I primarily work over telehealth using a secure HIPAA-compliant video platform, which tends to be a great fit for people who are managing symptoms and a lot of other medical appointments, especially if commuting to an in-person session would be difficult.

I also have an in-person office in the Financial District where we can meet as needed.

I typically offer 60 minute sessions. Most people do best with weekly sessions, especially at the start, though we’ll adjust together based on your needs.

When possible, it helps to set a consistent weekly appointment time reserved specifically for you. That consistency tends to help you get the most out of therapy. Of course, schedules can change or urgent medical appointments may need to take priority, and we can be flexible.

Please try to arrive on time to your appointment. Because my day is typically tightly scheduled with only about 15 minutes of buffer between appointments, if you arrive late, we may not be able to have a full session.

Because your appointment times are reserved specifically for you, I request 48-hours notice to reschedule or cancel. A minimum of 24-hours notice is required to avoid a late cancellation fee.

With less than 24-hours notice, you will be charged a $100 late cancellation fee if we are unable to reschedule within the same week. Please note that rescheduling is subject to availability and it is not always possible to reschedule within the same week. If you use insurance, please note that late cancellation fees are not reimbursable, so you will be responsible for this charge.

If possible, please give at least one week notice if you’ll be away (for example, for vacation), and I’ll do the same.

My appointments are typically weekdays from about 11:15am to 8:00pm.

Cost is understandably an important part of choosing a therapist. My fee is $325 for the 75-90 minute initial visit, and $300 for subsequent 60-minute sessions.

I accept Zelle, Venmo, bank transfer, or check. Credit card payments can be arranged by request.

I’m out of network with insurance. Most people use their out-of-network benefits to help cover the costs of services. That means you would pay my fee directly after each session, and I would provide a monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

Most insurance plans that offer out-of-network benefits reimburse about 50-90% of the fee after you meet your deductible. Some people meet their deductible relatively early in the year and sometimes their out-of-pocket maximum as well, depending on the details of their plan and other medical expenses. This varies, but many people are surprised to find that their out-of-pocket costs are more manageable than they expected.

One important note: if you use your insurance benefits to cover psychotherapy (in-network or out-of-network), a diagnosis must be on file to support medical necessity. Your insurance company may also request records to verify services and medical necessity, and make decisions about whether to cover your care.

TLDR: Insurance is a lot to figure out and it’s completely normal to feel confused! Here are the key questions to ask your insurance company, and I’m also happy to talk through what you learn.

Start by calling the number on your insurance card. Ask whether you have out-of-network benefits for "routine outpatient mental health” or “routine outpatient behavioral health."

If you have out-of-network benefits, ask:

• What is my out-of-network deductible?

• How much of my deductible have I already met?

• What percentage does my insurance cover after I meet my deductible?

If they're vague or ask for a CPT (billing) code, ask:

• Does my insurance cover 90837 (60 minute outpatient psychotherapy session) and/or 90834 (45 minute outpatient psychotherapy session)?

• Is reimbursement based on a percentage of the psychologist’s fee, or is it based on a Usual and Customary Rate (UCR)?

If they use a UCR, ask:

• What is the UCR rate?

• If they won’t give a specific number for their UCR, you can say: “The psychologist I would like to see charges $300. Is that within your usual and customary range?” (Sometimes plans set a low UCR, like $150, and only cover a percentage up to that lower rate rather than a percentage of the therapist's fee.)

Next, ask about your “out-of-pocket maximum.” (Sometimes people who have very high healthcare costs have already reached an out-of-pocket maximum and any further healthcare expenses are fully reimbursed for the rest of the year.):

• What is my out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum?

• Have I already met it, or how close am I?

• If or when I meet it, are my out-of-network services reimbursed at 100%?

Finally, ask: What is the process for getting reimbursed for out-of-network therapy?

I know this is a lot of jargon, and it won’t all apply to every plan, but understanding the details of your insurance coverage will help you get a clearer sense of whether working with me is feasible now, and it can also help you understand and manage your insurance coverage over time.

I’m not a Medicare or Medicaid provider. These programs generally don’t offer out-of-network benefits, so you wouldn’t be able to receive reimbursement through them.

If you have Medicare and still want to see me, Medicare requires that we both sign an agreement stating we will not submit any claims to Medicare for reimbursement. Further, many supplemental insurance plans won’t reimburse if claims aren’t submitted to Medicare first, so it’s best to check with your supplemental plan directly.

No, this is your choice. Some people prefer to pay privately, so insurance doesn’t need to be involved and your insurance won’t request records related to therapy.

You can fill out the information in my Contact form. If you prefer, you can request a phone or email follow-up to schedule a free 20-minute consultation call. (Alternatively, you can send me an email at lisa@drlisatherapy.com or contact me by phone at 917-524-7673 and leave a voicemail.)

During the phone consultation, I’ll ask what brings you to reaching out right now, answer any questions you may have, review logistics like fees and appointment availability, and we can gauge together whether working with me might be a good fit.

If you decide to book an initial appointment, I’ll send your intake paperwork through my secure patient portal. You’ll have time to review everything, complete the forms, and ask questions. If there are questions you’d rather not answer, that’s okay. You can always follow up with me before our appointment or discuss any concerns when we meet.