Frequently Asked Questions
What hours are you available?
Hours are available by appointment only. I offer daytime, evening, and limited weekend sessions. Please call (813) 326-4641 to schedule an appointment.
What are your fees?
We charge $150 per hour for psychotherapy. Fees for psychological testing vary depending on the type and length of assessment. Please call for information.
Do you take credit and debit cards?
Yes. I use a billing service that allows me to take credit and debit cards.
Do you accept insurance?
No. However, we do provide statements that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if you wish.
Here are the 2 main reasons our facility does not accept insurance:
1. Lack of confidentiality & Privacy of Records: Insurance companies (HMO/PPO/MCO/EAP) require a diagnosis and other treatment information in order to authorize treatment. Once that is provided by a therapist, the therapist can no longer insure that the information will remain confidential. Disclosure of confidential information may be required by your health insurance carrier or in order to process the claims. You must be aware that submitting a mental health invoice for reimbursement carries a certain amount of risk to confidentiality, privacy or to future capacity to obtain health or life insurance or even a job.
The risk stems from the fact that mental health information is likely to be entered into big insurance companies’ computers and is likely to be reported to the National Medical Data Bank. Accessibility to companies’ computers or to the National Medical Data Bank database is always in question as computers are inherently vulnerable to break in’s and unauthorized access. Medical data has been also reported to be legally accessed by enforcement and other agencies, which also puts you in a vulnerable position. Insurance companies may also share private health information with third party billing companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc. which is a further violation of your privacy.
2. Difficulty Authorizing Treatment: Sometimes there is a lengthy and often confusing process involved in getting authorization for treatment (e.g. "eligibility" for services versus "entitlement" for services). This can cause your treatment to be inconsistent, broken up, and can cause further delays in getting the help you need.