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    FAQs

    What types of services do you offer and how do I determine which ones I need?

    Orchard Mental Health offers psychotherapy services for children, teens and adults, as well as comprehensive psychological evaluations and medication management.

    If you have been struggling with challenges related to your mental health and need to talk to somebody, we can assist you in scheduling an appointment with one of our clinicians.

    If you need to get tested to identify or clarify a diagnosis related to psychological symptoms or academic difficulties you are experiencing, then an appointment with one of our psychologists in our assessment team can be scheduled. If at this time you want to pursue medication management solely, an appointment with one of our psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners can be arranged.

    What is it like to be in treatment?

    During your first appointment you and your therapist will review the confidentiality agreement and practice policies. This session will also allow your therapist to understand what are the current presenting issues bringing you to therapy. Your therapist will also inquire about your family history, prior mental health diagnoses, relationships at work and with friends, just to name some. In many cases, more than one session is necessary to have a better understanding of the patient’s background history. Psychotherapy tends to follow a collaborative approach, hence you and your therapist will identify goals you want to work towards throughout treatment. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes as a result of the process involved in psychotherapy you may experience anger, sadness and distress. This is not an indication that treatment is not working, on the contrary it can be a sign that you and your therapist are addressing feelings, memories, situations that need to be processed in order to achieve the identified goals. Talk with your therapist about this if you have concerns.

    How long will it take to see results?

    This varies from case to case. Some patients may experience symptom reduction after one session, others may need weeks, months or years to achieve their treatment goals. The psychotherapy approach that is implemented, the patient’s diagnosis and the patient’s commitment to treatment are some key components that can impact the longevity of psychotherapy.

    Which insurances do you accept? How can I learn more about what my insurance covers and what my out of pocket cost will be?

    We are in-network with Aetna, BlueCross Blue Shield, Carefirst, Cigna, Humana/Tricare, Medicare and Multiplan. Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the services you need.

    Our billing team can assist you in better understanding your coverage and provide an estimate of anticipated out-of-pocket costs. Please email [email protected].

    I am unable to make it to my appointment. What is your policy?

    You can cancel or reschedule an appointment anytime, if you provide 48 hours’ notice. If you cancel an appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice, or fail to show up, you will be charged a $100 fee for the appointment. When a session is cancelled without adequate notice, we are unable to fill this time slot by offering it to another current client, a client on the wait list, or a client with a clinical emergency. It is best to email us at [email protected] when cancelling your appointment.

    What age groups do you work with?

    We work with clients age 5 to 65+. Each clinician specializes in working with certain age populations. You can find out more by viewing our provider bios here.

    Do you have openings for new patients?

    Our Psychiatric Team has openings for new patients to be evaluated. To request an appointment please click here

    We currently have a waitlist for those who are seeking therapy and testing. To request to be added to our current waitlist please click here

    How does telehealth work?

    Telehealth is a great option for those who cannot access care due to location, health, or transportation issues. It may also be appealing for individuals who prefer not to come to an office.

    Our clinicians provide face-face telehealth through a secure, HIPAA compliant video conferencing platform which is easy and simple to connect to.

    Can you provide service to me out of state?

    Most of our clinicians are licensed to practice in multiple states. At the beginning of each virtual session you will be asked where you are located. Clinicians can only provide services in the states they hold an active license.

    What are the differences between Counselors, Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners?

    The mental health field has a lot of acronyms and different licensure types which can be confusing. To help you better understand each licensure type we have listed our provider types below:

    Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) holds a master degree in nursing and is board certified in Psychiatry. PMHNP’s can assess, evaluate and treat patients with a broad range of mental health diagnosis and prescribe medications. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners can see clients with commercial insurance, Medicare and private pay.

    Psychologist: A psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D) is a doctoral-level clinician providing either therapy or if specialized, neurological testing. Psychologists with a Ph.D. are typically more research focused “scientist-practitioner model” while Psychologists with a Psy.D. are trained with greater emphasis on clinical work. Psychologists can see clients with commercial insurance, Medicare and private pay.

    Counselor: A licensed professional clinical counselor (LCPC) is a master-level clinician who provides counseling. LCPC’s can work with a variety of diagnosis depending on their experience. Some LCPC’s hold certifications specializing in particular fields such as eating disorders, trauma, substance abuse. Counselors can see clients with commercial insurance and private pay.

    Social Worker: A clinical social worker (LCSW) is a master-level clinician who provides counseling. LCSWs can work with a variety of diagnosis depending on their experience. Some LCSW’s hold certifications specializing in particular fields such as eating disorders, trauma, substance abuse. Social Workers can see clients with commercial insurance, Medicare and private pay.

    Can you fill out a form I need for school, work, court, disability accommodations, etc?

    We gladly assist in completing any requested forms. In order to accurately complete forms it is a required that care has been established for at least 6 months, especially for completion of disability forms.