Do you offer in-person session?

I currently do not offer in-person sessions. But all sessions will take place via Zoom Pro.

 

Office Hours:

I am available during the day and in the evenings by appointment only. I do my best to accommodate my client's schedule.

 

How often do I see my therapist?

I require weekly meeting for new clients for at least 3 months depending on your presenting issues/clinical challenges and we will discuss this during the intake appointment. Weekly session is often recommended to achieve optimal outcomes for clients. 

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How much is your session? How do I pay for it?

My session fee for self-pay rate is $120 per session ( and do reserve 3 slots for sliding scale rates if you are eligible. It is important for me to be able to serve underserved populations. Currently, all sliding scale slots are taken. I do take the following insurances. (Atena, Blue Cross Blue Shield, High Mark, United Health/Optum etc.) Please email me at risa@therapysecure.com to see if I can accept your insurance. 

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What is LCSW? 

 

LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I completed my master's degree in social work, then I completed 3000 hours of post-graduate hours under licensed clinical supervisors and passed two clinical exams. LCSWs are trained to provide psychotherapeutic services for individuals, family, couples and most of our social work graduate programs also focus on "macro" work/policies/Social justice issue. I address micro/mezzo/macro sociocultural issues.  

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How can I cancel the appointment? 

At my practice, I do my best to prioritize the needs of our clients. Thus, I require 48-hours notice in order to offer the cancelled slot to another client who is on the waitlist or needs to be seen sooner.Without this notice, other clients miss out on the opportunity to be seen. My cancellation fee is $85. Please note that insurance companies do not pay for no-shows and late cancellations. In the event of a no-show or a cancellation within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment, I will charge the credit cared on file. ($85)

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Why do I need to pay the late cancellation fee/no show fee?

Life happens and I understand. No show/late cancellation fee is in place to ensure client's commitment to therapy as well as to protect the operation of my practice. My practice does not "double book", thus the scheduled appointment is reserved only for you and even with a 48 hour notice, it is often impossible to fill this slot with another client. In order to protect therapist's time, client's commitment and practice integrity, I implemented a cancellation policy. Thank you for your understanding. 

 

Attendance 

I meet where client is at, and I do understand life happens. But if you cancel 2-3 sessions without notice or specific reasons, I will be referring you out to other providers in order to make the recurring slot available for another client and to ensure continuity of care for you. Again, life happens and I completely understand but if we are not a good fit, missing 3-4 sessions without reasons, explanations, my practice policy requires us to follow the ethical guideline and you will be referred to other providers and be discharged from my practice. 

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Populations that I work with: 18-64, 65 and older. I do not work with children at this time. I am also unable to work with court mandated cases, custody cases because it is simply beyond the scope of my practice. During the initial intake, if determined that you will benefit from higher level of care based on acuity of presenting issues, I will work with you to make an approprate referral for you.

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Why do many therapists charge so much? 

I have been asked this question many times. As a licensed clinical social worker, I have invested significant time, effort, and resources into my education, training, and licensure hours with clinical supervisors. Our training does not end with becoming licensed and significant resources (costs) were allocated out of pocket for the required postgraduate clinical hours.  My expertise and qualifications enable me to provide high-quality, specialized therapy services that address complex mental health issues. The higher rates charged by licensed therapists reflect the value and expertise we bring to each session. Additionally, solo practice expenses, overhead costs, also factor into the session fee. I understand that cost can be a concern which is why I believe my session fee is reasonable and do accept insurance plans. I strive to make therapy accessible while ensuring that I can sustain my solo practice and continue to provide excellent care. I am committed to working with you to find a solution that fits your needs and budgets.

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