Mental Health Guide

Asked How much is a session, and do you take insurance?

Answered

A standard 50-minute individual session is $195 with Dr. Smith or $150 with an associate therapist. The first appointment (intake session) is $250, and if extended 80-minute sessions are needed, those run $290 with Dr. Smith or $225 with an associate.…

A standard 50-minute individual session is $195 with Dr. Smith or $150 with an associate therapist. The first appointment (intake session) is $250, and if extended 80-minute sessions are needed, those run $290 with Dr. Smith or $225 with an associate. As for insurance, we're in-network with Quartz, Dean Health Plan, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin. If you have a different insurer, we're out-of-network, but we can give you a monthly superbill to submit for reimbursement — typically 50–70% once your deductible is met. If you want a clear answer for your specific plan, it's worth calling your insurer and asking what they reimburse for CPT code 90837 (the standard therapy session code) — that one question tends to clear things up fast. We also hold a small number of reduced-fee spots at $85 for people who couldn't otherwise afford therapy, no paperwork or proof required — just ask if that would help.

Asked How long is the wait for a first appointment?

Answered

Right now, the wait for a first appointment is about three to four weeks if you see one of our associate therapists, or six to eight weeks if you'd like to see Dr. Smith specifically.…

Right now, the wait for a first appointment is about three to four weeks if you see one of our associate therapists, or six to eight weeks if you'd like to see Dr. Smith specifically. We do keep a cancellation list, and we call people on it when something opens up — which happens most weeks, so the wait is sometimes shorter than it looks. If you'd like, the first step is a free fifteen-minute consultation call, where you can describe what's going on and we can talk through timing and whether an associate or Dr. Smith would be the better fit for you.

Asked Do you prescribe medication?

Answered

No, we don't prescribe medication — psychologists in Wisconsin don't have prescribing rights. If medication seems worth considering as part of your care, we coordinate with your primary care doctor or refer you to a psychiatrist we work with regularly.…

No, we don't prescribe medication — psychologists in Wisconsin don't have prescribing rights. If medication seems worth considering as part of your care, we coordinate with your primary care doctor or refer you to a psychiatrist we work with regularly. Let me know if you'd like to know more about how we work alongside medical providers, or anything else about the practice — fees, scheduling, what to expect from a first session, and so on.

Asked How do I know if I need therapy?

Answered

There's no threshold you have to meet before therapy counts as appropriate for you. People come to us because something feels harder than it used to be — that could be sleep, work, a relationship, grief, or just a feeling that won't lift.…

There's no threshold you have to meet before therapy counts as appropriate for you. People come to us because something feels harder than it used to be — that could be sleep, work, a relationship, grief, or just a feeling that won't lift. If you're wondering whether things are "bad enough" to reach out, that question itself is a reasonable enough reason to book a consultation call. The consultation call is free, fifteen minutes, and low-pressure — you describe briefly what's going on, and we say honestly whether we're a good fit. Nobody is added to a waiting list from that call unless you want to be. If what's going on right now feels urgent or unsafe, please don't wait for a call — you can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime by phone or text, or text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line, or call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.

Asked My teenager needs help but won't come. What do I do?

Answered

You're not stuck just because your teen won't book an appointment themselves — you can book a consultation call yourself, and we'll talk through how to approach it with them. It's free, fifteen minutes, and a common starting point; we see this often.…

You're not stuck just because your teen won't book an appointment themselves — you can book a consultation call yourself, and we'll talk through how to approach it with them. It's free, fifteen minutes, and a common starting point; we see this often. A few things that may help to know: - We can see parents alone for a session or two to work through the next step before your teen ever comes in. - We do see adolescents starting at age fourteen. - If your teen is younger than fourteen, that's outside what we treat here, and we can point you toward a referral for younger children instead. If there's any concern that your teenager might be in danger right now — thoughts of self-harm or anything urgent — please don't wait for a scheduled call. You can call or text 988 anytime, or go to the nearest emergency room if it's immediate. Otherwise, calling or emailing the office to set up that free consultation is the most useful next step. Would it help if I went over what that first consultation call usually covers?

Asked Is video therapy as good as in person?

Answered

For most of the conditions we treat, video and in-person therapy tend to produce broadly comparable outcomes, and many of our patients mix the two depending on what's convenient week to week. The one exception is EMDR, which is often easier to do in person.…

For most of the conditions we treat, video and in-person therapy tend to produce broadly comparable outcomes, and many of our patients mix the two depending on what's convenient week to week. The one exception is EMDR, which is often easier to do in person. If that's the type of work that seems relevant to what you're dealing with, we'd tell you so directly and talk through what makes sense. If you'd like to explore which format might suit your situation, the best next step is a free fifteen-minute consultation call, where we can talk it through more specifically.