How do out of network benefits work?
PPO plans often include coverage for providers who are not contracted under the insurance plan. You can call your insurance plan (the “for members” number on your insurance card) and ask these questions:
Do I have out of network benefits?
What is my out of network deductible?
What is the reimbursement rate for out of network behavioral health? If they ask for codes, the initial session is 90791 and subsequent sessions are 90837.
You can also find this information on your member website.
Please note: I encourage all clients to prepare to pay in full for their treatment. Insurance reimbursement is highly variable and not guaranteed.
I’m interested in doing an EMDR intensive. Can I keep seeing my existing therapist and still schedule an intensive?
Yes! Many of my EMDR intensive clients have an established therapist. In these cases, I will request a release of information so I can speak with your therapist and we can coordinate care to make sure you are supported through the process and your therapist is looped into the work you’re doing with me. I generally do not offer standard 50 minute EMDR sessions to clients who are continuing work with an existing therapist.
Can I use Out of Network benefits for an EMDR intensive?
Most insurances will not cover this treatment, or may cover only a portion of the first hour of the intensive.
Do you offer weekend or evening appointments?
I see clients Monday-Thursday during normal business hours. Exceptions may be considered for EMDR intensives. These are currently offered on Fridays or Fridays/Saturdays for two-day long intensives.
I’m curious about doing an EMDR intensive, but it sounds…intense.
Clients who done EMDR reprocessing during a typical 50 minute session have likely experienced some of the intense emotions, memories and physical sensations that EMDR reprocessing can elicit and it’s understandable the thought of spending 4-6 hours in those feelings would feel daunting. One consideration about doing EMDR during typical 50 minute sessions is we almost never complete a target in that time. Rather, we are opening up the work, doing a bit of reprocessing, then closing it back up to be reopened again next session, and repeat, sometimes for weeks to clear one target. Many clients do EMDR this way and it’s a valid and wonderful way to heal! But it can also be difficult. EMDR intensive sessions are different. We have a much better chance of climbing the mountain of intensity and coming down the other side in a single session and you will likely feel relief and significant reduction of symptoms before we close out the session. We also integrate lots of supportive, healing elements in these intensives so the work can feel supportive and nurturing. EMDR intensives are a lot of work and often fatiguing, but most clients find them easier overall than spreading the work across multiple 50 minute sessions.
Can I be a regular weekly/biweekly client and also do intensives?
Yes! I do this often. You can establish as a regular 50 minute session client, then when we’re gearing up to do a big chunk of work, we can schedule an intensive session to get through that part of work before resuming our normal sessions.
How many intensive EMDR sessions will I need?
This varies quite a lot person to person and unfortunately I can’t ethically give a blanket recommendation. Some people may see enough reduction in symptoms after one intensive session to decide they don’t need more. This is most common with a single “shock trauma,” e.g. a traumatic car crash, traumatic childbirth, etc. The vast majority of people presenting with issues that are more deeply interwoven into their histories and experiences (e.g. childhood attachment trauma, persistent anxiety, people-pleasing tendencies, preverbal trauma) will benefit from multiple intensive sessions. We can be flexible with frequency depending on your desired frequency, life demands, finances, and other considerations.
Do you offer online appointments?
I do! I have an office in Reno, Nevada where I provide in-person therapy. I also see my Nevada and Texas clients online via a HIPAA secure platform. Online therapy allows for the same deep work we do in-person and removes some of the barriers that can come with in-office therapy. Many of my clients who live locally do in-person sessions when they can and telehealth appointments when they’re not able to make it into the office.
Do you treat couples and families?
My focus is on individual work, though sometimes clients have a partner join for a partner support session.
Do you treat other providers?
Yes! I love working with therapists, nurses, physicians, etc.
How do I know if I need therapy?
Typically I say the right time to start therapy is when you’re wondering whether you should start therapy. You don’t have to wait until things are worse or have a concretely defined problem you’re bringing in! Therapy isn’t just for when you’ve hit rock bottom. It’s for when you think you want to understand yourself better, improve some of your patterns, or just have an unbiased person to talk to who might have a few tricks to help your life feel better.