Question 1

Do you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  We are currently in network with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Traditional and PPO plans and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Managed Care Plans as well as Aetna. We try hard to make sure therapy is as affordable as possible so more people can access mental health care.

Please note, billing works smoothest when Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna are your PRIMARY insurance. If they are your secondary insurance, things get a bit more complicated and you may be asked to pay the full fee up front and handle submitting your claims on your own.

In addition, we are also NOT in network with Medicare at this time, so if Medicare is your primary insurance, please call them to find a list of in network providers.

We are also willing to communicate with your insurance company to help determine your out of network benefits. We will provide you with a superbill for you to submit to your insurance on your own for reimbursement. It is ultimately your responsibility to know your plan and benefits.  This helpful website makes it easy to help you submit to your insurance company to be reimbursed with out of network benefits. There is a fee from them to submit in this way. https://reimbursify.com/

Question 2

Is couples therapy and/or parenting work covered by my insurance?

Accepted Answer

***Couples Therapy and/or parenting work.  Short answer, no.  Couples therapy and/or parenting work is not usually covered by insurance plans. Some insurance plans may cover it when it is used to assess and/or treat the diagnosis of one family member, but technically if someone does not have a diagnosis, it is NOT typically covered. To bill an insurance company for a service, there always needs to be a diagnosis associated with the charge for that service.   Unfortunately, this means insurance will not cover couples therapy and/or parenting work if the goal of the treatment is focused on relationship growth, communication skills, or parenting skills. For insurance to cover a couples/family session (the correct code is 90847 and the wording of the code is precisely "family psychotherapy with patient present), one person in the couple must be the identified client who has a mental health diagnosis, and the family member coming into treatment with them must be present to support the issues of the primary client with the diagnosis.  We apologize if this is inconvenient and wish it were different for you, but we ethically and responsibly bill at this practice and cannot use codes and diagnoses just to get these services covered.

Question 3

What form of payment do you take?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash, checks, credit cards, Health Savings Account Credit Cards and Zelle using Info@HealingConnectionsNJ.com. We require a credit card on file for all clients.

Question 4

How can therapy help me?

Accepted Answer

It is our belief that life can be challenging enough as it is,  so we encourage you not to try to walk it alone. Through therapy, you can find a confidential and nurturing relationship with one of our licensed therapists. Together we can explore your feelings and learn what may get in the way of reaching your goals.  Therapy can help you understand what emotional obstacles may be unknowingly having a negative impact in your everyday life. The therapeutic relationship assists you in learning more about yourself to recognize patterns that may be beyond your awareness.  Through this knowledge, you will feel more aware and empowered to live a more emotionally healthy and balanced life. Therapy will also help you embrace all parts of you, even those parts that may feel difficult to tolerate. All of your parts are welcome here.

Question 5

What populations of people do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Each of us has different populations with whom we work, but below are the age ranges. 
Young adults, ages 18-25
Adults ages 25 to 99 (100+ welcome too!)
Tweens & Adolescents (11 to 18)
Children (5-10)

Question 6

What types of issues do you specialize in?

Accepted Answer

We primarily work with  young adults/college age, adults, women and men and teens.  We work with our clients on a wide range of issues including:
ADHD
Adoption
Anger Management
Anxiety
Behavioral difficulties
Bi-Polar
Career Counseling
Child/Adolescent
Childhood Trauma
Codependency
Coping Skills
Depression
Eating Related Issues
Family conflict
Gender identity
Grief and loss
Impulse Disorders
Infant loss and infertility
LGBTQ+
Life transitions (applying to college, new job, getting married, new baby, loss of loved one, divorce, etc.)
Marital Issues
Men’s Issues
Panic Attacks
Parenting 
Peer relationships
Pregnancy, Prenatal, and Postpartum
Relationship Issues
School related difficulties
Self-esteem Issues
Self harming behaviors
Sexual difficulties
Sexual identity
Social Anxiety
Stress Management
Substance use
Trauma and PTSD
Women’s Issues
Work related Issues

Question 7

What is the length of time of therapy treatment?

Accepted Answer

It is common for people to want immediate relief from any kind of pain, but especially emotional pain.  With the therapeutic process, it is important to remember that one gets out of the process what one puts into it.  Consistent weekly or multiple times per week appointments are important, especially in the beginning (ideally the first YEAR, yes, year), so we can form a trusting relationship upon which treatment is built.  Therapy can take various lengths of time depending on what the therapeutic goals are. Our goal is to not rush anyone out of therapy and we have worked with clients anywhere from several months to many years, depending on treatment goals and your personal desire for therapeutic support in your life.

We ask that you give us feedback if you feel like you and your therapist are not a good fit.  Each of us welcomes feedback and it is important for us to know, and for you to communicate, when something feels off to you.

We are also human too. We get connected to our clients and really care.  We appreciate the opportunity to say goodbye if you decide to stop therapy and always invite you in to have healthy closure to our relationship.

Question 8

What treatment approach do you use?

Accepted Answer

Attachment based
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (in combination with other approaches, not solely)
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) techniques
Eclectic
Emotionally Focused
Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (Level I Training in progress)
Interpersonal
Person Centered
Psychoanalytic
Psychodynamic
Relational
Relaxation Techniques

Question 9

What is the cost for therapy?

Accepted Answer

Our fees are based on each clinician’s experience level and range from $125-$200 per session.

Question 10

Do you offer a sliding scale?

Accepted Answer

Each of us sets aside a certain amount of openings for clients who may need a sliding scale fee.  Such circumstances are determined based upon financial need. A sliding scale fee is determined on a case by case basis and at this time, many of these slots are already filled.

Question 11

Do you provide group therapy?

Accepted Answer

Not yet, but we hope to soon! We would like to develop the following groups one day if enough people currently at our practice or new inquiries are interested: 
 
Guide to Adulting: Do you remember wishing you were a grown up? And now that you're here do you stop and wonder, now what? Or are you thinking "this isn't what I thought it would be?" Young adulthood (ages 18-25, roughly) is a really tough time of learning how to adjust to being an adult. It brings up a lot of anxiety, insecurities, feelings of incompetency, financial stress, job insecurity, relationship struggles, and much more.  We'd love to start a group for this age group where we can sit together and have members share experiences and support each other with my assistance.

"I'm going to college?!?!"  Pre-college anxiety group. For years in younger grades, all anyone ever does is talk about going to college.  We follow a set schedule year by year and count down till the day we graduate. We get those exciting acceptance letters or those heartbreaking rejection letters.  Then we make the decision. Then we think, ok, now what?! Then the anxiety sets in. Am I ready? Will I like it? How will it be dealing with roommates? Am I ready emotionally and/or academically? Will I be able to get academic and emotional support at college? What if I don't like it? What if I do?  College age can be a very exciting time but it can also be very anxiety inducing. Join this group in the Spring and Summer before you head off to college. You will find you're not alone in your worries about this next step. This group will be starting soon and go through the start of school. Call today.  201-749-1750

My child is going to college?!? Now what?
Sending your child off to college can be really really hard.  We know.  We would like to start a group of parents of college age children to help them navigate this time in yours, and your child's, life.  this brings up many mixed emotions.  We miss them so much, we aren't sure of our identity without them, and sometimes we are looking at our partner for the first time in years, thinking, "Who are you?!"

Question 12

Are you willing to communicate with outside parties on my behalf?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With signed, informed consent from you (which you can take back at your own will), we will communicate with doctors, school professionals, and other mental health professionals to coordinate treatment.  Any request to testify in court or provide documents in court will incur a $5,000 retainer fee.

Question 13

Do you provide clinical supervision?

Accepted Answer

At this time, our Clinical Supervisors dedicate spots on their caseloads for employees of Healing Connections Counseling Center and cannot take on private supervisees as part of Healing Connections.

Denise Ardito, LCSW, Catherine Lawrence, LPC and Susan Barrett, LCSW all provided clinical supervision to our staff.

Question 14

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

We are conveniently located right off Route 17 by the Interstate Shopping Plaza at 79 North Franklin Turnpike, Suite 107, Ramsey NJ 07446. For ease of access, it is 1.4 miles from the Ramsey train station and is in walking distance to the Interstate Shopping Plaza, which has a shuttle stop for Ramapo College Students using their shuttle. Call 201-749-1750 to make an appointment today.

Question 15

OK I’m ready to make an appointment...what do I need to do?

Accepted Answer

Call 201-749-1750 to make an appointment today!

where we are all a work in progress…

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