First Steps When Considering Counseling
Is counseling for me? The consultants at Meers, Inc. Consulting Psychologists are mental health experts who assist with all of the prevailing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anger management, addictive disorders, etc. (see our “services we offer” section). We also are committed to mental wellness and personal growth and development. Our therapists offer expertise and specific cognitive and behavioral strategies designed to aid individuals, couples, and families to manage effectively every day issues before they become problems. We believe that each individual can benefit from designing strategies and developing lifestyle habits that optimize health, wellness, sense of well-being, and performance.
Does someone answer the phone? You will find that many psychologists do not employ support staff available to take your calls. Meers, Inc. Consulting Psychologists, has highly trained staff available to receive your calls from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm on Monday through Thursday and 8:30 am through 4:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. These support staff members have extensive knowledge of each psychologist’s areas of expertise and can help you find the right doctor with convenient hours to fit your schedule.
Does the counselor have adequate experience? Most of our psychologists have doctoral degrees and have been practicing from ten to twenty-plus years. Our psychologists follow a family practice model with an emphasis on consultation, wellness, and psycho-educational approaches for all ages.
Can I use my insurance? Most people see medical doctors who are in their insurance networks; however, there are some significant differences between general medical coverage and mental health coverage. Many insurance plans have out-of-network benefits for mental health that may cover a substantial amount of the cost. As out-of network providers, we assist our clients by verifying their out-of-network benefits and by filing all insurance claims.
If I use insurance, how is confidentiality handled? Mental health providers who choose to join insurance managed care networks are usually required to provide detailed information about the content of your private sessions. While this is true for general medical treatment also, issues of psychological and mental health are particularly sensitive. When clients choose to use out-of network benefits our psychologists can assure significantly greater levels of client confidentiality. When a client elects to avoid insurance completely, we are able to save significant administrative processing costs and we pass along an administrative fee reduction to the client. In that case, the client pays a lower fee for services and client confidentiality is at its highest level allowed by law and no report is required at an insurance information data center (MIB- Medical Information Bureau).