clinical internships and employment for LAC’s to work with our patients. All candidates will undergo a formal interview process.