+ What’s the difference between counseling and therapy?
There’s no difference between them. These are terms that are generally used interchangeably, as are the terms “therapist” and “counselor”.
+ What happens in therapy?
Therapy is a collaboration between you and me. I bring knowledge, skill, and training but you are the expert on your own life. You get to decide what goals you want to work on. I provide you with options and information about treatment, and you get to choose which path to take.
If you’d like to learn more about what happens in therapy, visit my Individual Therapy page.
+ What can I expect from you as my therapist?
I will be invested in the process of your growth and healing. I will be present, listen actively, pay attention to the pace of our sessions and progress towards your goals, and give you feedback when you need it.
If you’d like to learn more about my style and how I work, visit my About Me page.
+ What are my responsibilities in therapy?
Wonderful insight can emerge from talking about your feelings; however, therapy is only as helpful as the information you provide. I encourage you to be as honest as possible and ask questions to clarify as needed. It is always your decision whether to implement suggestions I give as you know yourself best.
Since therapy involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may at times experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, anger, frustration, or loneliness. However, this part of the work often leads to increased insight, strength, and happiness.
+ Do you work with children or teens?
At this time I only work with adults over 18 in my practice and I do not see children or teens.
+ Do you take insurance?
I accept Cigna insurance. You are responsible for calling your insurance to find out your mental health (also sometimes called “behavioral health”) benefits. Some questions to ask are:
Does my insurance plan pay for mental health services by Lisa Gallo?
Do I have a deductible to meet before I can be reimbursed?
What will I be paying for a 90837 therapy session until my deductible is met?
After my deductible is met what is my copay/coinsurance?
Is there a cap on how many sessions I can have per year?
+ What are out-of-network benefits?
Some insurance plans offer “out-of-network benefits” in which your insurance company may reimburse you for some of your therapy expenses. Please contact your insurance company to ask whether you have coverage to see an "out-of-network provider.” If possible, ask them to send you a copy of your coverage so that you have documentation.
It will be helpful to ask them the following questions:
Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health treatment?
How do I submit for reimbursement?
If you have these benefits, then you will pay for each session at the time of service. I will give you an itemized bill at the end of each month that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement to you directly.
As an out-of-network provider, I cannot bill any insurance company in your name, nor will I be able to interact with insurance companies directly or advocate on your behalf. You are obligated to pay for my services regardless of third-party reimbursement.
+ What are your fees?
My fee is $150 per 50-minute session.
+ What are the benefits of self-pay therapy?
When you use insurance for therapy, there are multiple things to be aware of:
- I must make a mental health diagnosis for the sessions to be covered
- This diagnosis will remain in your medical record for your whole life and could potentially be accessed by third parties, such as life insurance agencies
- The insurance company dictates what types of therapy are necessary and all aspects of your treatment, such as how many sessions you can have and how long the sessions can be
By doing self-pay therapy, we get to decide together what is the right plan for you, not your insurance company. I can focus on my work with you, provide better care, and make full use of our time together. Additionally, I can assure you that your records will remain confidential and not accessible to third parties.
+ How long is a therapy session? And how often do I need to come to therapy?
Generally speaking, therapy sessions are 50 minutes. My recommendation for frequency of therapy is determined during the first three sessions once I take a thorough history. We will discuss this together however, realities such as schedules and budget are also a determination. Typically once a week or every other week is my recommendation for initial therapeutic work.
Once you meet your goals, you might like to return once a month or every few months to realign yourself. Or you may return with new goals as life changes occur.
+ What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for trauma. If you’d like to learn more about it, please visit my EMDR Page.
+ What is your cancellation or no-show policy?
When you set up an appointment, the time is reserved only for you. Should you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment less than 24 business hours prior to your appointment, a $90 fee will be automatically charged to your credit card on the day of the appointment. This charge includes cancellations due to a sick family member, delayed openings with school, transportation problems, inclement weather, etc. You will not be charged if you are ill yourself for up to two sessions. You will not be charged if you notify me 24 business hours before the appointment start time. You can leave a message through the online portal or on my voicemail, and I will honor the time the message was left. INCLEMENT WEATHER: If you have an in-office appointment scheduled, and either of us is concerned about travel we will change to a telehealth appointment instead of in person. You can change the appointment by messaging through the online portal or calling my office directly.
+ Where are you located?
100 Shattuck Way, Newington NH. Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Portsmouth. Free parking is available.
+ Is your building ADA accessible?
My building is ADA accessible. Please let me know if you may need any accommodations prior to the appointment so I can assure your needs are met.