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Testimonials

Melinda has helped me finally get to the heart of the matter after all these years of trying multiple therapists. She is direct, clear and gives practical strategies. Nothing in my past surprised or horrified her. She always saw the best in me and gave me hope.
-- Single female, 40, Sunnyvale

Melinda has helped me understand how my anxiety and depression can be managed successfully. She has given me tools to manage my thinking and to stop beating myself up. I feel alive again.
-- Single female, 25, Saratoga

With Melinda I get the truth, and I get hands on practical ways to change my thinking. I have healed tremendously though her patience and compassion, but also through her persistence in challenging me to believe in myself.
-- Male, 23, Scotts Valley
Insurance

You're probably thinking, "Why shouldn't I use my insurance?" The answer isn't necessarily so black-and-white. It is best you understand the risks and benefits of using health insurance therapy before making a decision that may have negative consequences.

The Benefits
  • Your insurance can pay for a good portion of your therapy.
  • Your insurance may pay for all of your therapy!
  • You pay for your premiums and want to use your benefits whenever possible.
The Risks
  • If you choose to work only with a provider on your insurance panel, you will be limited to only therapists who are eon those panels. Fewer than 15% of therapists participate on insurance panels so your choices are more limited.
  • Your insurance will pay for therapy, only if the therapist gives you a medical diagnosis. Most therapists don't really want the diagnosis to be the focus of your therapy.
  • Your level of privacy is compromised. If you are trying to apply for life/disability insurance/private health insurance, your company will need to have access to any prior health information.
  • Your therapist will need to speak with your insurance company to explain why continued sessions are medically necessary. This means someone else will decide whether your therapy should be paid for.
  • If therapy alone does not seem to be lessening your symptoms, your insurance company may cease to authorize sessions if you are unable or unwilling to be assessed for medications. This may not be necessary for the issues we're working on.
  • In a court proceeding, medical records could get subpoenaed and your mental health records would be included.
What This Means to You
  • If you want to keep your issues private and the paper trail to a minimum, you will want to look at the risks and benefits of using your insurance to subsidize your therapy and determine if it is the right course of treatment for you.
  • If you have PPO coverage you may be reimbursed for a portion of your session fee. If so and you wish to utilize that benefit, will give you a statement each month that is easily submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement.
  • If you have a condition such as major depressive disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, or ADHD, your insurer may reimburse you for mental health services at a higher rate than other mental health conditions. This varies significantly from one insurer to another so call your insurance company and ask about what level of reimbursement is available for your diagnosis.
  • You may feel like therapy can become very expensive. Generally, this isn't true. Many clients experience some improvement fairly quickly--within 8 to 20 sessions.
Together we will set treatment goals and estimate how long it should take to accomplish those goals. You may decide to finish therapy upon meeting your goals or you may discover new goals along your journey and decide to continue. Other clients may take a periodic hiatus and return at a later time. It's up to you.

Though CriticalPath Consulting is not presently on any insurance panels, we will provide you with a comprehensive insurance statement so that you may submit it to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Call me at (408) 893-4032 or
click here for a free consultation.