Frequently Asked Questions
What does an intake look like?
An intake session is generally not the most exciting session, but it is incredibly important. It is basically an interview where I will try to obtain as much information as I can about you and your reason for coming to see me. Based on the information I gather, we can develop an idea for what your goals in therapy may be, what kind of schedule would work for you and what style of therapy you would prefer.
How often are therapy sessions?
I generally prefer to conduct weekly sessions for at least the first two months and then I leave it up to you to decide when/if you are ready to move into a biweekly (every other week) schedule. Some of my clients eventually move into a once monthly frequency which is discussed if/when they feel ready.
What insurances do you accept? What if I don't have insurance?
I work with a company called Alma to accept insurance. I am able to work with clients with the following insurance providers: Aetna, Cigna, Oscar, Oxford, United Healthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New York. This is the link to my profile in Alma: https://secure.helloalma.com/providers/praia-westerband-otero/
For those interested in accessing therapy without the use of insurance, I accept therapy clients on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale which starts at $75 per session and goes up to $150 per session. I use a cost-sharing process that asks folks with more financial resources to offset the cost for those with fewer resources and those experiencing financial hardship. If you can comfortably and sustainably afford a higher fee, then I ask that you consider doing so. I value having a few pro-bono slots available for those experiencing extreme and/or unexpected financial difficulties and that is more possible with the generosity of clients with access to more income.
I offer lower rates for Puerto Ricans residing on the island and in the process of rematriating to the island.
What is your cancellation/no show policy?
I have a pretty flexible cancellation/no show policy, however there are some situations where a fee will be charged. Life happens, I get it. If you realize that you cannot make your scheduled session, please email me as soon as you can so that we can negotiate rescheduling. Any requests to reschedule or cancel your appointment must be done at least three (3) hours before our scheduled session. If your request is done prior to that three-hour window, then I am happy to cancel or reschedule our session for any other available time. If you reach out to me within three (3) hours of our session time and request a reschedule or cancellation, then you will be charged a $25 Late Cancellation fee. If you contact me after our session has already begun and attempt to request a reschedule or cancellation, then that is also considered a Late Cancellation/No Show and you can incur the $25 fee. If you fail to attend your appointment and make no effort to contact me and I am unable to reach you, that is considered a No Show and will incur the $25 fee. I generally waive Late Cancellation/No Show fees for emergencies such as car accidents, hospital visits or unexpected illness however this is done on a case by case basis.
As long as you keep me in the loop, I am happy to reschedule you. All I ask is that you please be mindful that cancellations done within 24 hours of your session prevent other clients from being able to book that slot. If I notice that you are frequently cancelling appointments, then this will be brought up in session and we can discuss a possible schedule change. I reserve the right to terminate treatment if a client cancels three appointments in a row with no explanation or if they No Show twice in a row.
There is a 20 minute grace period at the start of every session for clients and myself. If you are more than 20 minutes late to your appointment, you will be charged $25 for the No Show and you will be asked to schedule a new appointment. If I am more than 20 minutes late to your appointment then I will provide therapy for the time remaining in the session and I will offer you a free session since I value your time and commitment to your treatment. You should note that insurance companies generally do not reimburse for missed appointments.
Can you treat clients from other states?
Unfortunately, I am only able to accept clients in New York and New Jersey at this time. I am also licensed in Puerto Rico and accepting clients on a case by case basis. Please email me if you have any questions regarding availability.
How can I reach you?
I can be reached by email at praia@authenticselvesmhc.com, messaged through the SimplePractice client portal if you are a current client, or you can send me a message using the contact form below. While my email is HIPAA compliant, I ask that you do not include any sensitive information in emails.
In case of emergency, please call 911, text the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, or call any local emergency room. Please do not utilize my email or phone as an emergency resource as I am not a crisis counselor and I am not available 24/7 to assist you.
What if I'm not sure if I want to attend therapy or coaching?
If you are a bit unsure of what it is that you are looking for, go to my Blog section and read what I've written regarding the differences between coaching and therapy, as well as my post regarding my drop-in offering. If you are still a bit unsure, send me an email and we can set up a free consultation call to see how I may be able to support you.
How do we end treatment?
Do you use AI? Do you mind if clients use AI in session?
Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. I may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you and a termination process if I determine that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, I will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source. Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks and I am unable to reach you, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued.
I recognize that AI (artificial intelligence) is almost inescapable right now, however I am committed to keeping my therapy space free of AI tools. This means that I will not use AI to assist me in my note-taking, treatment planning or conceptualization of cases. If I see that any of the platforms I utilize are implementing AI tools that are mandatory, then I will begin the process of changing to a new platform. I am currently utilizing Sessions Health for my electronic health record and they have implemented AI tools as completely optional/opt-in, therefore I feel comfortable using that platform.
While I do not intend to use AI in therapy, I am open to having discussions regarding your use of AI tools/chat bots. Furthermore, if you have any meaningful insights that were developed through the use of AI then please feel free to bring those into session. I recognize that it can be a very helpful tool for some and I do not want to discourage clients from having open and honest conversations regarding its use and value in their life.
I request that my clients not record (video or audio) their sessions with me or attempt to transcribe them using AI. If you are interested in taking notes during your session using your AI tool/chat bot, I ask that you not use my name or personal information in your notes. I value confidentiality and privacy and I do not believe AI is able to provide a guarantee of either at this time. If I learn that you have recorded portions of our sessions without my consent then your case will be closed and you will receive a referral to another provider.