Frequently Asked Questions

Telehealth refers to health-related services conducted via telecommunication technologies, such as telephone or video-assisted platforms. Telehealth is a convenient alternative for many individuals who want care, but can't afford the time or resources necessary to make it in to see a doctor in person.

Because your confidentiality is important to the process, you need to join sessions from a private space with minimal distractions. I recommend you join from a personal device that others do not have access to, such as a personal telephone, laptop, tablet, or desktop. Headphones can be a helpful way to minimize distractions and increase your privacy. Reliable internet connection is also a must! 

Although telehealth is an effective alternative to in-person services, it isn't for everyone and that's okay. If you or I determine that you would better benefit from seeing someone in-person, I will do my best to help you identify a provider in your area. I do not currently see any patients in person.

I am in-network with Aetna and Optum plans (United HealthCare, Oxford, Oscar) under Alma and Headway's insurance programs. If you are using insurance that is in-network with these programs, Alma or Headway will verify your in-network eligibility, collect your payment responsibility for our sessions, submit claims to your insurance, and process insurance claims under their Tax ID. Alma and Headway cannot file claims to any secondary/supplemental insurance. 

If you have a health insurance policy that provides for out-of-network mental health benefits and you choose to file a claim, I can provide you with a receipt for paid services (a "superbill") that you can submit to your insurance to receive reimbursement. Since the amount of reimbursement is dependent on the specifics of your insurance policy, it is very important that you find out exactly what mental health services your insurance policy covers. Should you decide to submit for out-of-network benefits, you are responsible for filing a claim to your insurance company.

I charge $300 for the initial assessment, $150 for 30-minute sessions, $200 for 45-minute sessions, and $265 for 60-minute sessions. Preparation of special forms, reports, treatment summaries, and consultations or phone calls over ten (10) minutes in duration, and the time spent performing any other service you may request of me, will be billed at the rate of $100 per hour.

You will be expected to pay for each session at the time services are rendered, unless we have established an alternative payment plan. If you are using your insurance, Alma or Headway will collect your co-payment/co-insurance directly. 

Payments can be made via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Because I don't see anyone in person, I do not accept cash or check. 

Cancellations must be made at least 24-hours in advance of the scheduled appointment or you will be subject to a $75 late-cancellation fee. A $75 no-show fee also applies for any missed appointments. 

I will ask you lots of questions about what's bringing you into therapy, your general background and history, and do an assessment of your symptoms. It will feel like a friendly and gentle interrogation, but I promise our future sessions will be different. I'll provide you with some feedback at the end of the session with general impressions and recommendations for your care and you can decide if you want to proceed from there.

Follow up sessions typically occur once per week and last approximately 45-minutes. We can collaborate about the desired frequency of our meetings so we can effectively meet your goals. More frequent, or longer, sessions may be recommended depending on your needs. As your treatment progresses, we may make changes to the duration or frequency of our appointments. 

As with most things, it depends. A lot of evidence-based treatments can be conducted between 12 to 24 sessions, give or take. Some treatments can even last up to a year. Depending on the frequency and severity of your problems or symptoms, you may need more or less. I'll help you monitor your progress along the way and we can always reevaluate your needs. Therapy is a voluntary process and you can always decide when you're ready to discontinue (although I always encourage a conversation about it first). 

We collaboratively set valuable and realistic goals for our time together. Some people decide to end therapy after they've met their goals.  Some people decide to stay in therapy for ongoing support and maintenance of their treatment gains after they've met their goals. Some people create new goals once old goals have been achieved. Therapy is individualized to your needs. My personal philosophy is that I want to teach you the skills to be successful independently of me, and I'm happy to provide ongoing support if you're benefitting from it. 

This is a valid and normal concern! I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation to help us get a sense of each other before we schedule the initial assessment. If you decide to schedule with me, I encourage you to get to know me, ask questions, and come with an open and willing mind. Relationships take time to build. And if you decide we're not a good fit, I am happy to help you find someone else who might be. 

It's normal for teens to feel hesitant about going to therapy. Validate their emotions, and express your concerns about why you think they need to attend in a gentle and caring manner. Encourage them to engage in the process of finding someone they can connect with. It can also be helpful for them to know that the information they share is private and that specific details won't be shared, unless it concerns their safety. 

While parents/legal guardians are the ones who consent for services on behalf of their minor(s), therapy works best when there's a sense of privacy. This is especially true for adolescents. My policy is that I won't share anything you don't need to know because it's important for me to establish a trusting relationship with your teen. Safety concerns are always shared with parents, and I try to include teens in that discussion. I make it a point to discuss this with families at the beginning of treatment. 

Yes, I require a parent to be present at their teen's initial assessment to gather additional information about presenting concerns. I usually meet with parent(s) during the first half of the intake and with the teen during the second half, and we reconvene at the end to discuss recommendations. 

Not necessarily. We can discuss the nature of your participation after our initial assessment. Some teens value their time with me and need the full appointment to get their needs met, while other teens prefer to have their parents join for some portion to provide updates. Sometimes parents will ask to be present and other times, I'll recommend that a parent be present. In some cases, I may recommend separate sessions with parents all together. 

Yes! Psychology is a science and the work that I do is based in evidence and research. Treatment outcomes are also heavily dependent on your willingness and motivation to actively work on the things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. While there is substantial evidence to support the benefits of therapy, it is not an exact science and I cannot make any guarantees or promises as to your results. That being said, I have years of experience helping all sorts of individuals and have seen very positive results. 

It is totally normal to feel nervous about trying something new. There is a lot of stigma around mental health, and while there have been substantial gains in reducing the stigma, I know it's still there for a lot of people. Being a human is hard and we all need help sometimes. So if you're feeling nervous, know that it's okay, normal, and I won't judge you for it. Practice acting opposite to your fear and do it anyway (it's a helpful therapy skill and I can tell you more about it)!

Give me a call, email me, or submit an inquiry using the "contact" button on the bottom of this page! If I don't answer immediately, don't feel discouraged (I'm probably with a patient). I'll try to get back to you within the same day I got your communication. Connect with me today!

813-438-3827

drmariana@obpsychology.com