FAQ'S
Is therapy always the way to improve one’s well-being?
No, there is no one answer to achieving well-being. I believe it is influenced by many factors including proper medical care, good nutrition, regular exercise, healthy familial and social relationships, spiritual sustenance, satisfying employment, good wages, and a caring community and society. I believe therapy can help a person to obtain each of these factors.
What types of people have you worked with?
I have worked with people with the following symptoms: anxiety, depression, mood instability, relational conflicts, anger issues, attention and concentration deficits, difficulty managing traumatic experiences including abuse and neglect as a child, overwhelming grief or guilt, substance abuse, learning disabilities, suicidal feelings, and employment problems.
What are some of the diagnoses of people you have experience with?
I have worked with people with the following diagnoses: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Dysthymia or mild depression, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Asperger’s Disorder. I typically do not work with people who have been diagnosed with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, or who are actively abusing alcohol or drugs. I will refer people with these issues to practitioners with more experience in those areas.
Do I need to know my diagnosis before contacting you?
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No. We will explore that together.
How long are sessions?
The initial session is 50 minutes long and subsequent sessions are 45 minutes. There are instances when longer sessions are scheduled but we will discuss this before hand.
How many sessions will we meet for?
Since everyone’s needs are different, it’s hard to say. However, we will discuss how often we meet during our first session together. Typically, people meet with me one time each week. There are instances, however, when someone requires our meeting twice a week (at least until some relief is obtained). When clinically appropriate, I also meet with patients once every two weeks.
What if I’m not sure I want to return to you after our first meeting?
It is your right to discontinue seeing me at anytime. However, I encourage you to give the therapy a try by committing to at least three sessions.
What if I have to cancel or reschedule an appointment?
There’s no problem if you give me 48 hours lead time in order to reschedule or cancel an appointment. It is my policy that the full fee must be paid if less than 48 hours is given. (See Cancellation Form) Insurance companies do not pay for missed or cancelled sessions so you will be responsible for the entire fee if you cancel with less than 48 hours.
What if I come late to a session?
Since the time cannot be made up, I encourage you to arrive a few minutes before the time we are to begin. If you are running late, please text me to let me know. If I am running late, I will always give to you the time you are owed.
What will you tell my insurance company about me?
I value the confidential nature of our relationship and I firmly believe that what is said in the therapy room should stay in the therapy room. However, occasionally insurance companies require, and NY state law permits, exchange of information between a provider and insurance company. My policy is to tell insurance companies as little as possible.
Will you ever talk to a family member or employer?
In my work with adolescents, I do talk with parents as needed. In my work with adults, I will not speak to a family member or employer unless I have been given written permission to do so. Since there are few instances when I believe it would be in a person’s best interest to discuss a case with a family member, I can safely say there is little chance of this happening.
What if you are on my insurance panel?
If I am a provider on your insurance plan, then you will be responsible for providing me your insurance card and paying your copay to me in cash at the start of each session. I will bill the insurance company electronically.
What if you are not on my insurance panel?
If I am not an in-network provider for your insurance plan, you will be responsible for paying the fee to me, by cash, check, Venmo or PayPal, at the conclusion of each session. You will then submit the receipt that I give you to your insurance plan for reimbursement. (I may be able to electronically submit the session to your insurance company so you will be reimbursed more quickly but we will discuss this.).
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A psychologist usually has a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D., a Psy.D. or an Ed.D., while a psychiatrist typically has a medical degree, MD. Both professions may provide psychotherapy but in New York only a psychiatrist may prescribe medications. I am a psychologist with a doctoral degree and I do psychotherapy and assessment, but I do not prescribe medication.
What if I need medication?
We will discuss your interest in medication and then I will refer you to a competent psychiatrist who can prescribe if needed.
How do I contact you
I prefer to be contacted by text at 646-455-3377. Then, we can arrange a time to speak. You can also email me at dr.jb.psychologist@gmail.com. If you are experiencing an emergency, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY, CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.