FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Below you will find detailed answers to some important questions about treatment at OCD & Anxiety Solutions. If you cannot find an answer to your question, or would like additional information, please feel free to follow up with us. One of our specialists will be delighted to help!
What do I need to do prior to my first session?
You will need to contact OCD & Anxiety Solutions by either calling us at 630-296-4041, emailing bharris@ocdandanxietysolutions.com, or through completing our Contact Form. A therapist will get back with you shortly to answer any questions that you may have, give you some information about treatment with us, and help you get scheduled with your Provider. The therapist will also provide you with information regarding the process of completing intake paperwork, which can be done electronically and securely through encrypted email. Please feel free to ask any other questions that you may have regarding your treatment.
What can I expect during my first sessions?
Your initial session will last approximately 60-90 minutes. Your Provider will spend some time going over the initial paperwork and making sure you feel comfortable. The remainder of the session will be devoted to you and your Provider getting to know one another, discussing your treatment goals, further assessing symptoms, and providing additional information regarding the types of treatments available. When meeting with children or young adults, we find that it is helpful to have parents or family members involved in the initial sessions to provide additional information and learn about treatment planning. Comprehensive assessment and detailed treatment planning are vital to successful treatment and can take up to three sessions to complete.
How long is one session?
As mentioned above, you can expect your first session to last 60-90 minutes. Subsequent sessions will last approximately 45-60 minutes, with longer (and shorter) session times available if determined to be necessary to address your treatment needs.
How often will I meet with my provider?
You can expect to meet at least once weekly with your Provider, at least initially. More frequent (and longer) sessions may be recommended in order to address your treatment needs. As your symptoms start to improve, and you become more confident with your treatment approach, you will meet with your Provider less frequently in order to give you the opportunity to experience success with implementing your treatment strategies on your own! Our goal is to cut down sessions as quickly as possible and to help you become better equipped to be your own therapist.
Who is involved in treatment?
We have found that it is very helpful to involve family members and other important support systems in treatment, as oftentimes the environment can accidentally make anxiety and OCD worse. We often meet with parents in order to provide parent training in order to make sure that treatment is being implemented consistently at home, which can greatly speed up the course of treatment. We are also happy to work with school psychologists and social workers, teachers, churches, and other treatment providers.
How long does treatment take?
This is a very difficult question to answer. It depends on many factors, such as severity of symptoms, time available to devote to treatment, family accommodation of symptoms, life events and other stressors, etc. A fairly realistic range of treatment duration is around 6-12 months, with some people moving through treatment more quickly, and others more slowly. Treatment progress can be expedited with more frequent sessions (up to seven days weekly) of longer duration (two or more hours per session). This treatment approach is known as “intensive” treatment, and it is available at OCD & Anxiety Solutions.
What are the costs associated with treatment?
The initial 60-minute intake appointment is billed at $254. Subsequent sessions are billed at $240 per 60-minute session. Sessions lasting longer (or shorter) than 60 minutes will be pro-rated according to the hourly rate in 5-minute increments. There are options available to help you reduce the costs associated with treatment; these options are addressed in more detail below.
Will my insurance cover my sessions?
Your insurance policy should reimburse at “out-of-network” rates for your sessions, meaning that part or all of your session costs may be covered. You may have deductibles to meet, co-payments/co-insurance payments, limitations on number of sessions covered, etc. that may affect your expected financial contribution during treatment. We have also found that insurance companies have been more willing to cover our services at the “in-network” rates because of the specialized nature of our services. Please see this document that explains how to request an "in-network exception" from your insurance company that will allow you to apply your in-network benefits toward our services. It is recommended that you contact your insurance company to verify your out-of-network benefits prior to entering into treatment at OCD & Anxiety Solutions.
Will you work with my company?
OCD & Anxiety Solutions does not submit insurance claims on your behalf. We will, however, provide you with statements for services rendered so that you may submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. We will also complete any necessary paperwork for your insurance company. You may also have the option of requesting an “in-network exception” through your insurance provider. If this request is approved, this means that your insurance company will reimburse you at in-network rates for services rendered at OCD & Anxiety Solutions. We are happy to assist you during the process of applying for these special agreements.
Why aren't you in-network with any insurance companies?
Insurance companies can impose limitations on the type and duration of treatment, and these limitations can adversely affect treatment outcome. For example, many of the treatments offered at OCD & Anxiety Solutions are more effective if they can be implemented through multiple sessions per week, and for multiple hours per session; this is referred to as “intensive treatment.” Furthermore, treatment is more effective if treatment can be offered outside of the office setting (e.g., in the home, at school/work, public places, driving). Some insurance companies do not reimburse for intensive treatments or treatment provided outside of the Provider’s office, and as a result, you may not benefit as quickly or as fully in treatment. By not contracting with insurance companies, our Providers can make treatment decisions with your best interests in mind, thereby increasing your chances of reaching your treatment goals in a timely manner.
Do you offer payment plans or reduced fees?
Payment is expected at the time of service. However, we do understand that intensive treatment in particular can create financial stressors. If this is the case for you, you may speak with your Provider about arranging a payment plan that will allow you to pay an agreed-upon monthly amount until your balance is paid in full. In addition, we do not want cost to deter you from getting the effective help that you may need, and we are able to reduce fees for qualified patients.