Q. How do I get to your office?
A. Click on this link of Contact. You will go to a page on this site
with a map and basic driving directions.
Q. What if I am not familiar with the area? Can I get
detailed directions?
A. No problem! Just call my office 308-383-7000. Or use this tool from
Yahoo Business Web Hosting to get detailed turn-by-turn directions.
Q. How long is each session?
A. Each session is billed at 50 minutes. Many times, your session runs
an hour, or even over. I try to give myself time between sessions to
keep clinical records up to date, return a phone call - so please
understand.
Q. Do I need a referral before being seen?
A. Generally no. If you are desiring personal change, I would like to
work with you, and see you through the adjustments that you want to make
in your life.
On the other hand, if you are already in therapy somewhere
else, I think that it is a good idea to talk over your situation with
your current therapist. If you are not making the progress that you
anticipated, then reviewing your expectations with your therapist or
psychiatrist is wise. Sometimes, your primary therapist will help you
decide that staying in therapy with him/her is best for now. Or, you may
conclude that switching is best. Thirdly, some people see me for
adjunctive services - like hypnosis - while you stay in therapy with the
original therapist.
The other consideration is insurance coverage. Some carriers
require an authorization for services prior to - or within 24 hours of -
a first session. You can ask my office to help, and you should learn
about coverage, too; you will minimize surprises later.
Q. I do not have any health insurance, what are the fees?
A. The initial session is $180, after that each session is $90. With
hardship, my office may exercise courtesy write off. This is a case by
case decision Please do not be self-conscious to discuss with me.
Q. What insurance companies are covered?
A. We are covered under most major insurance plans. These include:
United Health Care, Mutual of Omaha, Coventry, Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue
Shield, Cigna, Tricare and Midlands Choice, Medicaid, to name a few, but
there are many more. You can either check with your insurance under your
outpatient mental health benefits or give my office a call and my biller
will be happy to check out for you.
Q. What is an EAP or Employee Assistance Program?
A. Your company may have what is called an Employee Assistance Program
or EAP. If you do have this, there will be an 800 number that you can
access through your company. Your company pays a separate company to
give you, the employee, spouse or children, free sessions to see a
therapist. You would call the 800 number and the EAP will give you
several names of therapists for you to see. They will give you my phone
number and I will set up an appointment for you . You then need to call
the 800 number back with the name of the therapist that you actually got
set up with and then the EAP will send my office paperwork along with
authorization to see me.
EAP is set up to assess and refer. This simply means
that if you were given, for instance; five sessions, you would see your
therapist for the first session and your therapist would determine if
you particular situation could be resolved in the five sessions ( or
however many you were given ). If it can be resolved in the five
sessions, you can use your EAP sessions. If it is going to be long-term,
the therapist may use your EAP sessions and then refer you on to your
insurance. EAP is designed for short-term counseling.
Q. Do I have to pay or will your office bill me?
A. You are responsible for your deductible and/or co-pay (co-insurance)
at the time of service.
Q. Do you prescribe medication at your office?
A. I have direct working relationship with medical personnel who are
available to prescribe psychotropic medications. I can also coordinate
care with your family physician or the medical care practitioner of your
choice.
Q. What do LIMFT and LIMHP and psychologist associate stand
for?
A. LIMFT is Licensed Independent Marriage & Family Therapist. LIMHP is
Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner. I am registered as
Psychologist Associate and I can practice psychology under the
supervision of a Licensed Psychologist.
I am credentialed by the Licensure Unit of Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services. Renewal of licenses occurs
every two years, at which time I must demonstrate that I have continued
with our professional education with approved seminars, workshops, and
training.
Q. Are there a set number of sessions for marriage counseling
or any other type of counseling? How often do we need to come in?
A. There is not a set number of sessions. The therapist individualizes
each client's situation, with the client's consent, and both decide how
many sessions and how often to come in depending on what would be most
beneficial.
Q. Do you see small children?
A. Yes, I can work with young children individually. More importantly,
the parents or caretakers also need to be involved. Inevitably, family
therapy is part of the treatment.
Q. How many years have you been in practice?
A. I have a clinician in mental health for over 25 years.
Q. I want to quit smoking-Do you guarantee my success?
A. Stopping smoking is a great idea! I use a cognitive - behavioral
approach which includes hypnosis. I cannot "guarantee" success because
therapy is not only the therapist doing the work. It is the client's
motivation and effort too.
Q. Will hypnosis stop me from smoking?
A. Hypnosis can assist with the reduction of stress and tension, which
many people use as a cue to smoke. It can help us identify other healthy
ways of responding to our legitimate needs. - ways that are smoke-free.
It can help us see ourselves -experience
ourselves -as being successful on a long-term basis with this
important change. It can also help remind us and reconnect us to skills
and resources we might not have consciously considered for ourselves.
Q. Will I be able to experience hypnosis?
A. Everyone has the capacity to experience hypnosis. There are no
special tools or extra skills one must have before experiencing hypnosis
in a useful and safe manner. The only 'tool' is the human voice. The
only requirement is your resolution to make this change for yourself.
Many people wonder if they will be able to relax enough, or whether they
will be able to overcome having been told that they were a 'poor
subject' or 'inhibited' in the past. The fact is that anyone with the
desire to have the experience, with a therapist that he or she trusts,
will be able to be hypnotized.
Q. Will I be asleep or unconscious?
A. No. Your subconscious is most alert. You will be aware of your
surroundings and what is happening the entire time. You remain fully in
control at all times, though you will likely find a deep sense of
relaxation and comfort. Most people report a feeling of pleasant
refreshment at the end of a session of hypnosis.
Q. Will I share private or embarrassing information during
hypnosis?
A. No. Again, you are in full control. No one can make you disclose what
you are not ready to share with a therapist. Neither will you take any
actions that are against your values.
Q. What are the steps to stopping smoking-through the us of
hypnosis-at your office?
A. The first step, of course, is to decide for yourself that you are
ready to make all to the adjustments needed to become smoke-free now.
Failure is almost inevitable when you are stopping against your will.
Many people wait until there are no other major stresses in their lives.
Now is a time to gather support from family and friends.
Q. Then what?
A. Begin laying the groundwork for becoming smoke-free. Begin noticing
what needs that smoking has been fulfilling, and what you really want
for your life. Begin to consider what practical changes you might need
to make in you day-to-day routine in order to be successful. Some people
discover that they need to make new plans for spending time with
friends, new ways to enjoy their coffee breaks, new ways to end a meal,
new ways to deal with boredom or nervousness. Do not worry that you are
not perfect with all of these things - just be an observer and begin to
determine what you need for yourself.
Q. Why do I want change and afraid of change at the same
time?
A. Welcome to the human race. We often have mixed feelings.
Hopefully, at therapist, I will capitalize on the side of desire to
change and help you reach your treatment goal.
If you have further questions, please call 308-383-7000