Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from the Initial Session?
The initial session (consultation), is an attempt to try and understand what you are looking for in treatment, clarify your distress and symptoms, find out some about your life history, and get a sense of your prior experiences if any in therapy. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions. Dr. O’Donnell will share her initial impressions of what you might work on together.
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People are often ambivalent when seeking help from a professional - it's not an easy thing to do to speak with a stranger about what troubles you. This initial encounter is also an opportunity to determine if this is the right therapeutic fit and the right time to be in therapy. Part of the initial session with any therapist is to assess if you feel optimistic about your ability to feel helped in therapy and determine your comfort level. You may be interviewing other therapists looking for the right fit and there's no need to be embarrassed about this. It shows you take the decision of finding the right therapist seriously. Additionally, Dr. O'Donnell, will also help determine fit. On hearing about what you're looking for she may conclude that you would be better served by a different kind of therapist. If this is the case, she will help you find someone who meets your needs. Finally, sometimes more time is needed to determine fit or gather more information in which case follow up consultation sessions can be arranged.
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What should I expect for the structure of therapy following the initial consultation?
Individual (50 minutes) and Couples (55 minutes) sessions are typically weekly. However, depending on your needs you may meet twice a week or twice a month. Sessions will be tailored to your needs, with a focus on goals, difficulties impeding your progress, and strengths.
Duration of treatment can vary but this can be an ongoing conversation depending on your unique goals and circumstances. Therapy can take many forms over time from open-ended and aimed at exploration and growth to short-term and symptom focused. Some individuals may meet their goals for therapy at one point in their life and then return to therapy in the future to revisit old goals under changing situations or address new goals entirely. No matter what the focus and goals, treatment will aim to take an individual’s or a couples’ complexities and strengths into account in helping them achieve fulfillment in their relationships, their lives, and their sense of themselves.
Does Dr. O'Donnell take insurance?
Dr. O’Donnell does not take insurance but will provide an invoice if requested that clients can give to their insurance companies. Coverage for an out-of-network provider will vary depending on your insurance plan.
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If you would like to verify your coverage, you can call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask the following questions:
Do I have out-of-network mental/behavioral health benefits? Typically an out-of-network plan is referred to as Preferred Provider Organization Plan (PPO) or Point-Of-Service Plan (POS).
Do I have an out-of-network deductible that has to be met first before I get reimbursed? Has any amount of my deductible been covered this year?
What is my co-insurance amount? Co-insurances typically range between 20%-40% of the session cost.
What is the usual and customary rate covered by my insurance for outpatient psychotherapy (CPT code 90834) or couples therapy (CPT code 90847)?
Is Dr. O'Donnell currently taking new patients?
Yes she is but her availability is limited. Dr. O'Donnell only works during the weekdays with limited weekday evening hours. Contact Dr. O'Donnell to arrange a brief initial phone consultation. When you reach out, please share your windows of availability for ongoing appointments, so your time won't be wasted if schedules are incompatible.