Choosing the right therapist for your family can feel like a daunting task.  The "chemistry" between you, your child and I needs to feel right.  It takes time to get to know each other, but here are some questions to consider after your first few sessions.  Did you and your child walk out of the therapy session feeling listened to, understood or seen?  Does my approach to treatment respect your family's values?  Were you and your child given ample time to ask questions, talk or even be silent?  Given time, do you see yourself being able to discuss your hopes and worries about your role as a parent with me?  

Don't be afraid to bring up any concerns your may have about whether I am the right fit for your family.  Every therapist knows that they will not be the right fit for every single family they meet.  I encourage you to give us some time to get to know one another, and to always bring up any questions or concerns you may have.  The only bad question is the one that remains unasked.

Because of the nature of infant and early childhood mental health treatment, all individual and dyadic sessions will be held in person in my office.  The length of sessions will depend on how long your child can participate in a meaningful way in the treatment session, but the standard session length is 45 minutes.  You can increase the likelihood of your child being able to participate in 45 minute sessions by scheduling sessions earlier in the day and avoiding naptimes, major mealtimes or evenings (due to the proximity to bedtime).  While this might pose some scheduling difficulties for the working caregiver, I encourage you to follow those guidelines.  Young children (and lots of grownups!) can become easily dysregulated and can't give their best effort if they're tired, sleepy or very hungry.

Parent guidance sessions are 45 minutes long, and I strongly encourage you to participate in person.  When this is not possible, we can meet over telehealth as long as you are able to log on from a private location with minimal distractions.  

I currently do not have any availability for sessions during the weekend. 

This is often the question lingering in the therapy room during the consultation and assessment period.  It is a question that is answered the way most questions in mental health are answered: it depends.  Mostly it will depend on the nature and severity of the concerns that have brought your child to treatment.  Unless your child is being treated by a therapist who is following a time-limited, manualized treatment (none of which I offer), a timeline for treatment can't be given with any certainty.  

However, you, your child and I will work closely on setting treatment goals, which will be reviewed periodically to discuss the progress being made.  Therapy is not meant to be a life-long endeavor, and when children are feeling better, I believe their time is better spent with friends and family, participating in after school activities or just relaxing.  

I do not participate with any insurance networks, but can provide you with an itemized list of services rendered (a "superbill") that can be provided to your insurance for reimbursement.  If you have out of network benefits, your insurance may reimburse part or most of the cost of sessions.  

The first session, known as an Initial Diagnostic session, is 90 minutes long and the fee is $415.  Sessions thereafter are typically 45 minutes long and the fee is $225, regardless of whether it's a session with the child, with the parents, or with the family.

You may want to ask your insurance company about a network exception or "gap exception," where an insurance carrier covers services from an out of network provider at an in-network rate due to a gap in coverage (such as a lack of providers in your area with infant or early childhood experience, etc.)  Some types of insurance plans (e.g., PPO vs. EPO vs. HMO) are more likely to grant a gap exception.  A quick Google search can help you learn more about how to request a gap exception.  

If you have more questions about requesting a gap exception, or have been denied a gap exception, you can reach out to the Office of the Healthcare Advocate by clicking here.   The Office of the Healthcare Advocate provides free assistance for healthcare coverage issues and are a great resource for families.

Yes, a sliding scale fee is available to families but there are only a limited number of "spots."  Please read below before deciding to request a sliding scale fee.

A family's financial resources should not be the only determining factor in whether they have access to quality mental health care, which is why a sliding scale is created.  The sliding scale only works if there is respect for truthfulness, accountability and acknowledgment that a family's financial circumstances are complex.  

In addition, there is a difference between hardship and sacrifice.  If paying for the full fee for any service presents a hardship (i.e., it would have a detrimental impact on your ability to pay rent, put food on the table, buy clothes for your child, etc), then the sliding scale should be used.  However, if paying for the full fee presents a difficulty, but not a hardship (i.e., it would impact your expendable income, but it does not prevent you from meeting your basic needs), then it is a sacrifice, and you should consider allowing other families to make use of the limited number of sliding scale fee spots, as they would have to forgo treatment altogether without a sliding scale fee.

If paying the full fee presents a hardship for your family, and your child is uninsured or your insurance carrier has already denied a gap exception, please refer to the Sliding Scale Fee page to learn more.

No, I am a psychotherapist, and do not provide medication management services.  Children under the age of 6 do not typically need nor benefit from psychiatric medications.  If after a period of time in treatment, you are still wondering if psychiatric medications might benefit your child, please bring it up in session so that I can better understand your concerns.