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Posts from the ‘Prospective Clients’ Category

Sep 19

Night Disortion

Evening Hours

Though earlier this year I had to turn many prospective clients away because there were no openings in my schedule, I am now accepting a limited number of new clients.

Over the past year, I’ve noticed a substantial increase in inquiries from prospective clients who require working with a psychologist who is in-network for their insurance plan. Likewise, there’s been a comparable increase in demand for evening hours. As much as I would like to be able to accommodate every client’s ideal appointment time, there simply are not enough hours in the day.

I’m trying to open this bottleneck with incremental changes to both schedule and policy. From this point forward, new clients insured by Aetna (for which I’m in-network) will be seen only during regular daytime business hours. I may at times agree to appointments after-hours (4:00 pm onwards) on a case-by-case basis, reserved only for new clients paying privately, for which reimbursement is usually available.

Prospective clients may wish to consult the Frequently Asked Questions document for information about fees, insurance, and other practical matters–or feel free to contact me directly.

For more information about your first appointment, see Getting Started.

Nov 9

post contrast

Changes to Mental Health Benefits under New Parity Law

As of January 1, 2010, when the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act goes into effect, many clients are likely to see improvements in their insurance coverage for psychotherapy, such as lower deductibles, elimination of session limits, and lower out-of-pocket expenses. Such changes should apply to both in-network and out-of-network benefits, thus creating greater choice in mental health treatment. The purpose of the law is to eliminate inequalities in coverage for physical health vs mental health benefits. While mental health benefits for New Yorkers have for some time been subject to limited parity under Timothy’s Law, the new Federal law is intended to extend the definition of parity to cover a broader range of emotional conditions. The changes you are likely to see should make your mental health benefits more aligned with your physical health benefits. I would encourage clients to check with your insurance company to learn about specific changes to your policy for the new year.

For more information about the new law, please read the following: The Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity Act of 2008: Questions and Answers for Psychologists

For more on an initial consultation for psychotherapy, see Getting Started.

Aug 22

Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m posting some of the most frequent questions I receive. I also welcome you to contact me directly with any additional questions.

WHAT IS YOUR FEE?

My fee for individual psychotherapy is $170 per 45 minute session, payable at the time of service. More on fees…

DO YOU OFFER A SLIDING SCALE?

I no longer offer reduced fees. If you are in need of a lower-cost option, I would encourage you to visit TherapySafetyNet.org, a coalition of New York mental health professionals who offer reduced fee psychotherapy to uninsured clients.

DO YOU ACCEPT MY INSURANCE?

I am a participating in-network provider with Aetna. If you are insured by Aetna, you will be responsible for paying any applicable co-payment as defined by your policy. More on insurance…

WILL MY INSURANCE REIMBURSE ME IF I PAY OUT OF POCKET?

It depends on your policy. Most PPO plans will reimburse you a percentage of fees that you pay to an an out-of-network psychologist. At the end of each month, I provide a receipt that you may submit to your insurance company for partial reimbursement. You may call the toll-free number on your insurance card to ask about the rate at which they reimburse you for fees you pay an out-of-network psychologist. Questions to ask your insurance company…

CAN I SEE YOU ON THE WEEKEND OR IN THE EVENING?

I don’t work on the weekend.

I have very limited evening availability. New clients insured by Aetna (for which I’m in-network) will be seen only during regular daytime business hours. I may at times agree to appointments after-hours (4:00 pm onwards) on a case-by-case basis, reserved only for new clients paying privately, for which reimbursement is usually available. More about evening hours…

CAN I SEE YOU EVERY OTHER WEEK?

If you want to get serious work done, you will need to come to therapy at least once weekly. On certain occasions after completion of long-term psychotherapy, clients may come in less frequently to maintain the gains they have made.

DO YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES?

No, I work with adults in individual therapy, and on occasion I work with couples.

WHERE DID YOU COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING?

I earned my doctorate in 2005 from the APA-Accredited Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University New England. Please see Qualifications for full details regarding my training and experience.

To arrange an initial consultation for psychotherapy, see Getting Started.

Jul 28

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Considerations in Selecting a Therapist

No shortage of psychotherapists exists in New York City. Choosing a therapist who matches your needs can be a daunting task, particularly at a time when feeling stressed. A compilation of resources to inform your decision follows.

Article by Martha Ainsworth:
How to choose a competent therapist

Article by John Grohol, Psy.D:
How to choose a therapist and other frequently asked questions answered about starting your psychotherapy

Blogs from goodtherapy.org:
What are the warning signs of “unhealthy” therapy?
How to choose a counselor or therapist

New York State Office of the Professions:
What you should know about psychologists and their services

To arrange an initial consultation for psychotherapy, see Getting Started.

May 30

copyright Angela Taormino licensed to Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D.

Advantages of Paying Privately

Paying “out of pocket” may seem costlier than using your insurance to cover the cost of psychotherapy. However, you may find that paying privately provides you certain advantages:

INCREASED PRIVACY

Your personal information, including psychiatric diagnosis, is not shared with your insurance company, is not transmitted over the internet, and is not stored in a database.

START QUICKLY

You may find a therapist quickly and start treatment at the time you choose.

FOCUS STAYS ON YOU

Your therapist’s attention will be devoted to understanding you and helping you work through your problems. There will be no distraction by submitting claim forms to your insurance company or negotiating to authorize additional sessions.

YOU DECIDE HOW LONG TO STAY

The length of your treatment is determined mutually by you and your therapist. No third party will set limits on the length of time you may continue therapy.

To arrange an initial consultation for psychotherapy, see Getting Started.