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1.) Can you see me virtually or in-person?

I can meet with you either in person or virtually depending on what works best for you. My office is in Yarmouth Port, MA so if you're local we can meet in-person or we can do a hybrid of in-person and virtual. Obviously, if you live further away in Massachusetts we will have to stick to virtual

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2.) Are virtual sessions just as effective as in-person?

Originally I thought virtual sessions for couples, especially couples I had never worked with before, would never work! I thought I wouldn't be able to pick up on as much of the body language and subtle cues as I could in-person. This was true at first, however after three years of practice, I've learned how to ask questions about body shifts and facial expressions to translate what is lost from in-person meeting. Now that I have gotten better at creating a dialogue about body language I think in-person and virtual sessions for couples therapy is equal- so it really depends on your own comfort. 

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I haven't noticed much of a difference between effectiveness for in-person vs virtual for individual therapy. If anything, it seems virtual appointments have really allowed people to find therapists that specialize in their unique issues. An interesting thing to note- the clients I work with that struggle with eating disorders have told me that meeting virtually has made reaching out for help easier. They shared that their body image issues make it very difficult to come in-person, but meeting virtually helps them feel safer. They can have their session in the familiarity of their home, wear comfortable clothes, and not feel like their body is on display.

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3.) Can I work with you if I don't live in Massachusetts?

Unfortunately, not yet. Currently my social work license only allows me to work with people that are physically located in the state I'm licensed in, which is Massachusetts. There is a bill in the works that hopefully will change this- but not yet!

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4.) Why don’t I accept insurance? 

Insurance is tricky when it comes to couples therapy and eating disorders. For couples therapy, insurance companies require the session to be billed under one of the partner's names and that individual must have a diagnosed mental health disorder, otherwise therapy is not considered medically necessary by the insurance company and the visit will not be covered. Most of my couples have sought therapy because there is a problem in the relationship, rather than because one of the partners has a mental health issue, which had resulted in denied claims when I was using insurance coverage. 

 

For adults with eating disorders, insurance companies also require the person to have one of the eating disorder diagnoses in order to meet the requirement for medical necessity. The problem with this is that the criteria for eating disorders are very specific and tidy. For example, a person can only be diagnosed with Bulimia if they "binge and engage in compensatory behaviors at least once a week for three months." This means if you are binging/purging twice a month you cannot be diagnosed with Bulimia. Personally, I find this silly and ridiculous. I also disagree with the criteria for Anorexia, which is still based on weight. This is not only outdated and ignorant but also is fat phobic. I believe people meet criteria for Anorexia regardless of weight.

 

The final reason I don't work with insurance companies is because they dictate treatment type and length. 

 

5.) How can I find out if my insurance offers reimbursement?

Ask if your plan provides "out-of-network reimbursement for behavioral health."  If they need to know my qualifications you can tell them I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, I'm located at 923 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port, MA and my NPI number is 1730473638. If you have coverage, ask them the percentage of the fee that they will cover and double check if they require a deductible or if there is a maximum amount that is reimbursable. Also ask if they cover in-person and/or video therapy sessions. Please be aware if you want to qualify for reimbursement you will have to have a diagnosis.