Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is therapy?
A: Therapy is much more than merely processing your emotions and unpacking your current troubles. It is about challenging yourself to identify, stop, and replace unhealthy thought and behavior patterns, while boosting the healthy patterns. During therapy, clients work one-on-one with a licensed mental health provider in a safe, caring, and confidential environment. Your therapist will assist you in exploring your feelings, beliefs, and behaviors in working towards healthy change. Clients utilize therapy to work through life challenges and better understand themselves and others. Therapy is a collaboration between the client and the therapist. The therapist is there to pull things out, ask questions, give perspective, and ultimately allow the client to do the work towards creating and achieving their goals.
Q: What happens during the first session?
A: The initial session is the time for you to start to share your story and what you would like to change. You will begin to figure out some goals; your therapist will begin to figure out how to help you get there. We will gather information about your history, including childhood, education, career, and relationships (family, romantic, friends), medical issues, etc. If the client is a minor, the parent is typically present for the first part of the session; the client and therapist will meet one-on-one for a brief time if minor is comfortable.
Q: How long do appointments last?
A: Standard counseling sessions are 45-55 minutes long.
Q: How often will we meet? And how long do I have to be in therapy?
A: We will generally meet once a week to gain some momentum and once the intensity of the issues you're addressing has diminished, the frequency of sessions will as well. Most clients report seeing some change after about 8 sessions. The length of treatment is based on your needs and what you want counseling to help with. While it’s difficult to predict how long therapy will take, we promise we won’t keep you for longer than needed.
Q: Can we meet virtually? Do you provide online counseling?
A: We can currently conduct sessions online using a secure, HIPAA compliant online video therapy sessions, but state law may change after the pandemic. This is only available to clients who are physically located in Indiana and is not appropriate for clients traveling out-of-state. If using insurance, most in-state plans cover “telemedicine” as a part of your mental health benefit.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: To ensure that each client is given the proper amount of time allotted for a therapy session and to provide the highest quality care, it is very important arrive to their appointment on time or provide at least 24-hour notice if needing to cancel. Late cancellations or No-show appointments will be charged $75.00 for each occurrence, unless there is a valid reason. This policy is in place because unlike Dr.’s offices who can pack 6 people into each hour, the whole hour is reserved for you. We cannot keep the lights on if clients do not honor their appointment times.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
A: Joe is in network with: Anthem, UHC/UBH/Optum, and IU Health.
Balance Point Therapy will bill these insurance companies directly for services provided. For other health plans not listed, we're considered an out-of-network provider. We'd be happy to provide you with a "Superbill" (see next question) to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. It is strongly recommended that you call your insurance company and ask for information about your plan's coverage for mental health. Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance plan. Clients are responsible for paying any co-pay, co-insurance and/or balance due by credit card, debit card, or HSA/FSA card at the time of service. Anything not covered by insurance will be the responsibility of the client. Having your card on file will expedite this process and will be collected and secured during the intake process.
Q: What are your out-of- network or self pay fees?
A: It is now a law that you be provided with a "Good Faith Estimate" for self-pay fees and one will be provided for you before your first session. At current, if you are out-of-network and we are unable to bill your insurance, the first diagnostic assessment is $180 and $160 for subsequent 55-60 minute individual sessions. For out-of-network coverage we can provide you with a "superbill". Although each insurance company may have some differences in how they operate, the way to pursue out of network reimbursement typically starts with obtaining your Statement for Insurance Reimbursement (“superbill”) form from the therapist. Then, you submit this to the insurance company and they reimburse you directly for any benefit you have based on your insurance policy.
SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT YOURSELF
1. Contact your insurance company and ask them if your plan provides any benefits for "out-of-network mental health therapy" by a licensed mental health counselor. Some insurance plans provide no mental health benefits while others cover a large percentage of the fee, which is completely dependent on your individual insurance plan. You will also want to ask what type of information your insurance company may require about your treatment in order to provide you with out-of-network benefits.
2. Ask your insurance company how to submit your Statement for Insurance Reimbursement form (also called a "Superbill").
3. Pay the full fee at the time of service.
4. At the beginning of each month, check your client portal for your Statement for Insurance Reimbursement form from the previous month.
5. Submit this form to your insurance company as they direct.
6. The insurance company will then reimburse you directly for whatever benefit your plan provides.
Q: Do you prescribe medication?
A: No, we are not medical doctors. However, cognitive-behavioral therapy is shown to work just as well as medication for most disorders. If you want to be evaluated for psychiatric medication, either contact your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are already taking medication, we can coordinate care with your doctor.
Q: If I didn't find previous therapy experiences very helpful, how will this be any different?
A: Research indicates that one of the most important factors impacting a client’s response to therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. If you don’t feel understood or don't have a good connection with your therapist, then you likely won't benefit as greatly from therapy services with that clinician. Good therapeutic outcomes are also very dependent upon how honest you are with yourself and how much effort you put into challenging yourself for change outside of the office.
Q: I don't want to take my child out of school for the appointment. Do you have after-school appointments?
A: Joe offers some after-school hours. As with other professional appointments, there will be times when
appointments need to be made during the school day. You can pre-arrange the absence with your child’s school and
we can provide an absence note if needed.
Q: What are your privacy practices?
A: In general your services are confidential, but there are many limits to confidentiality including if you are going to hurt yourself, someone else, or someone is going to hurt you. Information can be disclosed upon request from client. All information is stored in a HIPPA secure manner.