Good Faith Estimate,
Fees & FAQ’s

Support Groups

Out-of-Town Patients

Good Faith Estimate, Fees and Insurance  

Do you accept insurance?

Like most local providers, we do not accept 3rd party insurance payments and we do not accept Medicare at all. However, patients can receive up to 100% reimbursement from their health insurance for our services, depending on their out-of-network mental health benefits. We are happy to provide patients with insurance receipts for all treatment received as well as supporting information and documentation to assist in receiving reimbursement. It is recommended that you check with your insurance company prior to receiving treatment in order to determine to what degree treatment fees will be reimbursed.

How much does treatment cost?

Given the focused, short-term nature of our treatment approach, the total cost of treatment is generally a fraction of what it might be in other settings. Treatment does not go on for longer than necessary, and our assessment tool shortens the length of therapy so that patients improve more quickly. Senior clinicians are billed at higher rates. The duration of individual sessions is scheduled in advance in accordance with each patient’s treatment plan – there are no surprise fees or charges. Fees for intensive treatments are assessed on a case-by-case basis prior to treatment. For more information about fees and services please call our office.

What is your cancellation policy?

Click here to view our complete cancellation policy.

Good Faith Estimate

Under the law, healthcare providers are required to inform patients who are either not enrolled in a health insurance plan or not using insurance, an estimate of their bill or a “Good Faith Estimate” for healthcare items and services before those items or services are provided.

Center for Anxiety is an out-of-network provider. This means our providers are not contracted as part of your health plan. All patients are responsible for calling to determine their out-of network benefits. All patients are offered a call with a Patient Care Manager prior to scheduling. Fees for intakes/services will be verbally communicated to you during this call. Clients will then be invited to set up a client portal to receive paperwork for the initial appointment and throughout your care.  A Good Faith Estimate Notice and Consent will be sent through your portal prior to your appointment. This will include a table of services and fees. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. A copy will also be kept as part of your electronic medical record.

It is difficult to determine the true length of treatment for mental health care as each client has a right to decide how long they would like to participate in mental health care services and all services are voluntary, however, a Good Faith Estimate will be provided and reassessed as needed. 

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services.
• You can ask your healthcare provider for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service
• You can ask for an updated Good Faith Estimate at any point reflecting your current expected charges.
• 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 of your Good Faith Estimate and the bill.
• For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.

Problems Treated

Do you only treat anxiety?

No. We specialize in treating anxiety disorders, however, we provide effective, evidence-based treatment for individuals presenting with an array of other problems, including depression, mania, OCD, sleep-related problems, family discord, medical conditions, eating disorders, psychosis, ADHD, behavioral problems in children, and many more.

What are some of the symptoms of anxiety that you provide treatment for?

There are three categories of anxiety symptoms: (1) Cognitive symptoms include racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, excessive concerns about being judged by others or dangerous situations, and worry; (2) Emotional/physiological symptoms such as stress, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort/disturbance, light-headedness, chills or hot flashes, and sensations of tightness in one’s throat; and (3) Behavioral symptoms including avoidance of feared situations, procrastination, compulsions, asking others for reassurance, and hypervigilance (searching for signs of danger). Our treatments focus on both reducing these symptoms, and helping our patients to increase their wellbeing and functioning in life.

I’m really struggling in my daily life. Would I benefit from your Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program?

Our full-service, effective DBT program is designed for individuals who struggle with regulating emotions, self-harm, or experience significant difficulties in relationships. We offer a multi-pronged approach that combines structured skills groups, individual therapy, family therapy, and ongoing telephone coaching, delivered by experts trained in DBT. Patients learn to better manage their emotions and improve their overall well-being. 

Do you treat eating disorders?

We do provide treatment for individuals with the gamut of eating and feeding disorders. Our comprehensive approach typically involves working with a team that includes a prescribing physician and dietitian. For individuals who do not have a team in place, we are happy to provide recommendations and referrals. As well, since safety is our primary priority, patients must maintain a safe body weight throughout the treatment process or they may be required to attend a higher level of care.

Treatment Strategy

What is your general approach to treatment? Do you use a couch?

We provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and tend to be more behavioral than cognitive in our approach. This means that treatment involves (1) identifying and changing patterns of behavior and thought that can perpetuate and exacerbate symptoms over time, (2) increasing healthy and adaptive activities in one’s life, and (3) promoting helpful ways of thinking. We are present-focused. Patients are encouraged to identify what they can do right now to change how they feel. Hence, treatment is generally relatively short in duration (5-20 sessions). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is seen as a collaborative enterprise between therapist and patient and treatment is therefore conducted face-to-face. As such, while we do have a couch in our office to provide comfortable seating for families and/or groups of patients, it is unlikely that you’ll lie down on it during your sessions.

Do I need to have an initial assessment?

Yes, the initial assessment is necessary for all patients. This involves a telephone screen, structured diagnostic interview, computer-based assessment, and face-to-face meeting (total time 60-100 minutes). Following this assessment, you will be provided with treatment recommendations, which could include a course of individual, group and/or in intensive treatment.

What if my symptoms are too severe to come to your office? Do you do home visits?

Yes, we are happy to accommodate home visits as well as out-of-office sessions for our patients. We also offer an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for severe symptoms.

Does treatment work? Can you really help people in such a short time-frame and do the effects last?

Anxiety and other mental health concerns are highly treatable. Consistent evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly effective, and recent research suggests that effects are long lasting with continued practice. After an initial course of treatment, some patients come back for “booster” sessions as needed, and/or decide to continue in treatment to target additional concerns. Many patients, however, don’t have any further need for treatment at all.

Can I continue to see my current therapist while undergoing treatment with you?

In most cases the answer is yes. In fact, many of our patients receive ongoing supportive psychotherapy or marital therapy and come to our office for a few sessions of specific, focused behavioral treatment for their anxiety symptoms. We are happy to discuss the possibility of a clinical collaboration, directly with your current therapist.

I see that you have trainees. What role do they play in treatment?

Our clinical fellows (graduate student trainees) may help administer structured diagnostic interviews and/or play a role in co-leading group treatments. Further, in order to provide more affordable clinical services, certain clinical fellows are available to see patients for individual and intensive treatment at reduced rates under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist.

Your website mentions spirituality. Is this always a part of treatment?

Recent research suggests that spirituality and religion can be relevant to mental health for many people, and further that many individuals prefer that spirituality be woven into their psychological treatment. To meet this need, we make it a priority to assess for patient spirituality with all patients. However, integration of spiritual content into treatment is done only at the patients’ discretion.

Do you prescribe medications?

Our clinical services are behavioral in nature and medication is therefore not prescribed. However, we work closely with a number of local psychiatrists and can facilitate a referral when appropriate. We are also happy to coordinate our treatment efforts in conjunction with patients’ current psychopharmacology prescribers.

Children and Families

Do you treat children? If so, what sorts of problems can you help with and what is your approach?

Yes, we provide specialized clinical services for children as young as age 2 suffering from separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), shyness and social anxiety, depression, ADHD and behavioral problems. Our approach starts with a comprehensive diagnostic assessment that may include school- and home-based observations and educational testing, and interventions may include individual treatment, intensive treatment, family-based treatment, parent training or a combination of these approaches. In addition, we offer Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), a family-oriented therapy designed to help young children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Support Groups

Do you offer support groups?

Yes, we offer FREE support groups. Support groups can be valuable for individuals suffering from a particular disorder as well as for parents or loved ones who are looking for guidance in best supporting their struggling family member. Registration is required. For more information, contact us via the link at the bottom of this page.

How do you maintain privacy and confidentiality in support groups?

Group treatments are now common practice in the fields of mental and even physical health. All patients who sign up for a group must commit to keep the identity of their fellow patients confidential. Everyone is in the same boat, so people tend to be very respectful of this rule.

Out-of-Town Patients

Do you accept insurance? I don’t live in the New York area, but I am interested in treatment. What are my options?

We offer two types of intensive treatment options that are ideally suited for out-of-town patients. For patients who want to benefit from an immersive approach to therapy, we offer multiple tiers of our Echelon Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). This program can incorporate family members and enables you to plan your travel around busy work or school schedules. In addition, we also offer 1-day treatment for specific phobias that typically involves a single session of up to 6 hours.