Who will answer my phone call or email message?
Jenn will personally respond to your message as soon as possible (unless the outgoing message says she is out of town).
What will my first appointment consist of?
You and Jenn will discuss the problem that led you to call, as well as going over a brief history.
What is the length of a typical session?
Typical sessions last 50 minutes.
How long will it take before I feel better?
Most people experience some relief immediately, since it is usually helpful to identify problems and begin working through them. It is difficult to predict how long the therapy will last; it depends on the nature of the issues to be addressed, and how well the client and therapist work together.
What is the typical waiting period for a new client?
Jenn makes every effort to make room for a client who is a good match, and to never take on a client who is not a good match. She will let you know about any waiting list and timeframe when you call.
What insurances do you take?
Jenn does not bill any insurance companies directly. She will provide itemized receipts that can be submitted as claims to your insurance company. Regardless of your insurance plan, you should always ask your insurance company what mental health benefits your plan allows for.
Why do you not bill insurance companies directly?
There are several reasons for this choice:
- Insurance companies can, and often do, make changes to the payment policies of their plans and to the process for reimbursement. These changes are not always in the clients/members’ clinical best interests.
- Insurance companies want a psychiatric diagnosis and will then determine based on the diagnosis given how many sessions they will cover. This information often becomes a permanent part of your medical file and might increase the cost of your future health insurance premiums.
- Not all the reasons for coming to see a psychologist require you to be labeled with a psychiatric diagnosis. There may be situational issues that a family is facing, developmental phases that a child is going through, or personal growth challenges that a client needs to confront. Many of these issues may not require labeling with a psychiatric diagnosis.
Jenn will always work with you to facilitate reimbursement if your financial situation changes.
What is your policy regarding confidentiality?
Confidentiality is a strict guideline in the practice of psychology protected by state law and by the rules of this profession. All information concerning patients is held confidential and is released only through procedures consistent with the law and professional ethics. Psychologists cannot even acknowledge that a person is our client outside of certain specific situations:
- The client has signed a written release to speak with a specific person
- An emergency that requires breaking confidentiality
- There is an incident of child abuse
- The client is a danger to themselves
- The client is a danger to someone else
Outside these exceptions, we uphold a client’s confidentiality.
What is your policy regarding confidentiality specifically between parents and children who are clients?
Confidentiality is more complicated when a client is a minor. While there is a professional relationship with the parents, as their consent is required, the child is the client.
Factors such as client safety, the child/adolescent’s need for privacy, trust and investment in the treatment, and the parents’ desire to be involved, must all be carefully considered. Each case results in a personal boundary that the client, the parents, and Jenn agree will best serve the treatment and the client. Consultation with parents is important; Jenn consults with parents with the child/adolescent’s awareness and permission. In some situations, where a child’s or teenager’s health and safety may be at risk, Jenn could be legally required involve other adults and to consult with the appropriate medical and/or psychiatric professional.