INQUIRE ABOUT MAKING A FIRST APPOINTMENT

Call or e-mail to request an initial phone consultation or to gather more information personally before deciding whether you’d like to do so.

                                 Phone: (206) 926-3866             
                        Email: dfalk@u.washington.edu

             
A phone consultation will always precede our first session, but you’re welcome to make your first contact by e-mail if you’d prefer. Sometimes people like to write with some initial questions before deciding about a phone consultation.

I’ll respond right away to let you know whether I’m able to welcome new clients at the moment. If so, I’ll ask about your current issues, what’s important to you in a therapy relationship, whether you would anticipate paying for treatment privately or with insurance and what your availability is like.

UNDERSTAND THE INITIAL PHONE CONSULTATION

This 15-20 minute phone conversation serves some important purposes.

One is that I need to hear what you want to work on, so I’ll be able to assess whether I have the experience necessary to really help you. If your clinical needs would be more capably handled by a different professional, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Second, we have an opportunity to assess the interpersonal connection. It’s a big part of what makes therapy work or not work. In essence, we will both listening for whether this could feel like a natural and productive collaboration.

Last, logistics. Could you make it to Phinney Ridge at an appointment time I have open? Might you rather see someone on your insurance list if it would cost more to work with me? 
Do you need to check your Premera deductible before deciding?

I’ll call you at an agreed-upon time, so be sure you have some privacy at that time.


CONSIDER YOUR SCHEDULE

Consult the appointment frames, at left, to see the times of week we might potentially meet.

If you know you’d never, ever be available during any of these times, it won’t work. Many psychologists see a larger number of clients than I do and thus have more varied appointment times.

However, if you’re in general free at a few of these times, but the slots you need are filled, here’s an idea: we may be able to schedule ourselves just a first session --- to get rolling. I could then let you know when a cancellation or a regular opening that works for you presents itself. Getting started with therapy can provide a great sense of relief and momentum.

COMPLETE THE PRE-THERAPY PAPERWORK

If we schedule a first session, please go to the paperwork page of the website. There you’ll find two forms: one for you to print out and complete prior to our first session (Client Info & History) the other for you to read over (Treatment Consent) and jot any questions you may have. Don’t save these until the last minute; they take a little time!

RESEARCH YOUR COVERAGE IF YOU PLAN TO USE INSURANCE

The Client Info & History Form has a guide to investigating your insurance benefits. For clients planning to request reimbursement for treatment costs, this section serves as a helpful script for your contact with insurance customer service.

Unless your insurance carrier is Premera-Blue Cross, it is you they would reimburse for the therapy rather than me. Clients are responsible for treatment costs at the time of service. This holds true whether or not insurance comes through as fully we’d expected, so familiarity with your coverage is essential. Treatment with a licensed psychologist is generally covered, but you may have a deductible to satisfy before the insurance payment kicks in.

If you have Premera-Blue Cross, I am an in-network or “preferred provider” and will bill them on your behalf. Until they begin payment in several weeks, you’ll pay for your therapy sessions. Once Premera begins reliable payment, if there’s an amount due to you, I’ll refund you swiftly. From then on, you’ll pay only your small share each time (if you have a co-payment) and insurance will cover the rest for you.

UNDERSTAND THE FIRST SESSION

The first session or two we’ll both be gathering a lot of information about how we might work together. If we discuss my referring you to someone else as the most effective choice, don’t be discouraged by what you’ve already invested! Most people say that a first session can provide real progress. Likewise, if you sense that someone else might be able to help you than I could, please express that and don’t be shy about transferring care to another professional.

REQUEST A REFERRAL

If we can’t find a time in common or if it’s not the right fit for some other reason, I’d be happy to offer referrals to other excellent professionals in our area.