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FAQs

Therapy at Meaningful Emotion

Frequently asked questions

Cost of therapy

What are your fees and how do you accept payment?

Fee for Service rate:

  • Assessment, couples, and family therapy are $250 per session.
  • Individual Sessions are $200.
Payment is due at time of service, unless a prior payment plan is arranged. Meaningful Emotion Therapy LLC accepts payment per session in the form of debit or credit card. Please note that if a session is not canceled 24 hours prior to the session, you are subject to the full fee of service.



Do you accept insurance?

Meaningful Emotion Therapy services are often reimbursable by most insurance companies. We work with many insurance companies as “out-of-network” providers, such as Oxford, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Behavioral Health. If you’d like to use your “out-of-network” benefits, a receipt will be provided to you, which you will then submit to your insurance provider. Please check with your insurance provider to confirm your eligibility for reimbursement. Please note that Meaningful Emotion DOES NOT accept health insurance for couples therapy as it is not considered a medically necessary care and most insurances do not cover this.



Does my insurance offer out-of network benefits?

Not all plans offer out-of-network benefits, but we encourage you to check with your insurance company for these possible benefits. If your plan does allow you to see a provider out of network, your carrier will typically reimburse for 40-70% of that fee. With any out-of-network provider, it is quite common to have a high deductible, which means your insurance company expects you to pay up to a certain amount for your services before your plan starts to cover some of the costs. We may not be in network with your plan AND we can still help. Email us for more information.



Teletherapy

Can I have virtual therapy if I don't live in New York or North Carolina?

Unfortunately, no. Our therapists are licensed in the state of New York and North Carolina and cannot provide services across state lines. You must be physically located in the state of New York or North Carolina at the time of services in order to receive virtual counseling.



Do you offer therapy in person?

No I do not. I strictly offer therapy virtually to residents of New York and North Carolina as my practice is solely a teletherapy practice. As teletherapy is not for everyone I'd suggest thinking about what you might need to create emotional safety in your home to have sessions.



What are the benefits to having teletherapy?

Therapy can be difficult to start because you are trying to fit the 1-hour for session and the 1-2 hours in commute time. Teletherapy allows you to have more time for you because you are only blocking out the time for our session. In addition, it eliminates the need to find a babysitter. You can also be so much more comfortable in your setting.



How do I prepare for a teletherapy session?

Teletherapy is very similar to in person therapy with the exception that in your therapist's office, the therapist is responsible for creating a safe space for you to work together. Teletherapy however requires both you and your therapist to create a realitively calm, quiet and comfortable space for teletherapy to happen. I wanted to offer a few tips for clients who want to have a great teletherapy session. Check them out below.

  • Choose a location that is private and free from distractions. I beg of you, please don’t try to have a therapy session while driving, or participating in a work call with yourself on mute, or chasing a toddler. All clients are juggling different responsibilities, and creating a secure set-up can be a challenge, but it’s important to remember that therapy is not simply an exchange of information. Therapy is a process. Your therapist should (ideally) serve as a secure base as you explore new ways of being in the world, as you identify what matters to you and what you need, as you heal in and from relationships, and as you navigate past and current suffering. As much as possible, you want to set aside a space that allows you to be fully engaged in the session.
  • Check your lighting and internet connection. It’s really tough to do good therapy when we can’t see you. Please make sure that both your lighting source and your internet connection allow your therapist to see you clearly. I know it can be uncomfortable for some folks to think about seeing themselves on the screen, but for therapists to do our jobs effectively, we need all the ‘data’ we can get, and that data includes your face.
  • Check your position. Trust me, an hour is longer than you think it is. Try to find a position where you’ll be comfortable over the course of session. You may have to experiment with different set-ups that allow you to be relatively relaxed and still seen by the camera. It’s helpful to try different options before your appointment.
  • If you are being seen as a couple or family, it’s important that you be in the same location. Not only are there additional logistical and ethical concerns around clients being in multiple locations, if you’re being seen as a couple or a family, good therapy is about developing the connection between you. The work is about fostering emotionally healing experiences for each family member. This is a bit trickier to do that when you’re in separate locations.
I think it can be easy to end up treating a teletherapy session the way you would yet another conference call. Instead, it’s helpful to think of it as an opportunity for growth. All places for growth (gardens, nests, dens) share similar qualities: protected, cultivated, tucked away, so that something powerful and wondrous can happen inside.



Therapy Expectations

What can I expect in my first session?

Our first session will include:

  1. Going over the informed consent and orientation to services.
  2. Information Gathering & Assessment
  3. Goal Setting for ongoing treatment
First sessions are typically more about some of the logistical aspects of therapy that create the foundation for our therapeutic relationship and your treatment over time. It’s important that we start off on a firm foundation to ensure the stability of your growth and healing. In this session, you are also assessing whether this will be a good fit for you.



How long do appointments typically last?

Initial Assessment (intake session)- 60 minutes. Individual therapy- 45 minutes. Couples therapy- 50-60 minutes. Family therapy- 50-60 minutes. Dr. Francis offers 75-minute sessions upon request.



What is the time investment for therapy?

Therapy works when you are consistently meeting and doing the work in and outside of the therapeutic room. As a result, I ask that in the beginning you commit to weekly therapy to help build that therapeutic relationship and to set the framework for deep, impactful therapeutic growth. I do not do monthly sessions at the start of therapy as it has not proven to be successful for therapy. If you believe you need a different frequency of appointments, discuss this with your therapist.



How long will I need therapy?

Therapy is tailored to your specific needs. We will assess your progress incrementally to determine if you can conclude therapy, or to assess what's not working and adjust accordingly. There's no one size fits all for therapy because everyone's life experiences are different and have different impacts. As such, we will end therapy when you feel as though you have made enough progress.



What does confidentiality mean?

​The law protects the relationship between your therapist and yourself. Information cannot be disclosed without your permission, unless:

  • Suspected child abuse or depndent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report to the appropriate authorities immediately.
  • If a client is threatening to harm themselves or another, I must inform the police and the intended victim.
  • If a client intends to harm themselves, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation ensuring their safety. If this is not possible, I will take further measures without their permission that are proviced to me by law in order to ensure their safety.



What are your hours?

Meaningful Emotion is open Monday - Thursday upon request. Appointment availability can vary depending on the therapist. Clients are seen by appointment only. Email us or set up a free phone consultation to determine if our schedule will fit yours.