Question 1

I’ve tried couples therapy before and all we did is argue in front of our therapist. Should I try again?

Answer

Yes. A well-trained therapist will help you have a new communication experience, one where you feel fully heard by your partner. Your therapist should not allow you to get stuck in the painful patterns of circular arguments. Our couples therapists have the training and skills to accomplish this goal.

Question 2

If faith is an important to us, can that be part of couples therapy?

Answer

No matter what your faith background is or if you do not believe in God, our goal is match you with a counselor who can serve you as a trustworthy resource for professional, loving, non-judgmental care. If spirituality is important to you, many of our therapists are equipped to integrate faith in therapy. Please discuss this with your therapist before you get started.

Question 3

How does insurance work?

Does my policy cover out-of-network outpatient psychotherapy?
CPT CODES: If yes, what is the reimbursement for out-of-network psychotherapy services for the following CPT codes: 90834, 90837, 90847. What is the reimbursement rate for telehealth CPT codes, 90834-95, 90837-95, and 90847-95? Your insurance company should understand what a “CPT code” is, and whether they reimburse for these specific codes.
Is there a maximum number of psychotherapy sessions for which they will provide reimbursement?
DIAGNOSIS CODES: Will the insurance company reimburse for the diagnoses which you have discussed with your therapist?
% REIMBURSED: If your insurance company reimburses a percentage of the cost, what is that percentage, and what is the maximum cost per session they are allowing? For instance, they may reimburse 70% of a psychotherapy session (CPT code 90837), but assume that the maximum rate of the psychotherapy session is only $120 (instead of my actual rate). This would mean the client would be reimbursed $84 per session. Another insurance company, however, may only reimburse 50%, but allow a $250 hourly rate, meaning that the client would be reimbursed $125 per session. Thus, it is important to understand both the reimbursement percentage and the maximum per-session rate allowed.
Is a doctor’s referral required and/or is pre-authorization required? What is the name and number of the person to be contacted for pre-authorization?
DEDUCTIBLE: Is there a deductible and how much is it? Is it a yearly deductible? How much of the deductible do I have left over to meet?
ADMINISTRATIVE: What is the address of the office where I should send my claims? To whose attention is the claim to be sent?

HSA AND FSA ACCOUNTS: Many clients have been successful in utilizing a Health Savings Account (HSA) and/or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for reimbursement of accrued therapy expenses. Please note that the superbill as discussed above can serve as documentation for your FSA or HSA. We understand that financial concerns may lead you to use an in-network provider. Please be aware that there are local non-profit agencies that provide low-cost counseling services.

Answer

We have tried to cover answers to all the insurance questions that we get from clients. If we missed something, please do not hesitate to ask your therapist. OUT-OF-NETWORK:
We have chosen to remain an “out-of-network” provider for all insurance companies. In our experience, this allows us to provide a higher quality of care, independent from insurance-based rules or decisions. Accordingly, full payment is due from you at the beginning of each therapy session. We accept payment by cash, check or credit card. SUPER-BILLS: It is your choice whether you would like to apply for insurance reimbursement or not. Although we do not accept direct payment from insurance companies, we provide a “super-bill” to you which includes the standard information (such as diagnosis and treatment codes) that most insurance companies require. You then submit the super-bill to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please note that we do NOT fill out any forms that are created by your insurance company and do NOT correspond directly with them in any way. DIAGNOSIS IN COUPLES THERAPY: For couples therapy, most insurance companies will reimburse for therapy involving two people if one person has been given a diagnosis. We should have a discussion to make sure the appropriate partner is provided with a diagnosis. The diagnosis often is not one of Autism Spectrum Disorder but rather one that is less stigmatizing such as Adjustment Disorder. Your therapist will be able to discuss this with you in advance of making an official diagnosis.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INSURANCE PROVIDER:
To find out more about your coverage, call your provider, get the name of the person you are speaking to, and ask the following questions:

Question 4

What's my first step?

Answer

Click on the "contact us" button below and we will reach out to you within 24 hours. We would love to hear from you

Question 5

Will talking just make things worse?

Answer

You're probably asking this question because that is exactly what has happened. We work really hard to help you constructively handle reactivity and negative emotions. You will learn a highly structured way to talk that will feel different and hopefully safe. Conversations should shift from a battleground to a safe and productive place to connect.

Question 6

What if we just can't solve our problems?

Answer

Research shows that on average couples endure six years of marital distress before seeking counseling. Nonetheless, therapy is very effective in dealing with long-standing problems by helping you try something different (as opposed to just trying harder). No matter how long you have been struggling, if you are willing to try, there is hope.

Question 7

What about Video therapy?

SEATING GUIDANCE:

For our video session, if possible, arrange the computer so that you can sit in two separate chairs and both be seen by the camera. During therapy, you will sometimes have the chairs pointed to your therapist and sometimes to each other. Using chairs works better than sitting on a couch.

AUDIO GUIDANCE:

Please make sure the microphone can pick up your audio clearly when you are talking to each other in the chairs. If that is a problem, you can call into Zoom with your cell phone AND still use Zoom for video.

SECURITY: Please be aware that using video introduces security risk. You should make sure that your computer has the latest security software. By engaging in video therapy, you are agreeing to accept these risks.

Answer

Since Covid began, the majority of sessions have been on-line. The surprising discovery is that it works GREAT for couples because they are still in the room with each other. Intimacy is possible! And this saves the hassle of fighting traffic and getting a sitter if you have kids. Here’s what works best for video therapy:

Question 8

What about the security of your notes and information about us?

Answer

We take the data security of your personal information extremely seriously. Everyone in our practice uses an established software platform called Simple Practice for session notes, billing, your contact information and scheduling. Simple Practice follows industry best practices to ensure that your personal health information is kept secure. If you send an email directly to one of our therapists, the data is only as secure as your email provider so please use extra caution.

FAQ'S