Hell yeah! Now the work begins! Our first session is considered the initial assessment and is typically between 60-90 minutes. During this time, I will review any follow-up questions I have from your intake questionnaire and may ask you to expand on some of your responses; ongoing sessions are otherwise 50-55 minutes. The initial session is really the foundation for the work we will be doing.

Couples sessions are also generally between 50-55 minutes. It is my practice to meet with the couple first, jointly, and then each partner individually before coming back together. It is also important to note that I reserve the right, but not the obligation, to disclose information shared individually to me (via telehealth, phone, text, email, etc.) in a joint session as I believe transparency is paramount to progress.

*Sessions are only offered via telehealth at this time and never when any party is operating a moving vehicle.

I sure hope not! My goal is to help you live your life fully, authentically, and happily - if we’re going by my “80/20” rule! Some people engage in therapy for a few months, while others may stay longer. It is common to start with weekly sessions before transitioning to biweekly, and then monthly to help monitor progress or maintain accountability.

Progress is determined by multiple factors including the reason/s/ you’re entering therapy, events that may occur along the way (i.e. break-ups, death/loss, other traumatic events, etc.) and your willingness to go deep, be vulnerable, and explore all of the uncomfortable things.

It means that while my clinical training as a social worker included learning about empowering individuals and families, effects of trauma, diagnoses, depression, substance use, etc., I have taken concentrated coursework and received specialized clinical supervision that focused specifically on sexuality. The additional training has earned me the designation by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) of “Certified Sex Therapist” (CST).

Often times people hear “sex therapist” and solely focus on the sex part; and sure, we can do that, too! But sexuality is far more than just sex and it’s a hell of a lot more than disease and dysfunction! It’s about desire, pleasure, intimacy, feeling wanted, understanding sexual decision making, finding confidence, self-esteem, fluidity in attraction, exploring different sexual behaviors, sexual identities, genders, etc. It means that I will never “yuck your yum” or “clutch my pearls” because I believe sexuality is a basic human need and core part of who we are.

Mind, Body, Bedroom, LLC is in-network (INN) with the following NJ/PA payers: Aetna, Carelon, IBX, Horizon BCBS, Quest Behavioral Health, & Cigna.

Mind, Body, Bedroom, LLC also accepts private pay for both individual and couples therapy and can provide a superbill for OON benefits, but does not offer any guarantee that the payer will reimburse.

All major credit or HSA/FSA cards are accepted and a HIPAA compliant platform called “Stripe” is used to process payments. Payment is due prior to each session. Please inquire about the use of other electronic methods if interested (i.e. Zelle, Venmo).

Sex therapy, specifically, is not covered.

Couples coverage is plan specific, so I always encourage folks to confirm benefits with their provider prior to seeking therapy and inquire about in/out-of-network coverage and what diagnoses are considered acceptable.

For many reasons, it is standard practice in the field to not accept insurance for couples therapy.

Couples therapy is unique and doesn’t quite fit the medical/insurance model – in fact many plans outright exclude couples/marriage therapy as a covered service even if other mental health/behavioral health services are.

At the core of the insurance issue is that for the insurance model, the individual and their diagnosis are the “identified client.” But for couples therapy, the “relationship” is the client.

Why does this matter?

Here are some of the reasons this is the standard practice in the field:

Medical Necessity Requirement: Insurance typically requires a diagnosis to prove “medical necessity,” which is easier to define for individual therapy. Couples therapy, however, focuses on relational issues rather than individual mental health diagnoses, and these often don’t meet insurance standards for coverage.

Diagnostic Limitations: If insurance is used, a therapist may need to diagnose one partner with a mental health condition to justify coverage, even if the primary issues are relational. This can create potential ethical concerns, as the focus is on the relationship, not solely on one person’s diagnosis.

Confidentiality Concerns: When billing insurance, therapists must submit records, including sensitive information. Many couples prefer to keep details about their relationship private, and out of insurance company records, which might feel intrusive or less secure.

Chart Ownership and Access Rights: In couples therapy, the therapist typically maintains one shared record for both partners. However, if insurance is involved, only one partner is generally considered the “identified patient” for coverage purposes, which can legally complicate chart ownership. Both partners may not have equal rights to access or have control over the records since insurance recognizes only one individual as the primary client. This can lead to confidentiality concerns if one partner requests access without the other’s consent.

I require at least 24 hours advanced notice of an anticipated cancellation or need to reschedule. If a session is cancelled in less than 24 hours, the full session rate will be charged. I also provide a 15-minute grace period; however, your session time will not be extended beyond your allotted appointment. If you are more than 15 minutes late, the session is forfeited, and the full session rate will be charged.

One time exception- you are allowed a one time, “fee free,” exception if you need to cancel in less than 24 hours.

If an appointment is cancelled for more than 2 consecutive sessions, I cannot guarantee that your appointment day/time will be held for future sessions.

You may notice changes in your thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors in how you are approaching certain situations. You may feel more hopeful, less “stuck,” and better equipped to handle situations that may have previously frustrated or annoyed you. You are able to implement change more easily, establish boundaries, or integrate new coping strategies into your daily life. It’s also completely normal to feel like therapy is more of an “ebb and flow” or “cha cha slide” where you take steps forward and then some backward. Sometimes progress feels slow and sometimes you may feel worse (Duh! We’re talking about all of the uncomfortable icky things!), before you feel better. We will check in regularly about your progress and if something feels off, we can adjust our approach together.

For the most part, everything we discuss is considered confidential; however, there are a few exceptions where I am legally and ethically required to break confidentiality. For example, if you are a threat to yourself, others, or disclose reportable information such as child or elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, etc. Another exception involves subpoenas or legal court orders where I may be legally required to testify or produce information related to your treatment.

Minors are also entitled to confidentiality as this strengthens the therapeutic relationship. Session content will be disclosed to parents/guardians on an “as needed” basis and any intent to discuss more sensitive topics will first be discussed with the client to avoid any surprises that could impact trust.

If any client, regardless of age, discusses info that falls under the exceptions to confidentiality as described above, confidentiality may be breached. If you have any questions or concerns related to the limitations around confidentiality, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Additionally, Emergency Contacts may be outreached for support if safety concerns are present and I am unable to confirm your safety and whereabouts. Communication is essential to the therapeutic process.

No! And anyone who says otherwise is full of lies and deceit! I am human first and life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes I make mistakes and misstep; I may say the wrong thing or the intent of what I am trying to convey lands with a different impact. My promise to you is that everything is “figure-outable.” We will figure it out together and if I don’t know something, I will first acknowledge that and then find it out.

I also believe that you are the expert in the room and my role is more like the padded bumpers down a bowling alley and I’m not afraid to “bump you” back into place!

Sometimes that happens. Finding a therapist you connect with is sometimes like finding a good pair of sneakers - you may need to try on a few pairs before committing. Whether for myself or referrals I may make to another provider, I generally suggest having a few sessions before making that decision; however, it’s completely your call to make. If you’re having reservations about me or about therapy, I invite you to bring that into our session. If there are adjustments that are within my scope of practice and expertise to make, I will gladly consider them.

Similarly, if I feel that we may not be a good fit or that outpatient therapy may not be appropriate at this time, I will discuss my concerns and assist with identifying alternative options.