FAQs

I can usually handle my problems but how could I benefit from therapy?

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through previous difficulties, it is important to seek professional assistance when you have been trying and have not noticed progress. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, which is a sign of strength. You are taking responsibility by accepting your current challenge and making a commitment to change your situation by seeking therapy. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and working through the challenges you face.

How do I know I am ready for therapy?

Answering “yes” to any of these questions may suggest you are ready for therapy. Are you ready to dedicate time to focus on yourself on a regular basis? Are you ready to be honest with yourself and others? Do you feel ready for change and want to identify specific behaviors that will help you to make that change? Are you willing to consistently complete homework in between your appointments? The decision to start therapy is your choice and you want to identify ways to improve your personal and professional life, your emotional and physical well-being, and/or your relationship with others.

What can I expect at my first appointment and how can I best prepare for it?

We recognize that it is normal to have some anxiety about your first appointment. We hope that providing you with some information will help you feel a little more at ease. For your first appointment, we request that you arrive 30 minutes early to complete paperwork. The appointment will last approximately 90 minutes, for a total of 2 hours. This will be an opportunity for you and your psychologist to get to know each other and to determine if the psychologist can help you. This appointment will be more structured than a typical therapy session because your psychologist will be asking you questions to gain background information to better understand your concerns. We will also take time to review with you the policies of this practice and the ethical and legal parameters of confidentiality. We believe your understanding and informed consent is critical to facilitating honest disclosures as well as your overall comfort and trust in the therapy process. At the end of the intake, the psychologist will have a better idea if your concerns are within the psychologist’s competence area or a referral to another specialist is more appropriate. In some situations (e.g. couples counseling), additional sessions may be required to further assess the details of your concerns to determine if the psychologist can help you or to formulate a treatment plan that will best assist you to achieve your desired goals. A treatment plan involves your input and will be used as a map to guide the course of therapy.

In preparation for your first appointment, we recommend you spend some time thinking about your responses to the following questions: What has been happening in your life that leads you seek therapy now? How long has this been happening and to what extent does it disrupt your life? How have you been feeling today, in the past week, in the past month, in the past year? Are you experiencing guilt, anger, anxiety, sadness, shame, hurt or other emotions that are troubling? What have you done to try to feel better? What has made you feel better in the past? What do you hope to accomplish by going to therapy? How would you like things to be different at the end of therapy? If you are taking any medications, we recommend that you bring a list of all medications, including dosage and frequency, as well as the name(s) and contact information for the prescribing physician(s). Bring copies of any documents you think might be helpful. These may include, names and contact information for other medical providers you have seen in the recent past, previous psychological testing, hospital discharge summaries, or recent laboratory results. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment, please bring copies of any previous testing that have been completed, as well as relevant academic records.

How can I get the most out of therapy?

We will recommend a course of treatment that is specific to your needs, while remaining very responsive to any feedback that you might have. Please let us know if something does not seem to fit for you and we will work with you to make adjustments. The power of therapy rests on the trust and communication that takes place between the client and therapist. Keep in mind that psychologists are highly trained professionals that have a lot of experience in their field. By trusting that your psychologist has your best intention in mind, you will benefit more from the therapy. With this in mind, here are additional tips on how you can get the most out of therapy.

How often will I meet with my therapist?

The frequency and duration of sessions will be based on the assessment of your needs and will be discussed with you to ensure that the treatment plan makes sense to you. We offer 50 minute or 80 minute appointments. Typically, at the outset of therapy, weekly sessions are recommended to build rapport, establish a better understanding of the problem, and promote consistency and momentum toward accomplishing the intended goals. Depending on your presenting concerns, available schedule, issues that may arise during treatment (e.g. crisis situation), financial situation, or stage of treatment, the specific frequency and duration will be determined as appropriate. Regardless of the length of treatment, it is highly recommended that the final session be planned to allow for a conversation about the progress that has been made, and to officially provide closure or say “good-bye”.

Do you offer therapy in other languages besides English?

Yes, we can offer therapy in Vietnamese on a limited basis.

What are my payment options?

We are considered an out-of-network provider. A majority of our clients prefer to pay out of pocket because they do not want a documented diagnosis on file with their insurance company. Upon your request, we can provide an invoice that you can forward to your insurance company for possible reimbursement at out of network rates. However, you are responsible for payment to us at the time services are rendered. Please also be aware that the invoice you receive will include your mental health diagnosis. The diagnosis is required for the insurance carrier to even consider reimbursement. Your psychologist must have enough contact with you in order to provide an appropriate diagnosis. We cannot guarantee how many sessions that will be, but typically, it is around 3-5 sessions. Because your mental health diagnosis is protected health information (PHI), we cannot issue the invoice by email. You can pick it up in-person or we can send it to your physical mailing address on file. Some questions you may consider asking your insurance provider include:

1. Do I have out of network mental health insurance benefits?
2. What is my deductible and has it been met?
3. 3. What information do you need from my out of network provider to process my reimbursement?

We prefer payment by cash or check (made out to M&N Psychological). We also accept all major credit cards (plus a 3 % convenience fee), as well as Health Savings Account cards.

What if I need to cancel/reschedule my appointment?

We understand that things can come up and you may need to reschedule/cancel your appointment. Because this is valuable time reserved for you, we kindly request that you provide us with a 24-hour notice of your need to reschedule/cancel. If you do not cancel within 24 hours, you will be charged for the full session rate.

Where are you located and where do I park?

There is no charge for parking. We are located off the feeder of highway 290 and the Dacoma/Mangum exit, next to the Supernova Furniture (if you are heading northwest and reach Dacoma, you’ve gone too far). Once you turn into the drive, you may park in front or behind the building. Please avoid reserved parking spots (which are covered). We are on the second floor (accessible by stairs or elevator) in suite 230. We will send you an email prior to your appointment with information about how to access the building depending on your appointment time.