What is the first step in the process of coming for therapy?
If you are ready to schedule an appointment immediately, please contact my office at 908-675-6761. You may also click ‘Schedule Booking’ at the schedule page, although there may be a longer delay in getting scheduled as messages are not checked daily.
NOTE: All new clients are required to complete intake forms and insurance verification at least 24 hours prior to our first session. If you do not receive these documents once your appointment is confirmed, please check your spam/junk folder. Appointments without completed paperwork 24 hours in advance will be cancelled.
What can you expect at the first session?
First sessions are known as intake sessions. These sessions are casual, comfortable, and approximately 50-60 minutes long and cover the initial paperwork including informed consent, privacy, practice policies, and a verbal history of your goals, diagnoses, past treatment, family history, etc. At times, these administrative tasks may feel more clinical in nature but helps give me some important background pieces about who you are. The second half of the intake session is a more fluid conversation identifying and setting goals so the therapeutic process can begin.
How often will I have to come?
This depends. The length of time a person is in therapy really depends of the nature of what they are seeking to obtain as well as how they are feeling. For some, therapy can last for a set course of time until "a feeling is resolved", while others may choose to receive counseling for a longer period as a way to obtain ongoing health and growth throughout life.
How do I know if the therapy is helping?
The patient and therapist will work together to regularly assess and determine how the process is going. Sometimes, it will feel pretty obvious that you are doing well, other times new methods will have to be explored in order to make the most progress during and in-between sessions.
It's important to know whether this be your first experience with attending therapy or you've done so before, therapists are not here to "give advice" or solve your own conflicts, a good therapist should always be your guide in finding answers to end your own suffering.
Will I have to take medication while in therapy?
This practice is managed by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, so I am not authorized to prescribe or endorse any medication. My practices are rooted into traditional talk therapy and active mindful based approaches. However, at times we may discuss the benefits of being evaluated by a medical professional that can further assess for medications that can compliment our work in therapy with success.
How much will therapy cost?
This particular therapy practice accepts most major insurance plans as an in-network provider. Our office will collect and verify your insurance information prior to your first visit, but there is a good chance you will only pay your required co-pay as mandated by your plan and in some cases telehelath session co-pays are also fully covered by your insurance carrier. In the event this practice does not participate with your insurance or in the event you do not have health insurance, please contact the office to establish a payment that is affordable and reasonable for your budget. We will not turn anyone that is motivated to attend therapy away due to lack of funds.