Frequently Asked Questions…
Are you new to therapy? Not sure how therapy works? On this page I answer some commonly asked questions about therapy.
What can I expect from online therapy? Will it help me?
For our online therapy sessions, I use an electronic health record system called Sessions Health. Our first appointment together (the intake appointment) will include a review of your history, your primary concerns, and a discussion about your goals for therapy, which we will review regularly throughout our work together. I will discuss and explain informed consent for treatment, which includes your rights to confidentiality, and I will answer any questions you may have.
All following therapy sessions will be tailored to meet your needs, and will include interventions meant to help you work toward the goals you identified during your first session.
We’ll talk about your progress in therapy periodically and can adjust our plans according to your needs.
If there is a specific style of treatment you’d like to engage in, let me know. If I don’t offer the type of therapy you’re looking for, I may be able to work with you to find someone who does.
Therapy is an investment in yourself, and it is an act of self-care that can have beneficial and sustainable effects on your life and your mental health.
Therapy provides you a space to understand and process through the challenges you’re facing and any difficult emotions you’re experiencing. It is also a space where you can learn how to use different tools to better manage your feelings of distress. Therapy may help you improve your ability to cope with life’s challenges, help you understand yourself on a deeper level, and give you the opportunity to create meaningful, lasting changes to feel more connected to your authentic self.
For many people, therapy is a longer-term investment, and it works best when they, the client, are invested in the process. That’s why it’s so important to find the right fit in your therapist, as well as the type of therapy that will work best for you.
I offer all interested prospective clients a free phone call consultation to see if we are the right fit for each other.
All following therapy sessions will be tailored to meet your needs, and will include interventions meant to help you work toward the goals you identified during your first session.
We’ll talk about your progress in therapy periodically and can adjust our plans according to your needs.
If there is a specific style of treatment you’d like to engage in, let me know. If I don’t offer the type of therapy you’re looking for, I can try to work with you to find someone who does.
How can therapy help me?
People are often curious about the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Psychologists provide psychotherapy, not medication. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in prescribing medication to manage mood disorders. PIPS can recommend several psychiatrists in the area should you decide medication is an option that you would like to explore.
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
How often will I need to come to therapy? How long will it take to feel better?
The length of time you’re in therapy with me will depend of a variety of things, including:
your financial situation and how often you are able to attend therapy
the severity or intensity of your current struggles
whether you’re looking to address a single concern or work on multiple/deeper concerns
how much time you’re able to dedicate to implementing new skills between sessions
Every person is unique, and their journey through therapy is unique, as well. The amount of time it takes to meet your therapy goals and feel better will depend on many of the above factors, as well as the circumstances, challenges, and supporting factors that you bring with you to therapy.
How much does it cost to work with you? Do you take insurance?
Insurance Information
PIPS does not accept insurance at this time. If you would like, we can provide you with the documentation required for you to submit to your insurance company for out of network reimbursement. You will also be provided with a Good Faith Estimate for the estimated cost of services with PIPS.*
Intake Session Rate
The intake is our first session. It lasts between 50 to 60 minutes, depending upon availability. The rate for the intake is $225.
Regular Session Rate
All subsequent sessions after the intake last between 45 to 50 minutes, and costs $175. Additional costs may apply for additional time or services.
*To read more about why so many mental health providers don’t accept insurance, please click here for an article by ProPublica on the topic.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
In accordance with the federal No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Do you have a sliding scale?
PIPS does offer sessions on a sliding scale to a limited number of patients. Availability can be discussed during the consultation call.
What happens if I need to cancel a session?
PIPS kindly requests that you cancel or reschedule your appointment 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. Your clinician will wait for you to arrive for up to 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of your session. If you fail to show or contact your clinician within this 15-minute window, your session will be considered a late cancel/no-show and you will be required to pay the full fee for the session. Three cancellations or reschedules in a 90 day period may result in termination of services.
What are your hours?
Appointments are available Monday through Thursday, afternoons and evenings.
Are you available for after-hours or crisis situations?
Perceptive Insights Psychological Services is not an emergency resource. If you or a loved one are in crisis, please go to your nearest emergency room or dial 911 for immediate assistance. For residents of Chester County in Pennsylvania, you can also call Valley Creek for mental health crisis services. Their phone number is 610-280-3270.
For more information and for individuals outside of Chester County, Pennsylvania, you may also access a list of resources for after-hours and crisis services here: Resources Page.
Do you offer in-person therapy?
PIPS does not provide in-person therapy at this time. We offer 100% teletherapy services.
Do you offer refunds?
PIPS does not provide refunds for services. Your session is reserved specifically for you and it is your responsibility to bring therapeutically relevant content to each session for us to process. Please see the section titled, “What happens if I need to cancel a session?” for more information on our cancellation policies. Any legitimate charges via credit card that are disputed by the patient, the patient's family, or a person paying for the patient's treatment will cause immediate termination of services, and require the balance be paid via check, including processing fees. Unpaid balances may be subject to collections.
What is Psypact?
According to the Psypact FAQ webpage, “PSYPACT is an interstate compact designed to allow licensed psychologists to practice of telepsychology and conduct temporary in-person face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries legally and ethically without necessitating that an individual become licensed in every state to practice.”
Per the Psypact website, as of July 2024, the following states are included in the list of states serviced by PIPS as a Psypact provider:
PSYPACT PARTICIPATING STATES (44 ENACTED, 44 EFFECTIVE)
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, District of Columbia (DC), Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What we talk about is our sessions will remain confidential per HIPAA guidelines and regulations. I am only able to share your information—which includes any personally identifying information, any diagnoses or treatment plans, evaluations, or treatment recommendations—if you give me explicit written and signed permission to do so. Some people choose to have their information shared to their primary healthcare provider, their psychiatrist, or other important people in their lives who they wish to include in their treatment.
However, there are a few situations where I must break confidentiality, where I may not be required to get your permission to do so.
Some of those situations include:
If I have reason to believe you may seriously injure or kill yourself, or if you tell me you have intentions, plans, or the means to injure or kill yourself.
If I have reason to believe you may seriously injure or kill someone else, or if you tell me you have intentions, plans, or the means to injure or kill someone else.
If you inform me of a child or vulnerable/dependent adult who is being abused, or when I have reason to suspect that a child or vulnerable/dependent adult is being abused.
When I am ordered by a judge to do so.
Please note: if you wish to send a superbill to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement, this will mean that I will need to attach a diagnostic code (a diagnosis) to your bill. I am happy to explain more what this means for you during our sessions together. Additionally, some insurance companies require a copy of your records in order to approve reimbursement.
Will the things I talk about stay private?
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation before therapy begins. We will use this time to briefly discuss your concerns and see if I’m a good fit for you as a therapist.
What ages do you work with?
I work with Pennsylvania residents ages 16 and older. Residents of other states must be 18 years old due to different age of consent for mental health treatment laws.
How do I scheduled with you?
To schedule a consultation and secure your intake appointment, please reach out.