What age groups do you work with? I work with the full age spectrum – from toddlers to adults.
What are your office hours? My office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am available for morning, afternoon and evening appointments.
How long are appointments? Regular appointments are 45. Extended appointments are 55 minutes.
What is the charge for an appointment? The charge for the initial visit is $250. The charge for standard appointments (45 minutes) is $180. The charge for extended appointments (55 minutes) is $230.
What insurance do you accept? My services are provided on a private-pay basis with my clients. I have not contracted with any insurance companies or managed care panels; therefore, I am considered an out-of-network provider. If you are relying upon your health insurance to cover or defray the cost of therapy, I recommend that you contact your carrier to determine your policy’s provision for out-of-network providers.
Will you bill my insurance company? No, I do not provide a billing service. My relationship is directly with you; however, I will provide you with a statement at each visit that includes the information insurance companies need to process claims. It will be your responsibility to submit the statement to your insurance company for any reimbursement you are owed.
How do I pay for a session? Payment is due at each office visit and can be made by cash, check or Venmo. The office is not equipped to accept credit cards.
How do I schedule a first appointment? Please call the office at 216-283-6852. I schedule all appointments myself.
What happens at the first appointment? The initial consultation, or diagnostic assessment, is an opportunity for you to share your concerns and goals. It is also an opportunity for you to learn about therapy with me and what to expect, so I encourage you to ask any questions that occur to you. At the end of the first visit, I will give you my impressions and treatment recommendations. Please evaluate this information along with your own assessment of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy often involves a commitment of time, money and energy so you should be careful about the psychologist you select.
What kind of therapy will I or my child receive? The form and content of therapy varies depending on several factors including a client’s presenting problem(s), a psychologist’s clinical approach, and the personalities of both client and psychologist. There may be several different approaches that could be effective in treating the problems you hope to address. I use the approaches which I find to be effective and which have support in the psychological literature. Some of the approaches I draw from include family systems, cognitive, behavioral, Gestalt, psychodynamic and mindfulness.The treatment modalities I use include individual psychotherapy, family therapy, parent counseling, play therapy and couples therapy.
What is your cancellation policy? If you are unable to keep an appointment, please give at least 24 hours’ notice (excluding weekends and holidays) so that I can reschedule the time with someone else. If you do not provide 24 hours cancellation notice, you will be charged the full cost for that session. If you have authorized your child or other family member to schedule appointments and they do not cancel more than 24 hours in advance, you will be charged the full cost for that session.
How do I contact you? I answer phone calls, emails and texts during regular business hours. I respond to messages within 24 hours from Monday through Friday. I may not answer weekend messages until the following Monday. Please note, I do not guarantee 24/7 availability.
Do you have support staff to speak to? I don’t have support staff. I schedule appointments, answer calls and address billing questions myself.
What should I do in an emergency if I can’t reach you? If you are unable to reach me and feel that you cannot safely wait for me to return your call, then use any of the following services:
- Call your family physician or pediatrician.
- Call the Mobile Crisis Team of FrontLine Services. The Mobile Crisis Team provides 24-hour crisis intervention services. Services include a suicide hotline and on-site evaluation during a psychiatric emergency. The crisis team may also be able to secure psychiatric hospitalization at an area hospital: 216-623-6888
- Proceed to the emergency room of your local hospital. The following hospitals have emergency psychiatric services available for children and adults:
- CCF Hillcrest Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department: 440-312-4600
- UH Ahuja Medical Center Emergency Department: 216-593-5500
- Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center: It provides protective shelters and emergency services during family violence crises: 216-391-4357
- Cleveland Rape Crisis Center: 216-619-6192
- CALL 911 if you or a family member are having a life-threatening emergency