FAQS

I meet with clients in person at:

297 Herndon Parkway, Suite 301 Herndon, VA 20170

I am available to meet online anywhere in Virginia.

Online therapy allows you to access services from the comfort of your own home or wherever else you can secure a private space.

You will receive a unique and secure link to your telehealth session via text, email, or Simple Practice client portal.

Yes, I meet with clients in person at:

297 Herndon Parkway, Suite 301 Herndon VA 20170.

Initial 60 minute intake (Individuals): $215

Initial 60 minute intake (Relationships): $225

Initial 90 minute intake: $275

Follow up sessions (Individuals): $215

Follow up sessions (Relationships): $225

Yes, I offer a 10% discount to healthcare workers, educators, and military members and their families.

I also reserve three spots at a reduce rate of $100/session for those experiencing financial stressors. Please contact me to inquire about more details.

I am an out-of-network provider and do not accept insurance. If requested by the client, I can send SuperBills to the client for the purpose of submitting an out of network claim to their insurance company.

The reasons why Hearth and Home Therapy does not take insurance are:

• Reduced Ability to Choose: Most health care plans today (insurance, PPO, HMO, etc.) offer little coverage and/or reimbursement for mental health services. Most HMOs and PPOs require “preauthorization” before you can receive services. This means you must call the company and justify why you are seeking therapeutic services in order for you to receive reimbursement. The insurance representative, who may or may not be a mental health professional, will decide whether services will be allowed. If authorization is given, you are often restricted to seeing the providers on the insurance companyʼs list. Reimbursement is reduced if you choose someone who is not on the contracted list; consequently, your choice of providers is often significantly restricted.

• Pre-Authorization and Reduced Confidentiality: Insurance typically authorizes several therapy sessions at a time. When these sessions are finished, your therapist must justify the need for continued services. Sometimes additional sessions are not authorized, leading to an end of the therapeutic relationship even if therapeutic goals are not completely met. Your insurance company may require additional clinical information that is confidential in order to approve or justify a continuation of services. Confidentiality cannot be assured or guaranteed when an insurance company requires information to approve continued services. Even if the therapist justifies the need for ongoing services, your insurance company may decline services. Your insurance company dictates if treatment will or will not be covered. Note: Personal information might be added to national medical information data banks regarding treatment.

• Negative Impacts of a Psychiatric Diagnosis: Insurance companies require therapists to give a mental health diagnosis (i.e., “major depression” or “obsessive-compulsive disorder”) for reimbursement. Psychiatric diagnoses may negatively impact you in the following ways: denial of insurance when applying for disability or life insurance; company (mis)control of information when claims are processed; loss of confidentiality due to the increased number of persons handling claims; loss of employment and/or repercussions of a diagnosis in situations where you may be required to reveal a mental health disorder diagnosis on your record. This includes but is not limited to: applying for a job, financial aid, and/or concealed weapons permits. A psychiatric diagnosis can be brought into a court case (i.e.: divorce court, family law, criminal, etc.). It is also important to note that some psychiatric diagnoses are not eligible for reimbursement. This is often true for marriage/couples therapy.

Benefits to Not Taking Insurance:

These involve enhanced quality of care and other advantages:

• You are in control of your care, including choosing your therapist, length of treatment, etc.

• Increased privacy and confidentiality (except for limits of confidentiality). Not having a mental health disorder diagnosis on your medical record. Consulting with the therapist on non-psychiatric issues that are important to you that arenʼt billable by insurance, such as learning how to cope with life changes, gaining more effective communication techniques for your relationships, increasing personal insight, and developing healthy new skills.

After reading my position on why I donʼt accept health insurance, you still may decide to use your health insurance. If you provide me with a list of therapists on your insurance provider list, I will do my best to recommend a therapist for you.

During our first appointment we will cover three main areas:

1. Discuss what has brought you to therapy, begin reviewing a relevant history to your concern(s), and identify what you are looking for in a therapist.

2. I will share with you my approach to therapy and how this can be utilized with your concern(s) based on the information you have given me.

3. Decide together what next steps are and if my approach and services are a good fit for you and within the scope of my practice. The strongest indicator for change in therapy is the relationship between you and your therapist. It is important to me that you find someone who is a good fit whether that is with me or someone else.

Therapy is a unique and individualized process. For some therapy may last a few weeks and for others it may be a few years. It depends on a variety of factors include, length of time living with concern(s), intensity of related symptoms, readiness and motivation to address concern(s), interest in long-term therapeutic benefits, are a few.

I look forward to being alongside you regardless of how long the process.