faq

We see patients between 7 AM and 7 PM, Monday through Friday. We are sometimes available on weekends, at the request of the patient.

Therapy differs for every individual. Typically, we meet with clients one hour per week. The first few sessions will allow us to gather information that will give us a better sense of your needs, and will give you an opportunity to see whether you feel our approach is the right fit for you. The length of treatment will depend on a person’s therapeutic goals and how challenging those goals are. Ultimately, the length of treatment is decided by the client, based on the extent of progress she or he wishes to achieve.

Finding the right "fit" in a therapist is very important. While most of our clients have found that we are an excellent fit, surely some have not. In such cases, we will help you find a therapist who better fits your therapeutic needs and your personality, taking in practical considerations as well (e.g., someone who takes your insurance). When trying to find a therapist, a common mistake people make is trying to find someone who is ‘like you’. It is often human nature to seek out a therapist who is the same age, gender, sexual orientation, etc., and to believe that only this type of person will be able to understand you, based on their own experiences. However, a therapist whose understanding of your struggles is based on their own experiences really doesn’t understand your struggles; they just understand their own. A good therapist understands, appreciates, and values a client’s experiences, feelings, and struggles by listening closely to that person, recognizing their humanity, and sensing their feelings.

The first appointment is designed to be low-pressure. You will be asked to arrive early to complete paperwork, if you have not done so in advance using the forms provided on this website. We will then spend a few minutes addressing any questions you might have and discussing our goals for the day. The goal of the first session is to allow us to gather information about you, since we approach therapy differently with every person. The first session will also give you the opportunity to get a sense of your comfort level with your therapist before we get deep into the therapy process. At the end of the session, we will summarize our conceptualization of your presenting concerns and will suggest how we think we may (or may not) be able to help you reach your goals. You will then be able to decide whether you would like to schedule another appointment with your therapist.

Psychological services vary in cost from one to another. To find out more about the costs of a specific service, please call us.

We are an in-network provider for Medicare and TriCare. However, we also take select private insurance plans as payment for services. We can often provide services to individuals through their out-of-network (OON) benefits. Insurance coverage is verified prior to scheduling an appointment. No matter what insurance you have, our office staff will be glad to help you find out the cost of therapy to you when using your health insurance benefits.

Payment for services is accepted in the form of cash, check, or most major credit/debit cards.

No. Psychologists are doctors who provide psychotherapy ("talk therapy") and evaluation services, but are not licensed to prescribe medications. If you are seeking medications, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a psychiatrist. If you are interested in both psychotherapy and psychotropic medication, we will be glad to be your therapy provider and offer you a referral to a psychiatrist for medication.

Dr. Karin Galliano, Dr. Amanda Sweet, and Deborah Burgess LMHC are the members of our team that have extensive experience in treating children, adolescents, and their families. Children, aged 6 and up, are assessed and treated for a myriad of problems including depression and anxiety, childhood trauma and abuse, attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant and other behavioral problems, grief and loss, and school and family related issues. If you are a parent of a child or adolescent, we encourage you to call our office so that we can discuss your children’s needs. If we were to take on your child as a patient, the first appointment would be with the parent(s). If the child’s parents are divorced and have joint custody, written consent for treatment will be required from both parents.

Yes. We maintain a strict confidentiality policy. No information is released without your written consent, except where disclosure is required or allowed by law. Individuals who use health insurance to pay for psychological services agree that their treatment file will also be available to the insurance carrier. As such, some individuals who have health insurance may prefer to pay for services on their own so as to avoid the involvement of their health insurance provider and in order to retain their privacy and confidentiality with their insurance provider.

In the case of a crisis or emergency, you should call 911. Helpful 24-hour crisis stabilization services are also available though select community mental health centers.