Frequently Asked Questions
Have a Question? Here Are Answers to The Most Frequently Asked
Dr. Long does not accept insurance. However, if you have an insurance plan with out-of-network benefits, you can see any doctor of your choosing and the plan will reimburse you a percentage. In most cases, insurance reimburses around 60-90% after the deductible is met and assuming you have a psychiatric condition meeting medical necessity criteria for treatment (to be determined during the first appointment). At the time of the therapy appointment, you are financially responsible for the service fee then Dr. Long provides an invoice (superbill) to submit to the insurance company (it’s easy!).
Don’t have time to submit your superbill to insurance? Check out a service called Better. Better is a HIPAA compliant service that submits superbills to your insurance provider on your behalf. The fee is 10% of whatever money you receive from the insurance company. If you don’t receive compensation (e.g., unmet deductible, denial, etc.) they don’t get paid.
*Note that I have no relationship with Better and do not receive any compensation from them.
A Psychologists are experts in the areas of human behavior, psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. They employ empirically validated interventions to help patients adaptively change their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Psychologists adhere to a strict code of professional ethics, are vigilant regarding patient confidentiality, and make every effort to render the highest quality of care.
A psychologist is a doctoral-level, licensed mental health clinician. Only a psychologist and psychiatrist are licensed at the doctoral level. Some providers may have earned a Ph.D., yet still can only be licensed at the Master’s level by applicable law.
Compared to other mental health providers, a psychologist holds the highest level of education and training available.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree, the training psychologist enters a vigorous doctoral program for an average of seven years. Before earning their degree, they must complete supervised clinical rotations and internships plus at least one year of post-doctoral residency before they are eligible to take the licensure exam and practice independently. It’s this combination of education and clinical experience that distinguishes psychologists from many other mental health care providers.
Please feel free to request a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to discuss any questions or details regarding the therapeutic assistance you are wishing to receive. Once you are ready to make your first therapy appointment, you can reserve time by contacting me via telephone: 954-488-2933, e-mail: drjamie@drjamielong.com, or on my contact page. Evening hours can be easily arranged to accommodate those with a busy schedule.
Your first few psychotherapy sessions will involve an evaluation of goals and needs. I will ask you what brought you into therapy and what you hope to accomplish. An initial evaluation typically gathers information about any symptoms, history/background, family/relationships and other relevant details. I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what your work will include and an action plan to follow at your first session.
I welcome your opinions of my proposed treatment plan along with your thoughts of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy involves a commitment of time, money, and energy, so it’s important to carefully and thoughtfully select a therapist.
Therapy is the foundation of recovery and improving psychological wellness. I meet with most of my patients on a weekly basis for meetings of 50-75 minutes in duration. The frequency and duration of therapy sessions can be adjusted upon request or clinical recommendation to help meet individual needs.
How long a client(s) will remain in therapy varies greatly and largely depends on the person/couple’s goals and needs. I can report from the data I collect that many patients accomplish their goals in as little as 10 sessions whereas others prefer to meet on an ongoing basis as part of their self-care regimen. The duration of treatment is a collaborative decision.
Fees:
Initial Appointment (75-mins) $275
Follow-up (50-mins) $225
Therapy involves a commitment of time, energy, and money. At times, I find that it can be difficult to discuss and/or allocate funds to pay for psychotherapy. This may be caused, in part, by a negative stigma associated with receiving therapy or difficulty spending money on oneself. For many, it’s customary to accept fees associated with a medical bill or paying for the cost of a nice meal, but not for mental health. But like any other expense that is necessary for one’s wellness and self-care, money for psychotherapy can and should be discussed openly. Consider the value of investing in yourself when allocating funding for therapeutic services.
As in any other business, compensation fees adjust periodically to reflect increased costs of living and one’s growing professional expertise. Please give our office a call for my current fee schedule. I offer 15-minute phone consultations free of charge in hopes that we can better evaluate if I am the best doctor to assist you. I offer discounts for those who prefer to take advantage of pre-pay packages. Payment is due upon reservation of the appointment and cash, credit/debit cards, paypal, apple pay and personal checks are accepted as forms of payment.
At The Psychology Group Fort Lauderdale we have clinicians of varied credentials, levels of experience, and different fees for service. Everyone in our practice holds a minimum of a Master’s degree and has been well-trained and supervised. If my fees are out of your budget, please let me know because I can connect you with the right therapist that fits your needs.