Common Questions
How do I schedule an appointment?
Since we are often with clients, you may need to leave a confidential voice message when you call.
If you would like to schedule an appointment specifically with Dr. Nelson or Dr. Bjarnason (“Dr. B”), please call our main number at 860-788-3231 and indicate for which doctor you are leaving a message.
If you do not have a particular doctor in mind, please call our main number 860-788-3231 and leave a message in our confidential mailbox and either Dr. Nelson or Dr. Bjarnason (“Dr. B”) will return your call. We strive to return all calls within 24 hours.
How long are sessions?
Therapy sessions are a “therapy hour,” which is 53 minutes. We typically schedule sessions on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Over time, as symptoms improve, we can meet on a monthly basis. You are in control of what you want to accomplish in therapy and goals are determined at the beginning of our work together, but can be modified over time. We often provide clients with additional guided materials to augment the therapy experience.
Do you offer both in office and telehealth sessions?
We offer both! If you are a Connecticut resident, we are happy to see you in person at the office, or via telehealth. We each use a HIPPA compliant telehealth service to ensure your privacy. Some clients chose to use a mix of both for purposes of convenience. If you live in one of the PsyPact states (see sidebar), we are happy to offer you telehealth services. The telehealth is both audio and video. It is simple to use and only requires a phone, tablet, or computer. We would send you a link to your phone or email, and you simply click the link to connect.
What are the office hours?
We make every effort to be flexible in meeting our client’s needs. We offer morning, afternoon, and evening appointments Monday-Friday.
Can I use my insurance to reimbursement for sessions?
Yes. While we are in-network for some insurance companies (such as Medicare and Medicaid), for some insurance companies we are considered out-of-network providers. However, we are happy to send claims to your insurance company for you. Depending on your plan, you may receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company. Additionally, if you have an HSA account, you can use those funds for therapy services.
What are your fees?
We know that it’s important that you feel comfortable and are able to establish a good working relationship. Our fees are consistent with other area providers and vary depending on the services you are seeking; we would be happy to discuss our fees with you when you call.
What can I expect at the first session?
Finding a therapist you feel comfortable with is almost as important as the decision to seek therapy in the first place. Therefore, during our first session you would have an opportunity to see if you feel comfortable with us. We would review our practices regarding therapy, confidentiality and payment. We would talk about what you hope to achieve through therapy and some personal history information. Within the first few sessions we will develop a plan for how we will work together to achieve your goals, and schedule regular sessions.
How long does therapy usually take?
This depends on what you hope to achieve. For some short-term treatment, 6-15 sessions is adequate. Sometimes when problems have been unsolved for a while, longer-term treatment is necessary. Regardless, we make every effort to provide the more efficient therapy possible given the time, energy, and financial expense involved.
Do you offer both in office and telehealth sessions?
We offer both! If you are a Connecticut resident, we are happy to see you in person at the office, or via telehealth. We each use a HIPPA compliant telehealth service to ensure your privacy. Some clients chose to use a mix of both for purposes of convenience. If you live in one of the PsyPact states (see sidebar), we are happy to offer you telehealth services. The telehealth is both audio and video. It is simple to use and only requires a phone, tablet, or computer. We would send you a link to your phone or email, and you simply click the link to connect.
What if I miss or cancel an appointment?
We know that it is sometimes necessary to cancel or reschedule an appointment. However, since that appointment time is reserved for you, we ask that you provide at least 24 hours notice (except for instances of illness, or weather-related issues) or there would be a $65 fee.
What if we finish treatment and I need to come back in the future?
We are always happy to welcome back former clients. Sometimes things have changed in your life and you need to come back in for a “refresher” or more extended treatment. Either way, we make every effort to fit former clients back into our schedules. As a former client, you can either call our main number, or reach out directly to whichever psychologist you worked with (we provide clients with our mobile numbers for ease of scheduling).
Is the information we discuss confidential?
The law protects the privacy of all communications between a client and a psychologist. In most situations, we can only release information about your treatment to others if you sign a written authorization that meets certain legal requirements imposed by Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). We will discuss any limits to confidentiality at our first meeting.