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HELP CENTER

You Ask - We Answer

Have a question you’d like to ask? We are committed to giving patients the best care and experience we can. There’s no such thing as a bad question when it comes to mental health. Check out the answers to the FAQs below, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any additional questions.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN MY FIRST SESSION?

During the first session, you will have the opportunity to explain what it is you’ve been having difficulty with and what you’d like to accomplish during our time together. We will work together to set goals for therapy. Your therapist will also gather information about different areas of your life to better get to know you and your needs. Please don't hesitate to ask questions as they may arise during the session. After the first session, treatment can begin. During these sessions you will achieve self-awareness, build resiliency, and be empowered with ways to deal with life challenges.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE IN THERAPY UNTIL I FEEL BETTER?

Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place. We want you to get the most out of therapy. We see your healing as an alliance between you and your therapist, thus the name, The Healing Alliance. We will do all we can to help but your active participation and dedication is crucial to your success. After all, we only see each other for a session a week. It’s the work you do outside of the sessions that will really help you see your personal growth and development.

HOW LONG DOES EACH THERAPY SESSION TAKE?

Each therapy session will be approximately 45-55 minutes in length.

DO YOU TAKE MY HEALTH INSURANCE?

Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan.

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Jenny Ybarra,LCSW currently accepts:

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-United Behavioral Healthcare/ United Healthcare     

-Aetna       

-Regence/ Blue Cross Blue Shield       

-Mental Health Network (MHN)    

-Tricare         

-Optum             

 -Moda  

-Providence

-Cigna  

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Jewel Schneider, LCSW, Mehiska Jackson, CSWA & Lola Schwitkis, LCSW currently accept:

-Cigna

-Providence

-Regence/BCBS

-Aetna

-Optum

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Before booking an appointment, please touch base with your insurance provider and make sure to check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:

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  • Do I have mental health insurance benefits?

  • What is my deductible and has it been met?

  • Do I need an authorization before my first session?

  • How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?

  • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

  • Is approval required from my primary care physician?

  • Am I covered if I see this Mental Health Provider?

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Good Faith Estimate

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
 

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like psychotherapy, but also includes medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 

  • A Good Faith Estimate should be available in writing at least 1 business day before your initial session whenever possible. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before/at the time when you schedule a service.

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

 For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

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WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY AND HOW DOES IT HELP MY CHILD?

Play therapy allows trained mental health practitioners who specialize in play therapy, to assess and understand children's play. Further, play therapy is utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems (Moustakas, 1997; Reddy, Files-Hall, & Schaefer, 2005). By confronting problems in the clinical Play Therapy setting, children find healthier solutions. Play therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward, and resolve their concerns (Kaugars & Russ, 2001). Even the most troubling problems can be confronted in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies (Russ, 2004).

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Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, assimilate stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005; LeBlanc & Ritchie, 2001; Lin & Bratton, 2015; Ray, Armstrong, Balkin, & Jayne, 2015; Reddy, Files-Hall, & Schaefer, 2005). Play therapy helps children:

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  • Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.

  • Develop new and creative solutions to problems.

  • Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.

  • Learn to experience and express emotion.

  • Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.

  • Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.

  • Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.                                                                             

  •  Check out this video for more information:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4ovwAdxCs0

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WHAT ARE YOUR RATES WITHOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE?

Mehiska Jackson,CSWA                                         Jewel Colindres,LCSW                               Lola Schwitkis, LCSW                        $125 per session                                                    $150 per session                                            $150 per session

DO YOU OFFER SLIDING SCALE RATES?

Yes, we do. At the Healing Alliance, we strongly believe in making excellent mental health care available. Our fee scale allows us to meet these needs while practicing ethically. Please ask about the sliding scale when calling to make an appointment. There are a select amount of spots available for this option.

 

You will be asked to re-evaluate your needs based on any income based changes you report in session such as change of job and/or enrolling in insurance and this will be done on a 6 month-yearly basis as well.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Please note that a cancellation policy applies to all appointments. Appointments that are missed or cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled time will be charged the full session fee. This fee is not covered by insurance. 

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