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FAQs
Do you have evening or weekend hours?
I have two evenings a week (usually Tuesday and Wednesday) when I can schedule clients for after business hours. I do not schedule clients on weekends.
Do you accept credit/debit cards?
I accept Visa, Mastercharge, and American Express.
What is the first visit like?
For adult clients, the first visit will primarily be spent getting information about the issue(s) you want help with and some background history. We will try to clarify your goals for treatment. Within the first few visits, we should be able to establish goals, how therapy will work for you, and whether you feel I am the right therapist for you.
For children, I meet the parents first to get information about the issues they want help with and to get developmental information. I want parents to feel comfortable with me before I meet with their child.
For adolescents, I usually meet with the teen first, before I meet with parents. I talk with the teen about confidentiality and how I collaborate with parents before meeting with them. I ask teens and parents to sign a separate consent for treatment which explains confidentiality and how I will relate to parents.
For couples, I often meet with each partner individually to understand their goals and motivation for treatment before meeting together.
What should I bring to the first visit?
Please bring your insurance card and the completed Patient Information form (either adult or chld/adolescent). After reading the Consent for Treatment and North Carolina Notice forms, please print out and sign the Signature Page. You do not need to print copies of the Consent for Treamtent or the North Carolina Notice forms unless you want them for your own use.
Parents should bring any information they consider pertinent, such as previous report cards, end-of-grade testing reports, etc. that will help me understand the issues.
What is your approach to therapy?
When clients decide to seek treatment, it’s because they are stressed in one or more important aspect of their lives. Maybe a client wants to make a change in his or her life, needs help with parenting, is stressed in his or her relationship or career, or because their self-concept and self-esteem has caused problems. I like to work with this motivation to formulate clear goals, give helpful feedback, support and encourage clients as they make important changes and learn new coping strategies. Good therapy is based on a trusting and honest relationship between the therapist and the client, in which the client can explore new ways of looking at things and can tell me what approaches do and do not make sense for them.
For children, therapy incorporates play to help them express feelings and try new behaviors or problem-solving strategies. Behavioral goals are often a part of treatment and family involvement is critical.
For adolescents, it is necessary to form a relationship with them and understand their particular concerns. Sometimes teens request to see someone themselves and sometimes their parent(s) bring them to treatment. Regardless of who makes the initial request, respect for the teen as an individual and respect for their confidentiality are quite important even though family, school, and/or behavioral issues need to be addressed. Parent collaboration is still important, but takes place with a teen’s consent.
How long will treatment last?
This, of course, depends on the nature of the problems you want help with. Most clients I work with are in active treatment for about three to six months, attending sessions on a weekly basis and then coming less frequently as they improve. Follow-up visits are often scheduled on a monthly basis until the client is ready to leave therapy. After discharge, the client is always welcome to come back for additional visits at a later time.
I am interested in psychological testing. Will my insurance pay for this?
Some insurance companies require pre-authorization for testing and authorize a limited number of sessions. Some types of testing (such as educational testing) are not paid for by insurance. After we meet to discuss the kind of evaluation you want, I will be able to tell you what insurance is likely to pay for and what they will not.
A complete psychological evaluation, including a written report, costs from $1,000 to $1500. Depending on the type of policy you have and the kind of evaluation you need, insurance generally pays 30-60% of the cost of testing.
Why is it necessary for me to sign the North Carolina Notice form and the Consent for Treatment Agreement?
As a health service provider, the law requires that I inform you what type of information is contained in your client record, how I use client records, and about confidentiality. All your health providers have similar requirements. In addition, the standards of my field stipulate that clients be fully informed about how I operate my practice. The Consent for Treatment document specifies this information. You are welcome to ask any questions you have about either of
these documents before signing.
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| Carla Nielsen, Ph. D. · 8340 Bandford Way, Suite 101 · Raleigh, NC 27615 · 919.676.9990 |
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