What are your hours and rates?
I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to address any questions and to mutually assess if we may work well with each other. My hours are from 11am to 7pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I provide typically 55 minute psychotherapy sessions at a rate of $175 per session.
How long will I be in therapy? What is it like?
Therapy lasts as long as needed or however long you want (if you are not limited by your insurance company). Some people come for a couple of weeks, several months, or several years. This is often based on your goals, the various issues that are being addressed, and what else may be happening currently in your life. We will discuss your development throughout sessions and address ending therapy when appropriate.
Therapy is a unique opportunity to work on a variety of issues with a professional who is trained to listen objectively in order to help problem solve and increase self-acceptance. Friends and family are often wonderful people to look to for support and insight, but they can also share their subjective opinions and experiences that may not match with your own. Therapy allows the focus to be on you without judgment and fear of hurting anyone’s feelings; it’s a space where you can be completely honest (see definition of Reverie below). Therapy is an alliance that can be both healing and transformative.
In response to COVID-19, sessions are conducted via telehealth using a HIPAA compliant platform; in-person sessions are also available if both parties agree to certain COVID-19 related protocols. There can be advantages and disadvantages regarding telehealth vs. in-person, which can be discussed in a phone consultation.
If you are new to psychotherapy, this quick video explains the process a bit further.
Why Reverie?
Reverie is a concept introduced by psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion (1897-1979). He refers to a state of mind characterized by a receptive, open, and unfocused awareness, similar to daydreaming or a waking dream. It is a mode of consciousness where the individual allows their thoughts, feelings, and sensations to flow freely without judgment or interference; it is when we are fully authentic to ourselves and with others.
Our sense of self can often be compromised by internalized messages from previous relationships and experiences, as well as external stressors in our evershifting world. These traumas can lead to feeling stuck, impacting how we think of ourselves and approach others. Reverie is a state of mind and movement towards a receptive, non-judgmental attitude, allowing an individual to suspend judgment, embrace ambiguity, and allow the unconscious to freely express itself with others. Through reverie, we can access and understand the depths of our own psyche and connect with the emotional lives of others. It is a delicate balance of receptivity, empathy, and imagination, allowing me to help navigate your inner world with sensitivity and understanding. It is an intimate, catharctic process and experience.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please do so at least 48 hours before your scheduled session to avoid a cancellation fee equaling the agreed rate amount/insurance reimbursement rate per session. Unless there is a prior arrangement, sessions will take place weekly at our pre-established time. You are allowed one no-show and/or cancellation less than 48 hours without penalty per calendar year. If you plan to miss more than two appointments in a row, each subsequent missed session will be $100 as a placeholder for your appointment time. I believe that continuity is vital to meaningful therapeutic work and deep change.
Do you accept insurance?
I accept Premera, LifeWise Primary, Anthem BCBS, First Choice Health, and Kaiser PPO. I also accept out-of-network insurance (see next section below).
Do I need to use insurance?
I work with clients who decide not to use insurance (private pay) and/or with insurance plans as an out-of-network provider as per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, otherwise known as the “No Surprises Act.” If you are eligible for out-of-network benefits, I will provide a Good Faith Estimate (see next section below) at the start of treatment, as well as reimbursement statements (superbill) for you at the end of each month to submit to your insurance. I encourage you to contact your insurance on the back of your card to see what out-of-network options you may have.
Some helpful questions to ask your insurance provider:
Do I have out-of-network, outpatient mental health benefits?
How much does my plan reimburse for an out-of-network provider? (What percentage of the fee will I be reimbursed?)
How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
What is my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Does telehealth affect my benefits?
Is there anything else I should know that may be helpful?
What is the No Surprises Act for Out-of-Network and Private Pay clients?
Beginning January 1, 2022, Congress enacted and the President signed into law the No Surprises Act, providing new federal consumer protections against surprise medical bills. In the case that you are not enrolled in a health plan or coverage or if you decide not to use your insurance, all providers (individual or a facility) must send your health plan a “Good Faith Estimate” amount of scheduled services, including any expected ancillary services and the expected billing and diagnostic codes for all items and services to be provided.
In other words, under the new law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using their insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
What are surprise medical bills?
If you have health insurance and get care from an out-of-network provider or at an out-of-network facility, your health plan may not cover the entire out-of-network cost. This can leave you with higher costs than if you got care from an in-network provider or facility. In the past, in addition to any out-of-network cost sharing you might owe, the out-of-network provider or facility could bill you for the difference between the billed charge and the amount your health plan paid, unless banned by state law. This is called “balance billing.” An unexpected balance bill from an out-of-network provider is also called a surprise medical bill.
What are the new protections if I have health insurance?
If you get health coverage through your employer, the Health Insurance Marketplace®, or an individual health insurance plan you purchase directly from an insurance company, these new rules will:
Ban surprise bills for emergency services, even if you get them out-of-network and without approval beforehand (prior authorization).
Ban out-of-network cost-sharing (like out-of-network coinsurance or copayments) for all emergency and some non-emergency services. You can’t be charged more than in-network cost-sharing for these services.
Ban out-of-network charges and balance bills for supplemental care (like anesthesiology or radiology) by out-of-network providers who work at an in-network facility.
Require that health care providers and facilities give you an easy-to-understand notice explaining that getting care out-of-network could be more expensive and options to avoid balance bills. You’re not required to sign this notice or get care out-of-network.
What if I don’t have health insurance or choose to pay for care on my own without using my health insurance?
If you don’t have insurance or you choose to pay for care without using your insurance (also known as “self-paying” for care), these new rules make sure you can get a “good faith estimate” of how much your care will cost, before you get care.
Are there exceptions to these protections?
Some health insurance coverage programs already have protections against high medical bills. You’re already protected against surprise medical billing if you have coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, Indian Health Services, Veterans Affairs Health Care, or TRICARE.