FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Comprehensive Answers
Monique is in-network with Fidelis, Aetna, and Cigna. Tom and Kim are in-network with Fidelis & Cigna. If we're not in your network, but your insurance policy has an out-of-network benefit, let us know and we can provide you with the documentation you will need for reimbursement. Please note due to their 3-hour format, deep work intensives with Monique are not an insurance-eligible service.
WHAT DOES MY INSURANCE COVER? HOW MUCH IS MY CO-PAY?
Unfortunately, we generally don't have access to this info since it completely depends on your individual policy. The simplest way to get it is to call the number on the back of your insurance card and let them know you're planning to see us (our National Provider Identifier # is 1649635863). They'll tell you what you can expect to pay based on your policy. As mentioned above, intensive sessions are not insurance-eligible.
WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?
Monique is a licensed mental health counselor, and Thomas and Kim are mental health counseling limited permit holders who practice under Monique’s supervision.
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING?
Mental health counseling is a particular psychotherapeutic discipline. Like other mental health professionals, MHCs can identify and treat mental illnesses. However, we tend to focus more on wellness than illness. Simply put, we are experts in helping people use their strengths to overcome life’s challenges, and in talking people through problems. You do not need to have a mental illness to seek counseling, nor does seeking counseling mean you have a mental illness. You can find more information about mental health counseling here.
HOW OFTEN WILL I HAVE TO COME TO THERAPY?
Traditional ongoing psychotherapy works best when it happens once per week. This is especially important in the early stages of therapy, when you and your therapist are getting to know one another and when you will likely need the most support. If you prefer, every other week is also an option. Group therapy with us may be every two weeks or every week, depending on the group. The intensive format is a bit different in that it is very time-limited and is often done in addition to ongoing weekly therapy.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR ME TO FEEL BETTER ONCE I START THERAPY?
There are no guaranteed quick fixes in therapy and everyone is different. With that said, most folks in counseling with us see an improvement within months, not years. It’s important to remember that you get to determine the duration of your counseling in collaboration with your therapist. Some people decide they want to stay in therapy indefinitely as a tool for self-care. Other folks want to get help with a particular problem and finish counseling in a few months. Still others do a one-time intensive session, and experience enough relief that they may not need a second. We use the level of your satisfaction with our work together to determine our success rate rather than the length of time you spend in therapy.
In general, not unless you tell them. Everything you say in therapy, even the fact that you are a client in the first place, is strictly confidential. Some possible exceptions to this would be if you tell us that you are going to harm yourself or someone else, or if you inform us of ongoing child abuse or elder abuse. These are all situations in which we are required by law to make a report to the relevant authorities. We also have a policy of reporting ongoing animal abuse. In addition, a court of law can compel us to share your treatment information with them by means of a subpoena. Barring these circumstances, no one will ever be privy to what you and your therapist talk about in counseling unless you give us your written permission to share something with them.
WILL ANYONE FIND OUT THAT I’M COMING TO THERAPY?
I CAN’T AFFORD THERAPY AND I REALLY NEED HELP. WHAT DO I DO?
First, please be aware that there are resources in Dutchess County to help you. The county mental health helpline is 845 485-9700, and they will be able to direct you to low or no-cost services. If you are seeking therapy as the result of a crime and do not have insurance, or your insurance does not cover sessions with us, please be aware that every county in New York State has a crime victims' assistance program that may be able to provide you with several services, including a limited number of free therapy sessions (check out Dutchess County's program here). Also, please know that if you are seeking therapy because of a crime committed against you, you may be able to receive reimbursement for your session fees through the New York State victims’ fund via the Office of Victims Services (OVS). An OVS claim can cover up to 100% of the cost of your therapy. In addition, please consider group therapy, which is generally far more affordable than individual sessions (click here for more info on our groups).
DON'T SEE YOUR QUESTION HERE?
Email Monique and she'll be happy to help.
HOW DOES TELETHERAPY WORK?
All of our individual sessions are via doxy.me, a free, secure, HIPAA-compliant tele-health platform. You can access it from any smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a webcam and there are no apps to download—it works through your browser. Your therapist will send you a link prior to your first session. Group sessions are held via Google Meet, for which we use a secure, confidential log-in process. Both services are easy to use, and we are happy to walk you through the process should you have any issues. For more info on making your teletherapy experience the best it can be, check out Tom's blogpost here. If you will have a tough time having privacy at home or you are not safe at home, teletherapy may not be the best option for you.