F.A.Q.

What is therapy like?

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life between sessions. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives.

Here are some things you can expect out of therapy:

Compassion, respect and understanding Perspectives to illuminate persistent patterns and negative feelings Real strategies for enacting positive change Effective and proven techniques along with practical guidance

Is medication a substitute for therapy?

In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you. It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.

Do you accept insurance?

This practice is a fee for service office. Any insurance policy that allows "out-of-network" options may provide reimbursement for costs. We prepare an itemized statement of all services provided and fees paid to the practice at your request. This statement can be submitted to your insurer to claim benefits. Dr. Kelly does not contract to provider panels established through insurance companies for several reasons.
(See "How Insurance Works" below for more information.)

Psychotherapy by its very nature involves the highest degree of personal connection between a client and a provider of any healthcare service. As a result a unique and complex human relationship is formed as the essential context for your treatment. To preserve the maximum degree of confidentiality and the ultimate power for you and your therapist to make decisions regarding your treament together Dr. Kelly does not enter into insurance contracts. Such contracts often place limitations on your care as decided by insurance benefit managers who do not know you or your individual needs.

Without the referral base provided by insurance contracts Dr. Kelly relies completely on the satisfaction of her clients and the respect of her colleagues for the word-of-mouth personal referrals of new clients that have supported the practice over the years. The personal investment of time and finances in seeking care is a decision each client makes.


How does insurance work?

Insurance companies typically require that your treatment be deemed "medically necessary" in order to provide coverage for it. More often than not clients come to therapy not out of mental illness, but out of a desire to improve their life circumstances, sense of self, relationships or other reasons. A determination of "medical necessity" requires that a clinical diagnosis be given and shared with the insurance company for them to figure your benefits. This then becomes part of your health record. Additionally insurers use managed care policies to decide, from afar, what type and how much treatment they will authorize for you. Dr. Kelly's professional opinion is that this process interefers unduly with the client-therapist team decision making that can be done together based on an in-depth understanding of you and your situation.

Some insurance policies allow you to go "out-of-network" (i.e. choose any licensed clinician, even if they are not on the list of contracted providers). Benefits are often somewhat less than they would be if you seek treatment within the network but you may recoup some of the costs you pay for services at this practice. A detailed statement suitable for submission to your insurer for you to claim any reimbursement allowed by your policy can be provided at your request. The office does not provide direct insurance billing. Many clients of this practice have been able to get partial insurance support for their therapy with Dr. Kelly.

To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:

• What are my mental health benefits?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
• How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. Dr. Kelly's records are accessible to her alone. (See Treatment Information and Agreement on quot; Forms and Directions" page for more details.)

However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse.
  • The therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person .
  • The therapist is required to notify the police.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself .
  • The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.