Frequently Asked Questions
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance but can provide you with receipts that can be submitted directly to your insurance provider for reimbursement. Reimbursement is not a guarantee and is up to you to coordinate with your insurance provider.
how can i pay for my sessions with you?
The full session fee is due at the time of each appointment. I accept payment via cash, check, or credit card.
How much will treatment cost?
The federal “No Surprises Act” grants patients the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much their medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers, including psychotherapists, must give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for treatment services.
Accordingly, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. If you are interested in potentially working with me, I will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate in writing prior to your initial appointment. You can also ask me to provide you with a written Good Faith Estimate before scheduling a session with me. And should we work together, I may provide additional or revised estimates as warranted at later times.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment with less than 24-hours notice for any reason, you will be charged the full session fee.
There are two main reasons for this policy. First, I hold your appointment time specifically for you. If you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, then I cannot offer that slot to someone else.
Second, anxiety often leads us to avoid approaching the things we fear. Accordingly, the cancellation policy helps to reduce the likelihood of avoidance interfering with your treatment.
Please note that insurance companies do not reimburse for late cancellation and missed appointment fees.
How long will treatment last?
Therapy with me typically consists of 10-20 weekly or twice-weekly sessions, though treatment length depends on the type and severity of your symptoms, as well as your life situation, beliefs, values, and expectations. Of note, the type of treatment I provide is short-term and focuses on teaching you the skills that you need in order to live the life that you want so that you do not need to be in therapy for years and years.
do I have to take medication in conjunction with psychotherapy?
Many individuals see great improvement with psychotherapy alone and thus do not need medication. However, patients sometimes choose to take medication in conjunction with therapy or are already taking medication when they come to see me. This is okay as well. Please note that while I do not prescribe medication as a psychologist, I am happy to work with your psychiatrist in order to provide you with the best care possible. I can also provide you with referrals to a number of well-respected psychiatrists in the community.
The ART & Science of Emotions, LLC | Alissa Jerud, PhD
Philadelphia, PA | (267) 591-5646 | mail@alissajerud.com