FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

A: You can call my office -- (410) 544-9564 – with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment.

If you prefer, you may email me @ [email protected].
You can send email either directly or through the link in this website.
Be aware that email is NOT confidential. Please limit email communications to administrative issues, without including any private information.

A: I will personally respond to all phone calls and emails, generally within less than 24 hours. 

A: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  My last routine appointment of the day is generally 3 p.m.

All sessions are virtual, conducted either by secure video (generally Zoom) or by phone.

A: I do not participate with any insurance company. Most insurance plans DO provide for out-of-network benefits with non-participating providers.

I am happy to provide you with a Superbill, which is a statement that includes all the codes and information that your insurance company needs from me in order to process your claim and consider it for reimbursement. You would pay me the full fee at the time of your appointment and then submit the Superbill to your insurance company.

EXCEPTIONS:
​Medicare will not allow you to submit claims for services by a provider, like me, who is "Opted Out".
Marriage counseling is NOT something that will generally be reimbursable by insurance.

It’s a good idea for you to check (before scheduling an appointment) on what kinds of benefits are in your insurance contract and how you are likely to be reimbursed. It’s also a good idea for you to find out what if any pre-authorizations, referrals, or treatment reports may be required by your insurer.

A: Most sessions are 45 minutes long. Extended sessions are sometimes scheduled; they are billed proportionately.  (for example, double session = double fee)
​Initial sessions are typically 50-55 minutes long.

A: An initial 55 minute session for individual therapy is $250.
   A regular 45 minute session for individual therapy is $210.

An initial 55 minute session for couples or family therapy is $295.
   A regular 45 minute session for couples/family therapy is $250.

NOTICE

“No Surprises Act”

Dear Current And Potential Future Clients,

Congress enacted a “No Surprises Act” which is set to go into effect 1/1/2022. The act is described as “new federal protections against surprise medical bills that take effect in 2022. Surprise medical bills arise when insured consumers inadvertently receive care from out-of-network hospitals, doctors, or other providers they did not choose” (please see https://www.kff.org/health-reform/issue-brief/no-surprises-act-implementation-what-to-expect-in-2022/).

It is highly unlikely this could affect our work together. There will be no situation in which you would “inadvertently” receive care from me or with no choice. Also, the final rules about how to implement this in a practice such as mine have not even been written yet by the federal government. I am “out of network” for all insurance companies.

You may read more about this at https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

If we currently work together, you are already aware of my charges and your costs. If you are considering working with me, available information suggests I might need to provide you with a diagnosis before we even meet, which of course would be both unethical and impossible without a meaningful evaluation of your circumstances. At this time, multiple professional organizations are scrambling to understand the details of this law, to whom it applies and how to apply it. Guidance so far is uncertain and in many cases conflicting.

Rest assured that I will be transparent with you about the costs of the services we agree on together. You will have “no surprises” here. This transparency is required by ethical standards by which I have abided for the more than 30 years I have been in practice, and simply because it is necessary for us to work well together.

In the meantime, you may certainly ask me about any costs about which you may be unsure, and you will be provided clear information.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any related questions. My contact information is available under the OFFICE LOCATION/CONTACT menu on this website.

A: Yes. There is no surcharge for using a credit card.

A: No. The law in Maryland (and in most states) does not permit psychologists to prescribe medication. Prescriptions are generally written by physicians, like your Primary Care Provider or a psychiatrist.

All sessions are virtual, via secure video (usually Zoom) or, for established patients, there is an option to do a session over the phone.