I am covered as an out-of-network provider on all insurance plans. If you have out-of-network coverage included with your plan, you would be able to receive reimbursement from the insurance company for some or all of the session fees. I am not covered in-network on any plans.
What questions should I ask my insurance carrier?
Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card to check your benefits, and ask the following questions:
1) Do you have out-of-network coverage on your plan? 2) If so, what is the out-of-network deductible? 3) After the deductible, what is the coinsurance for out-of-network outpatient mental health? 4) Is a pre-authorization required for out-of-network psychotherapy?
I will provide you with a monthly invoice that will have the necessary codes so you can submit it to your insurance for reimbursement (it generally takes a couple of minutes to submit and is usually done online through their website, for most insurance carriers). Ask your insurance member services how to submit invoices for reimbursement and they will walk you through it.
If your insurance does not cover you out-of-network, private pay is accepted for therapy or coaching. Contact me to discuss.
Can I use my insurance if I live outside of NYC and want to work with you online?
If you live in NY, NJ, MA, CA, PA, or IL, you can use your insurance out-of-network for therapy or virtual therapy. Other states or internationally (for coaching only) would be private pay.
Do you offer a free consultation?
I offer a free 15-minute introductory phone call. In this call, we will discuss a bit about your situation to see if working together would be a good fit; we will also go over logistics (including fees, scheduling, et al) in this call. Contact me to schedule a consultation.
Do you offer teletherapy or virtual therapy?
These terms are used interchangeably and are basically the same thing. I offer virtual therapy (video sessions) in NY, NJ, MA, CA, PA, and IL. All other states and internationally are private coaching only. My office is in NYC, and in-person sessions can be arranged, if preferred. Virtual therapy is also okay if even you are in NYC.
What is the difference between therapy and coaching?
Therapy is only available in states where I am licensed to provide therapy (NY, NJ, MA, CA, PA, and IL). However, private coaching is available in all states and internationally.
The process itself has a lot of crossover between the two and the conversations we would have are actually quite similar. People often worry that one or the other means they are getting “less” or a “watered down” version of what we are working on. However, this isn’t the case. Either way we work, we will have conversations about your life, learning about you, what you struggle with, your emotions and thoughts, patterns that stand in your way, and more. Both process will involve understanding you on a deeper level and helping you through your struggles.
The main difference between the two is that therapy adds the mental health treatment focus to it. Therapy is considered a “mental health treatment (which is why insurance can apply). The concept of therapy is to bring a diagnosable mental health issue into remission (for example, bringing the symptoms of an anxiety “disorder” to a place of no longer qualifying as a diagnosable disorder). Coaching doesn’t focus on a mental health treatment. Therefore there wouldn’t be a diagnosis provided, or clinical assessments or treatment planning. Coaching removes this element. Otherwise, our conversations will focus on your and your life just as they would either way.
