Do you take insurance?

Like most private psychologists, I do not accept insurance directly. However you have the option of submitting a bill to your insurance provider to receive partial reimbursement for Out-of-Network providers. After you pay by check, credit card, or cash, I can give you a "superbill" which is the information your insurance company needs. Check with your insurance company to see their policy on out-of-network reimbursement.

How long will I have to be in therapy?

Of course, that depends on the goals that you set. We can work with your needs to maximize your benefit. For instance, we may spread out sessions so that you may come longer or only work on the goal you identify as most important. Your willingness to do work outside of session will greatly reduce the time it takes you to see improvement.

What kind of "homework" is required?

There are virtually unlimited options for homework assignments that are tailored to your needs. You may fill out mood measurements, complete assignments such as a pros/cons list, breathing exercises, imagery exercises, and assignments aimed at getting you involved in life.  We will work together to ensure that the tasks are manageable and effectively targeting your identified issue(s).

What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

One main difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist  is that a Psychologist cannot prescribe medication. A Psychiatrist has been to medical school and has a specialization in treating psychiatric issues after completing a residency. They may then become "Board Certified" in a specialty area. My husband, for example, is Board Certified in Forensic Psychiatry.  A Psychologist has been through 4 years of undergraduate studies followed by 4 years of graduate work , 1 year of Internship, and typically 1 year of Postdoctoral work prior to licensure.  They may then become certified in various fields. Board certification is less common in Psychology than Psychiatry.

What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D.?

A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy while a Psy.D. is a Doctor of Psychology. I like to think of the difference between an architect and a contractor or "builder." A Psy.D. is trained in doing therapy and psychological testing  while the Ph.D. programs tend to be focused on research and statistics. Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psy.D.

What about other mental health professionals?

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC's), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW's), Pastoral Counselors, Psychiatric Nurse Practioners (NP's), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT's) also provide treatment for mental health issues. See the following link for more information visit this link.