What will happen when I call Westside Behavioral Health to request an appointment? How much information will I need to give over the phone?

When you first call, one of our administrative staff will gather your contact information, insurance information, and the reason you are seeking services (therapy, medication, or both). We will then be able to assess whether we provide the services at Westside that will meet your needs. If not, we can provide referrals. In most cases, you will be scheduled for your initial appointment during this first phone call.

What can I expect at my first appointment?

It is normal to be uncertain or nervous about having your first appointment.  We hope to ease your concerns by giving you a sense of what will happen during that first intake session. Prior to the first appointment, you will have completed our online web registration which allows you to provide us with information about your medical and psychiatric history. Your previous experiences with psychiatric treatment, family history of psychiatric issues, and general information about your daily life and functioning will have been collected as well. Your new provider will have had a chance to review this information, but will want to get to know you more through talking with you during your first session. You will have a chance to discuss why you are seeking services and what you have done or tried in the past to address concerns or solve problems. Your provider will want to get to know and understand you in the context of important parts of your life (relationships, family, work, school, etc.). You will also have a chance to ask questions of your provider and learn about their approach. At the end of the first appointment you and your provider will discuss the next steps forward.

Do you take my insurance?

We accept most insurance plans. Please refer to the list of insurances we take. Check your insurance coverage to see about costs that are covered. We recommend finding answers to the following questions:

What are my outpatient mental health/behavioral health benefits?

How many sessions does my plan cover per year?

What is the coverage amount per session?

What is my co-pay?

Do I have a deductible?

Is approval required from my primary care physician?

How long does therapy take?

It is difficult to say. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them, so the length of time in therapy can vary depending on the reasons that are driving you to seek treatment, your desire for self-reflection and readiness for change, and your commitment to the process. The decision about the length of treatment should be made in collaboration with your therapist after a thorough assessment and discussion.

What’s the difference between talking to a therapist and talking to a best friend or family member?

Therapy is more than just talking to someone and getting advice, as you may with a close friend, family member or other trusted person in your life. Therapy is meant to provide a safe and confidential space where you can feel connected to your therapist and to yourself. Your therapist is a neutral third-party and not involved in your life. In therapy, you have no pressure to take care of another person’s feelings or needs.

How does therapy work? What can I do to get the most out of it?

Therapy can help you access your deep feelings. Sometimes we need help getting to those feelings which are often uncomfortable or unsettling to acknowledge and to explore. However, feelings often have to be felt in order to heal, and that’s where therapy can be very valuable. A lot of what is valuable about therapy, though, is the relationship with the therapist, and your feeling of being seen accurately, heard, and understood. Through that understanding and having it reflected back to you, there are new insights that can emerge. Those insights can be very empowering and can change your outlook on yourself, others and your life.

Your active participation and dedication are crucial to your success. Therapy is not always easy.  It can be true that what is best for you isn’t necessarily comfortable, nor should it be. The time you spend in session with your therapist is just a small piece of the work. Through application and integration of insights learned in your sessions, you will be more able to make real changes in your day-to-day life. 

It is common to schedule biweekly or weekly therapy appointments, with each session lasting 45-50 minutes. Therapy can be short-term-- focused on a specific issue, or longer-term to address more complex issues or your general personal exploration and growth. Some people can resolve their issues in a few weeks or months. Others require longer treatment.  Our goal is to give you effective tools to use in your daily life to get you feeling better as soon as possible.

What is the law about confidentiality?

We understand that for people to feel comfortable talking about private and revealing information, they need a safe place to talk about anything they'd like, without fear of that information leaving the room. We take your privacy very seriously, and there are laws in place to protect your privacy. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) contains a privacy rule that creates national standards to protect individuals' medical records and personal health information, including information about psychotherapy and mental health.  HIPAA allows the provider to share or discuss your mental health information with family members or other persons involved in your care or payment for care. In all cases, your provider may share or discuss only the information that the person involved needs to know about your care or payment for care.

What should I do if I am dissatisfied with services provided at Westside Behavioral Health?

We strive to improve the services we provide. If you have any complaints or concerns regarding your treatment or administrative/billing services, we encourage you to contact our practice owners, Dawn Herman, APRN-BC or Michael Weiner, LICSW.