Step-by-Step Intake Process
Scheduling Form
This step will give us all the information we need to find the right therapist match, verify your benefits, and get you scheduled as efficiently as possible. This form should take 20-30 minutes to complete.
Response
You’ll receive a personalized response from our Co-Founder and Operations Lead, Chelsea, with clinician matches and information regarding next steps.
Recurring Appointment Time
Once we find a clinician match and recurring session time that works for you, we’ll schedule your first intake session.
You’ll receive a link to your client portal in an email and will be required to sign and complete additional paperwork as a part of this process. We recommend taking care of this as quickly as possible in order to avoid having your intake session canceled (and having us send you lots of text and email reminders). The process involves a high level of executive functioning and we know it sucks but we’re required to do it. Please set aside time to work on this and reach out if you get stuck. The sooner you do it, the better it feels (plus it prevents Chelsea from having to bother you about it repeatedly).
Intake sessions are technical and meant to gather information required by insurance companies in order to create a treatment plan and justify services. Once you get through that, you’ll be able to settle in and get to know your clinician and do the more interesting healing work.
Starting with weekly sessions is best practice when possible. We schedule clients for recurring sessions on the same day and same time to help build consistency. When you’re ready to decrease frequency, your clinician will discuss this with you – or you can ask them if you feel inclined. Most of our clinicians offer weekly or biweekly sessions; monthly sessions are not always offered by clinicians and not ever an option for new clients.
We are available to respond to all client emails and inquiries Monday-Thursday, between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm. We try our best to respond to all emails within 24 business hours, but we’re a small administrative team and sometimes fall behind.
We always appreciate your patience and look forward to talking to you!
Insurance Benefit Check Instructions
Before you begin the scheduling process, we highly recommend contacting your insurance company directly to understand your coverage for mental health services. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get the information you need:
Call Member Services
You should be able to find a phone number for Member Services on the back of your insurance card. Give them a call and if prompted, choose ‘mental health’ or ‘behavioral health’ to be directed to the right department.
Ask These Questions
- What is my coverage for mental health services?
- Are these benefits through my primary plan or a third party?
- Do I have a deductible? If yes, how much is my deductible and have I met any amount yet this year?
- When does my deductible reset? (Make a note of this in your calendar)
- What is my copay or coinsurance for outpatient mental health services (sometimes you’ll have to say “in an office setting” – otherwise they might quote the benefits for an IOP program).
- Are there any limitations I should be aware of? (Some plans limit the number of sessions you can have over a period of time or specific diagnoses.)
- Is telehealth covered at a different rate than in-person sessions?
**You’re always responsible for any costs your insurance doesn’t cover, so it’s important to understand your benefits, track your deductible, and stay informed about your coverage. We want you to feel empowered and never surprised when it comes to billing and payment.**
Document Answers
You’ll want to write down this information and ask for a confirmation or reference code for your records.
