What can I expect at my first appointment?
Come into the building and you will be in a small foyer with two doors. Both doors read "Focus on Relationships" in brass letters. Your therapist's name will be posted on the correct door for you to enter. There is no receptionist. However, lying on the long table as you enter the waiting room will be a stack of clipboards. Each person seeing a counselor must fill out a multi-page Intake Form on a clipboard. We will come for you in the waiting room as soon as we are free. Sometimes we are delayed by crisis situations, so please be patient. The wait is never more than 30 minutes and there are interesting magazines available. We will provide you your full 45-50 minute session if you've been on time and we are the ones responsible for the delay. Once you are ushered back to the counseling room, we will discuss your reasons for counseling and make a treatment plan.

Do you accept insurance?
Each of our therapists is covered by several insurance companies, and not by others, so please ask if this is a concern. Insurance is an arrangement between clients and their insurance carriers. It is your responsibility to call the number on your insurance card and ascertain your mental health benefits (deductibles, number of visits allowed, your co-pay amount) and obtain pre-authorization if required. Our office will submit your claims as a courtesy service. Some insurance companies have contracted providers and we may be out of network for your plan, so also ask your carrier, "What are my out-of-network benefits?"

We are not bound by managed care rates unless we have a contract with your insurance company. Be prepared to pay estimated co-pays on the date of service with cash, checks, Visa or MasterCard.

What does it cost? Should I consider paying out of pocket? Do you negotiate?
Each of our counselors has different set fees, based on credentials and experience. Insurance creates hassles and can be disappointing, so self-paying is simpler and provides greater protection of confidentiality. If we are not in your insurance network and finances are an insurmountable problem, we offer need-based discounts. Counseling is a bargain compared to heart-breaking and vastly more costly alternatives such as divorce, legal problems, hospitalizations, poor job performance, destroyed health or runaway, pregnant or addicted kids. We work as quickly as possible and the harder you work at carrying out assignments, the fewer sessions we will need. Most people treasure their counseling experience as a priceless investment in their quality of life.
 
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