Is Diagnosing Helpful?
The topic of diagnosing comes up frequently. In fact, I recently helped contribute to an article about diagnosis and how difficult it can be at times. I am big on the idea that I don’t treat the diagnosis, I treat the symptoms. Two people can come to me for treatment and I can provide the same diagnosis, but their symptoms are very different. That’s because the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is in its 5th edition (DSM-5) has a list of several criteria for various disorders, and depending on the disorder, not all criteria need to be met.
Private Pay vs. Insurance
“Do you accept insurance?” This is usually one of the first questions prospective patients/parents ask me. It’s an important question! My short answer to that question is, “No.” The more in-depth answer is, “No, I do not accept insurance and am considered an out-of-network (OON) provider. I require payment at every session and provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for any OON benefits you may be eligible for.” Let’s figure out what all of that means.