When seeking therapy, we know you will be filled with questions. We compiled a list of frequently asked questions and the answers to help educate you on what it is we do at Beachside Counseling and Wellness.
Can’t find it here? Please write us on our Contact Us page. We will give our best effort to answer your question effectively and efficiently. All questions are good questions, so please don’t hesitate to ask.
Yes, conversations held between a client and a mental health professional are confidential. Additionally, it is confidential that a person is being seen, for any reason, for therapy. If you would like us to share information with another person, you have the option to fill out a release of information form, which must be done in writing. As licensed counselors and psychologists, we follow professional ethical and legal standards in our field, which include certain exceptions to confidentiality. These require us to report any current/recent abuse to a minor, elderly or handicapped person and to intervene if we believe that someone is a threat to themselves or someone else. A complete description of our privacy policies can be found on the Contact us page of this website.
For insurance billing purposes, your practitioner will need to describe what difficulties you are experiencing, and this typically requires that we document a diagnosis. However, your medical record is your personal, protected health information and belongs to you. It is your decision if this information is shared with anyone else (e.g., an insurance company). Certain high risk, high security-level jobs require a release of this information on which eligibility for employment is determined. Your private information is still not released without your written consent.
Typically, a counseling session will last 50‐60 minutes. If you are meeting with our Registered Dietitian, the initial visit will be 60 minutes and follow‐up visits are 30‐minutes. Couples or family counseling may take longer depending on the situation and how many people are involved.
It depends on the type of testing required. Testing sessions can last anywhere from one hour to four hours. There may also be up to four testing sessions needed to complete the evaluation. Most often the practitioner will be able to provide this information for you once the initial intake is completed, and they are able to determine the purpose of the evaluation.
Yes, one of our practitioners is a Psychiatrist who is able to prescribe medications.
Fees vary based on the service, provider, and whether or not you use insurance. For licensed providers, self-pay fees range from $110-175/session. For interns and students, fees are lower, so please ask about fees for specific providers and services.
Our providers are “in network” or “preferred providers” for some insurance plans. Please check out each of our BeWell practitioners’ profiles on this website for more details. If we are not in network with your insurance plan, please see the information on out-of-network benefits below.
Out of network (OON) benefits cover services by providers who are not “in-network” or “Preferred Providers” with your insurance company. OON benefits may have a higher deductible and/or co-pay than for in-network providers. To find out if this option is available to you, please call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and ask them if you have out of network benefits and what the deductible and co-pay is for these benefits. Our office can often assist you in filing for reimbursement for whatever portion of your visit is covered by these benefits.
Yes, we work with individuals, couples and families.
For any minor (individual under age 18) receiving mental health treatment, a parent (legal guardian) needs to provide written consent. If the parents are divorced and have Joint Legal Custody, then EACH parent needs to CONSENT to the child receiving treatment. Please let us know if you’d like us to send the “Informed Consent” paperwork along with a letter explaining this process to the other guardian prior to the initial assessment.
The first session will typically involve the parent alone for at least half of the session in order to discuss background information on the child’s issues and history, especially if the child/teen has never been in therapy before or has behavioral issues. Please make arrangements for any supervision accordingly, as we do not provide child care in our lobby.
Subsequent sessions may include a 5-10 minute portion with the parent to discuss techniques and progress (with or without the child present, depending on the child’s needs). This may be done either at the beginning of session or at the end of it.
The answer to this question varies greatly because it depends on your individual needs. For example, if you would like to learn behavioral strategies or discuss application of new communication techniques you may require just 6‐10 sessions. On the other hand, if you would like to explore deeply emotional topics you will want to build trust with your therapist and this takes more time.
The answer to this question also varies greatly because it depends on your individual needs as well as your practitioner’s style and theoretical orientation. Below are brief descriptions about several types of interventions. Many practitioners utilize several approaches within one session or across several sessions.
Cognitive and/or Behavioral Approaches: This type of therapy is often solution‐focused and uses behavioral strategies as well as creating new ways of thinking about difficulties experienced in your life. Some sessions may include worksheets and homework to support development of new skills.
Emotion‐Focused Approaches: When individuals struggle with trauma c or painful experiences, it can be helpful to learn new ways to communicate about and process feelings with a trusted, trained professional. Sessions may include exploring emotional events or topics and developing new ways to think about and accept discomfort.
Couple and Family Approaches: Healthy relationships often involve three components: trust, respect, and communication. When individuals are not happy in roman c or familial relationships, learning new ways to communicate with and understand each other can improve relationship satisfaction. Sessions may include discussing ways to build respect and trust as well as developing additional communication techniques so that all the people involved are meeting their individual needs.
Your initial appointment will begin with an assessment of your current nutritional status based on health & lifestyle information you and/or your health practitioner provides. The Dietitian works closely with the other practitioners to provide nutrition therapy for eating disorders, weight management and chronic disease. Sessions may include review of food journals, meal planning and nutrition education. You and the Dietitian will work together to develop an individualized nutrition plan that will best meet your needs.