Ereke D. Bruce,
LICSW
Psychotherapy
Counseling
Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting therapy is an important decision. I want to help you make the right and best decision for you and your family. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions people have when starting therapy. The more information you have prior to starting therapy, the more confident you will feel throughout the process. When you schedule a 30-minute consultation, we can have a more detailed conversation about what will work best for you.
How Do I Know If Therapy Is Right For Me? Beginning therapy is an important decision for you and your family’s health and well-being. For some, therapy is the start of the journey of healing from difficult life experiences. Others may have specific areas of performance or functioning they want to strengthen or improve. Whatever your reasons for considering therapy, I am here to join you on your journey of exploration, healing, and wholeness. During your 30-minute consultation, we can work together to discuss and plan the next best steps for you.
Is Telehealth As Good As In-Person Therapy? In short, yes, telehealth is as supportive, helpful, and demonstrated to be as effective as in- person therapy. You will be provided with a safe, secure, and HIPPA Compliant online platform using the latest technology, all to protect your confidentiality and to support your goals. From the very start of your therapy journey, we will discuss and work together to ensure everything is in place for a positive and effective telehealth therapy experience.
What Happens After I Submit My Contact Information? After you contact Enduring Connections, we will follow up with you to schedule a 30-minute consultation. During that consultation, you may be asked specific health related questions, have an opportunity to discuss your concerns and/or goals, and work together with me to decide what the next best steps will be for you moving forward. If we together we decide everything seems to be a good "fit" then we will move forward with the enrollment process and getting you scheduled for your first session, the Initial Assessment.
What Can I Expect During the First Few Sessions? Should we decide to proceed following the 30-minute consultation, then you be scheduled for your first full session which is the Diagnostic Assessment. This 90-minute session is conducted for everyone starting therapy, whether as an Individual or a Couple. During this time, we will get to know one another more, discuss your main concerns and history in depth, assess for your strengths and needs, and determine some initial goals. I will also use this session to begin developing a diagnosis, if needed / required. For those seeking Individual Therapy, the Diagnostic Assessment will be followed by a session focused on developing a personalized plan for your time in therapy. Subsequent sessions will be working sessions designed specifically for you to help you meet your goals. For Couples, after the 90-minute assessment, each partner will meet one on one for 50-minute individual assessments, where we will discuss your individual histories and your unique experiences in the relationship. Afterwards, both partners will return together to develop a personalized plan based on the strengths and needs of your relationship. All subsequent sessions will be working sessions designed specifically for you to help achieve your goals as a couple.
How Long Can I Participate In Therapy? The length of time in therapy can be customized to fit each person or couple based on your unique history, your present concerns, and your future goals. Most people start experiencing positive and sustained changes in themselves or in their relationship after 16 to 20 sessions of engaged, focused, and consistent participation in therapy, meeting weekly or bi-weekly. After this, some individuals may decide to reduce the frequency of visits to focus on sustaining their progress for long term success. Most couples find the process of strengthening their relationship so rewarding, they choose to continue with Couple’s Therapy for longer periods of time. We will work and plan together to decide the best approach for you.
What Kinds of Therapy Do You Do? I utilize my extensive training and experience with the following therapies to assist people with processing the disruptions from the past, generating healthier ways of navigating the present, and building endurance for the future. Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) - Advanced Training Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Advanced Training Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Advanced Training Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - Skills Integration Internal Family Systems (IFS) - Informed I also have extensive experience integrating faith and spirituality, Christian Counseling techniques, Solution Focused strategies, Problem Solving, Goal Setting, Parental Training and Support, and many others. I am happy to discuss any of these or other methods in order to find the right fit for you on your journey of healing.
How Frequently Should We Meet? It is my standard practice to begin meeting once per week in order to build momentum and to help facilitate the best outcomes for you. I'm open to discuss different arrangements with you based on your individual needs and preferences as well as my professional clinical judgement.
How Long Are Sessions The standard length of time for the First or Initial Session, called the Diagnostic Assessment is 90 minutes. After the Assessment, all future sessions are a standard 55 minutes. On a case-by-case basis and often for couples therapy, I will consider providing longer, up to 80-minute sessions, based on specific needs.
What Are the Costs for Sessions? Therapy is one of the most important investments you can make for yourself, your family, and your future. I'm committed to ensuring that what you get in return is a sustained benefit for you and for your most important relationships. 30 Minute Consultation - No Charge Initial Assessment for Individuals and Couples - 90 minutes – 200 (Includes fees for assessment and complete diagnosis, if required) Individual Therapy Sessions – 55 minutes – 170 Couple Therapy Sessions – 55 minutes – 200
Do You Accept Insurance? Yes. I am In-Network with a select number of insurance carriers: Aetna Optum United Behavioral Healthcare I am also contracted with Rula Mental Health to accept a select number of clients with the following insurance carriers: Carelon Cigna Decent If you are enrolled with any of the Rula specific insurance carriers, please go to rula.com to fill out an intake form. Any changes in my participation with insurance providers will be updated here and on my Psychology Today profile. https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1414653 If you have a question about whether I am In-Network with, or able to accept your insurance plan, please use the chat or contact page to reach out with your questions. Also, you can request a complimentary 30-minute consultation for the most updated information. I work with Mentaya Health which can file your Out of Network claims for you and help you get reimbursement for your mental health services. This is a huge benefit for those who wish to take part. Click on the link at the bottom of this FAQs page to check your insurance and see if you can take part in these cost saving benefits. *** I am committed to helping ensure that the high-quality services you receive are also affordable. So, when payment is made after each session, I will provide you with a “Superbill” which is a receipt that you can provide to your insurance company for reimbursement.
If I Pay Out of Pocket, How Do I Request Reimbursement? If you need assistance with reimbursement or you’d rather not tackle filing on your own, no problem. That’s why I work with Mentaya Health. For only a 5% fee per claim, they will handle the paperwork for you and file your Out of Network claims so that you get money back for your sessions. They have helped people get thousands back each year for their mental health services. Click on the link at the bottom of this FAQs page to check your insurance and see if you can take part in these cost saving benefits. ** If you prefer to file your claims for reimbursement on your own, I am also here to support you. After payment is made for each session, I will provide you with a “Superbill” which is a receipt that you provide to your insurance company for reimbursement. You will be responsible for turning in all required receipts and documents to your insurance company for reimbursement. Here are some helpful questions to ask your insurance provider prior to starting services… * What is my coverage for Out of Network Individual or Couples Outpatient psychotherapy? * How much does my plan cover for Out of Network, outpatient psychotherapy? * How many sessions per year or hours per week of outpatient psychotherapy is covered by my plan? * Is there a cap on reimbursement for Out of Network, outpatient psychotherapy? * Do I need pre-authorization from my insurance provider before starting therapy services? * What additional documents are required in order to file a claim for reimbursement?
What is A Good Faith Estimate? *** For anyone seeking healthcare services with an out of network provider, that provider must notify you of your rights and protections against surprise billing, in accordance with the No Suprises Act of 2022. As a Mental Healthcare provider, I will provide you with a “Good Faith Estimate” which lists the expected costs of therapy or counseling. ***
**Interested in getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions? Click here to let Mentaya help you save money on therapy.
***For more information on Good Faith Estimates, click here.
***If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 368-1019.