Sarah LeBlanc, LICSW Inc.
Individual Therapy for Adults in North Attleboro, MA
Compassionate, practical therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Self-Esteem and Life Challenges.
FAQ's
Insurance and cost
How much does therapy cost?
That is not an easy question to answer! I encouraged potential clients to contact their insurance carrier to get an idea of your out of pocket cost. Different factors, such as if you have a copay, deductible or coinsurance will greatly influence the outcome. Also, different insurers reimburse different amounts, so the amount can vary from one plan to the next. If you do not contact your insurance company I will not actually know what your cost will be until your claims come back from your insurance company. That can sometimes take a month or more.
Do you accept insurance?
I absolutely accept insurance! Life is expensive enough without having to pay out of pocket for medical care. I accept commercial plans through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Point 32, Optum, United, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna, Cigna, Mass General Brigham & Medicare. I am also able to take Out of Network plans with approval from your insurer.
I hate calling my insurance company. What do I need to ask them?
When you speak to a member advocate at your insurance company tell them you are inquiring about your out of pocket cost for Outpatient Mental Health Counseling. Let them know you are seeing me, Sarah LeBlanc, LICSW. My NPI (National Provider Numer) is 1952599417. The CPT billing codes I use are generally 90791 for an intake, 90837 for a 55 minute session, 90834 for a 45 minute session or 90832 for a 30 minute session. They should be able to give you a fairly accurate estimate on what your costs will be based on this.
Why won't you know what I owe for such a long time?
I'm a one woman band. I don't have the time that it takes to contact insurance companies individually to verify benefits. And I dislike calling insurance companies just as much as you do! As the insurance member, it is your responsibility to understand your benefits. I can try to explain as much as I know, but I can only give you general information.
How do I pay you? Do you accept HSA or FSA funds?
I ask all new clients to have a credit card on file on my secure patient portal. I accept all major credit cards, HSA and FSA plans. In certain cases I will accept cash or checks from in person clients only.
What is a deductible anyway?
*sigh* It took me a really long time to understand this as well. For some plans, insurance companies will say that members have a set amount that they have to pay out of pocket before the insurance will start covering services. Let's say $5,000. That amount will vary by plan and company. At the beginning of your plan year (usually Jan 1st) you will have to pay out of pocket for all of your medical appointments. Visits to your PCP, any specialists, blood tests, imaging, sometimes prescriptions, and any other medical claim. You pay for those costs out of pocket, up to the deductible amount (in this example $5,000). The amount you pay the provider is based on how much the insurance company determines. This is the amount the insurance pays in reimbursement to the provider. Sometimes a deductible is for an individual, sometimes it is for the entire family that is covered under that plan. Once you have "met" that deductible your insurance will start paying your provider the majority of the reimbursement amount and you will likely be required to pay the provider a small coinsurance. This is usually a percentage of the reimbursement rate, typically around 20%.
Starting Therapy
How Do I Know If Therapy Is Right for Me?
If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, unhappy, or struggling with something that is making it difficult to enjoy your life, therapy may be a helpful place to start. Sometimes, simply wanting things to feel different is enough reason to reach out. Therapy is a personal decision, and there is no right or wrong time to begin. We can start wherever you are and take the time to understand what you're experiencing, what you'd like to change, and whether therapy feels like a good fit for you.
What happens during the first session?
The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin talking about what brought you to therapy. We'll discuss what you're hoping to work on, some of your background, and any concerns or questions you may have about the therapy process. You don't need to prepare anything or know exactly what to say. We'll take our time, and you can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with. My goal is to help you feel comfortable and supported while we begin figuring out how therapy can best meet your needs.
What if I don't know what to talk about?
This is a very common question. Try to take time between sessions to make an agenda for your appointment. It's not completely necessary, but it does help. Some people keep notes between sessions, either in a notebook or journal or even in their phone about things they want to discuss when they come for their next appointment. Some things to bring to therapy include any events or interactions you had strong emotions to, big issues that have been on your mind, anything that was left hanging from last session, work that I had assigned to you from last session or things that you have actually been reluctant to bring up in therapy. It's also ok to not know what to talk about and you can always say that to me. I've been doing this long enough to be able to help people talk when they feel stuck.
How will I know when I'm done with therapy?
We will have an ongoing conversation throughout the therapeutic process about goals and how you are feeling. Therapy is a collaborative process and I am simply here to support, guide, and challenge. I always want clients to give me feedback about how they feel the process is going and if they feel like they are experiencing improvements. When you feel you no longer need support, we can finish therapy! Again, this is a very difficult question to answer. It's different for everyone based on their personal needs.
Telehealth
Do you offer online therapy?
I do! I offer video session through secure, HIPPA compliant platform. You will receive email and/or text alerts with the link to the video sessions.
Can I do telehealth from a different state?
Unfortunately no. State licensing laws require that you be located in the state of Massachusetts, where I am licensed, during any telehealth sessions.
Where do I need to be physically located for telehealth sessions?
For all telehealth sessions, you must first be located in Massachusetts. You must be in a private and secure location. You must be alone and you must be in a spot that no one else can hear you. If you are in a car, you must be by yourself and the car can not be moving. It must be parked in a safe location. Think of this as an extension of my office. It is not different than in person therapy, except you are located in one location and I am located in another.
Scheduling
How long does a session last?
I typically see clients for 55 minutes. Sometimes sessions are shorter and I will meet with clients for 45 minutes. I am also able to bill for 30 minutes, but generally only use those sessions if there are time or financial constraints. We can't do a lot of work in 30 minutes. Because of my schedule I will not see anyone longer than 55 minutes.
What happens if I need to Cancel?
Just contact me to let me know. I request 24 hours notice if you need to change your appointment, but also understand that life can be unpredictable. I do have a cancellation/no show policy and reserve the right to charge for appointments that are cancelled with less than 24 hours.
I'm running late for my appointment. Will you still see me?
If you are running late for your appointment please text me as soon as you can. I generally will not see someone if they are running more than 15 minutes late for their appointment due to the need to keep my schedule prompt. If you are unable to make it to the appointment, and I am able to reschedule you in the same week, I often will not charge the No Show fee. This is completely dependent on my availability.
Why do you charge for no show appointments?
A No Show Policy is a very common policy in health care and service industries. My hair stylist even has one. When I schedule an appointment, that time is set aside exclusively for that client. I LOVE what I do, but it is also my career. I am self employed and I lose income when clients do not come for their appointments. Not only that, but there may be clients that are waiting for appointments, that I was not able to offer an appointment to because that time was scheduled. That being said, I do understand that emergencies come up. Please contact me as soon as you know you are unable to keep your appointment. If there is an emergency that is out of your control, I will likely not charge you the $80 no show fee.
Contact Me
Address
500 E. Washington Street,
Unit 64
North Attleboro, MA 02760
Contact
Tel: 508-500-1482
Opening Hours
Mon - Thurs
11am - 7pm
Fax: 508-213-3785