Question 1

Where is your office located?

Accepted Answer

My private practice office is small and has a separate entrance out of my home in Asheville, North Carolina.  For that reason I am exclusively offering in person sessions to established clients. I also offer intake and therapy sessions by telehealth using HIPAA compliant Spruce Health.  I am authorized to provide telehealth in over 30 states.  You can check to see if I am authorized to practice in your state by clicking here!

Question 2

How do I know if telehealth is a good fit for me?

Accepted Answer

I have found tremendous success offering telehealth.  I sort of stumbled into offering a virtual format during COVID, and ended up continuing to offer virtual sessions because there was such an overwhelmingly positive response.  My clients found telehealth to be extremely convenient, as they could attend sessions from wherever they happened to be, and they enjoyed the added privacy and confidentiality of not having to come into an office.  As with all things therapy, though, the best way to know if it works for you is to try!  Let's schedule an intake session, and go from there.

For kids under 14 it is really important that they are willing to have their camera and microphone on for the duration of session, and that they possess a level of maturity to come to session prepared with things to talk about and work through, because we can't use play/games in the same way that we might do in person.  If your child is feeling uncertain about therapy, let's definitely chat about if telehealth is the right fit!

Question 3

How long are sessions?

Accepted Answer

Most individual therapy sessions are 45 minutes long, but parent/family sessions as well as exposure and response prevention sessions may be scheduled for up to 90 minutes.

Question 4

How long do people stay in therapy with you?

Accepted Answer

Most clients experience some symptom relief within 4-8 sessions, but the universal answer to all things psychology is: it depends.  Largely, the answer to this question depends on your presenting concerns and your goals for therapy.  In my experience, clients may begin therapy with one specific concern, but then find that they run into many other life stressors during our time together.  Because of the transformational, lasting nature of our work and the strong relationships built, it’s common for me to work with clients on and off for years.  It is the greatest honor for me to remain a consistent, safe pillar in my clients' lives and a part of their overall maintenance wellness care.

Question 5

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

I have a 24 hour cancellation policy.  This means that if you do not cancel your session more than 24 hours in advance, you will be charged for your session time.  Consider your therapy hour your "rented" time slot.  If you do not provide notice that you will not be using your time slot, I am unable to fill that slot with another person who may need that therapy time.

Question 6

Do you prescribe medication?

Accepted Answer

No.  Psychologists, unless specially licensed, cannot prescribe medications.  I am, however, happy to work in tandem with a prescribing psychiatrist or primary care physician, as I am still knowledgeable about psychotropic medications and keep track of what each of my clients are taking.

Question 7

I am well known in my community and am concerned about my privacy.  Can you tell me more about how you offer the highest level of discretion?

Accepted Answer

Your confidentiality is my greatest concern.  If you don't feel safe in your therapeutic relationship, then no amount of magic that I do is going to have an impact and therapy is going to be ineffective.  Here are some of the assurances that I can offer you that I take your privacy seriously:

I do not work with insurance companies.  I will only assign a diagnostic code to your chart if you specifically request for me to do so, and I am very intentional about what things I document.  This is a freedom afforded to me by the decision not to submit to insurance.
 I offer therapy through an entirely virtual, HIPAA compliant telehealth medium.  There is no waiting room crossover, nor does anyone see you interacting with me directly if you elect to utilize the telehealth option.  If you would prefer to come for therapy in person, as my office is small and run out of my home you will not have to traverse busy office buildings or parking lots.  I will intentionally schedule you so that you do not run into anyone at or around my office.
I will never discuss you, your concerns, or our sessions without a written release, directly from you.  My electronic health record, Sessions Health, allows you to fill out forms entirely online if ever you wish for me to liaise with another doctor or member of your team.
I am prepared to be vetted and screened in advance of your choice to work with me.  This is a process that I have gone through many times and it is not unusual for me to get calls from executive assistants or management companies prior to connecting directly with you.  While I have never been asked to sign an NDA, due to my high level of adherence to my ethical code, I would be willing to do so.

I have worked with many high profile individuals in positions of influence including politicians, CEOs, doctors, and celebrities, and can assure you that your privacy and sense of safety is my number one priority to lay the foundation for us to do incredible work together.

Question 8

Why don't you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

This question can best be answered during a free consultation call, but the short version is that your confidentiality matters to me.  Insurers often request diagnoses, session notes, and information about your care.  These very sensitive pieces of information then get attached to your permanent medical record, which can be very stigmatizing and may feel like a violation of your privacy.  Insurance companies may also try to make decisions for you regarding the type of treatment that you receive and treatment length/time.  I believe that your confidentiality is of the utmost importance, you should be in control of your own treatment, and your wellbeing has no finish line.

Question 9

How do I submit to my insurance for Out of Network reimbursement?

Accepted Answer

Upon request I am happy to provide you with a script for talking to your insurance about whether you have out of network benefits or not.  Please note that if you choose to submit superbills to your insurance company for out of network reimbursement I am required to assign a diagnostic code to those forms.  If you are concerned about a diagnosis being attached to your medical record, this may not be a good option for you.  If this is not a concern, my EHR will generate superbills on a monthly basis that you may send to your insurance company at the address they provide.

Question 10

Why is therapy so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Exceptional care is costly, and worth paying for.  There is tremendous value in having a seasoned psychologist on your team to support and guide you.  
I received 6 years of graduate school training and clinical supervision prior to independent practice, and I regularly participate in ongoing case consultation and supervision.  
I offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth to allow for maximum flexibility for you to engage in therapy from the comfort of your own spaces, while also increasing my ability to provide discretion (no waiting room crossover).  
I attend frequent continuing education to keep my skills sharp
I intentionally keep my caseload at a manageable level so that I can focus on client care and ensure that your treatment is specifically tailored to your needs. 
Instead of a burned out therapist, you’ll have a sharp, attuned psychologist ready to challenge and support you and your unique circumstances.

Question 11

What is concierge therapy and how does it work in your practice?

Accepted Answer

A concierge model of therapy is where your therapist makes themself available for additional sessions or contact outside of your regularly scheduled weekly session.  Under my practice model I offer up to 30 minutes of gratis text and phone support in between sessions included in your session fee.  I am also fairly flexible in my schedule and try to be as responsive as possible, particularly during times of additional stress or crisis.

(828) 771-6187

DrEmyMonday@gmail.com

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