General Questions:
What can I expect during the initial intake appointment?
The initial intake appointment is generally about an hour long. We will go over practice policies and procedures, as well as general information about counseling. You will learn about your therapist and his/her educational background and treatment approach. In addition, you will have an opportunity to talk about yourself, some of the things that you are struggling with at this time, as well as your goals for counseling. The initial intake session will provide you with an opportunity to get to know the therapist and to determine if his/her style and approach is a good fit for you and/or your child.
How often will I meet with my therapist after the initial appointment?
Follow-up sessions are 45-minutes and are scheduled on a weekly basis at the start of treatment. You and your therapist will identify specific goals of counseling and ways to assess clinical progress over time. We have found that the most effective treatment approach is to have a consistent day and time for regular weekly appointments, whenever possible. This provides consistency and predictability in the counseling work.
How long will I be in counseling?
It’s difficult to predict the length of counseling as each person has unique treatment goals. We focus on teaching skills and strategies to deal with identified issues and ways to better identify and communicate feelings. You and your therapist will review progress on an ongoing basis and will determine together when it is time to meet less frequently (every 2-3 weeks) and when it is time to finish counseling services after treatment goals are met.
Insurance and Payment Related Questions:
Does Farmington Valley Counseling Center, LLC accept insurance?
No, Farmington Valley Counseling Center, LLC and its clinical providers do not participate in any insurance plans. Clients are billed directly for clinical services and are responsible for payment at the time of their appointment. Clients are encouraged to contact their insurance company to inquire about reimbursement for behavioral health services provided by clinicians who are not participating with the insurance company. If a client is interested in seeking reimbursement from their insurance company, we will provide a receipt for services (sometimes referred to as a "Superbill") with clinical provider information and required medical codes. Clients may then submit this receipt to their insurance provider for reimbursement. Insurance plans vary, so it is always best for clients to contact their insurance company to obtain the most up-to-date information regarding coverage prior to the initial session.
Does Farmington Valley Counseling Center assist with filing claims to insurance companies?
No, Farmington Valley Counseling Center and its clinicians do not deal directly with clients' insurance companies. If clients are interested in seeking reimbursement for their clinical services, they are responsible to submit claims directly to their insurance companies using the monthly receipt/superbill. FVCC will gladly provide superbills at other times upon request.
There is an app called “Reimbursify” that can assist clients in submitting claims to insurance companies for non-participating provider services. Clients simply submit their claim with the superbill through the app and Reimbursify then takes care of the rest. You can learn more about this service and the associated fees at the Reimbursify website - www.reimbursify.com.
Does Farmington Valley Counseling Center accept credit cards?
Yes, we accept credit cards, debit cards, health savings account (HSA) cards and checks. Clients are encouraged to contact their company HSA adminstrator to confirm coverage, benefits and specific requirements for processing any HSA claims. Additionally, clients may enter credit card information directly into the client portal where it can be stored securely for future use.
When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time of service. We have found that it is most convenient for clients and for clinical providers to have a credit card or HSA card stored in the client portal. The clinician is then able to quickly process payment following the session, without taking precious time away from the counseling session.
Scheduling Questions:
Does Farmington Valley Counseling Center send appointment reminders?
Yes, clients (or parents) receive a text reminder the day before your appointment and will have the option to confirm or cancel the appointment at that time. Your therapist will be notified when you confirm or cancel the appointment. If clients cancel via the text reminder, they are also encouraged to contact the office or their individual therapist regarding the reason for the cancellation and to reschedule the appointment. At this time the text reminder can only be sent to one identified phone number.
Does Farmington Valley Counseling Center, LLC have after school and weekend hours?
Yes, we schedule most appointments with children and adolescents after school or on the weekend. We recognize that families have busy work, school and extracurricular schedules and it can be challenging to find time for one more thing on the schedule. We will make every effort to find a time that will work for you and your child.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
Our therapists reserve appointment times well in advance and have limited availability. Please make every effort to cancel or reschedule sessions as far in advance as possible. We will try our best to reschedule your appointment at an alternate time, if possible. Please note that clients who no show for a scheduled session or who cancel last-minute (less than 24 hours notice) are charged the full session fee and this fee cannot be submitted for insurance reimbursement.
I’m ready to reach out, what do I do next?
You can either give us a call or send us an email by clicking the link below to schedule a free consultation to discuss next steps.
