Rivka Sidorsky & Associates
Call for your free 15 minute consultation 
(301) 244-8052
Maryland, Virginia, DC, and New Jersey

FAQs


How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
  • Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
  • Developing skills for improving your relationships
  • Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
  • Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
  • Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
  • Improving communications and listening skills
  • Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
  • Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
  • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I really need therapy?  I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.


Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy.   Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well.  Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks.  Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods.  Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life.   In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives


What is therapy like?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual.  In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session.  Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.  Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.  The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life.  Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

What should I expect when I call your office or submit an email through your website?


You should expect a call or a reply to your email usually in the next 1-2 business days from our Intake Coordinator/Office Administrator. The Intake Coordinator will speak with you and begin to understand the reasons you are reaching out for services. She will ask you questions about your situation to determine whether our practice is a good fit for your needs. The intake department strives to understand your needs so that you are matched with the right therapist for you. Sometimes the right fit for services is outside our practice, and in that case we will make every effort to provide you with a thoughtful referral to a trusted colleague. It is important to us that we match you with the right therapist so that you are most likely to reach your treatment goals. Each therapist has a unique style, set of strengths, and areas of expertise, and availability, and we are hoping to make the right match with the right therapist from intake. The intake coordinator will then set up a 60-minute evaluation. During this first consultation/evaluation appointment, you and the therapist will determine whether to continue working together. You may decide that you would like to try another therapist or the therapist may refer you to a more appropriate service. Essentially, therapy is a very personal experience and it is our value to get to know the clients who call our office to match them with the best suited therapist for them. It is because we value what we do and your time and resources that we take so much time to make sure we are the right fit. 


What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.  Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office.   Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.  This is called “Informed Consent”.  Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.

How do I obtain a copy of my medical records?

According to the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) , you may obtain from us copies of your records. We take your privacy and the HIPAA law seriously, so we only release records following the strict procedure as follows. 

We release records only to our clients and do not release records to third parties who might request records on behalf of our clients. You must obtain written consent of all parties for those sessions which involved other individuals. 

If you wish to request your records, please email a request to our office. You must also complete a written release of information to acquire copies of your records by providing us with your name, address, social security number, date of birth, phone number, list of records being requested, list of dates of service, and your signature. The original, signed form must be mailed to our office. 

You must enclose a copy of your drivers’ license for us to verify that your name and address match those we have on file for you.  After we have received your completed request and have verified that the information matches that which we have on file for you, we will mail a copy of your documents within 30 days to your address requesting a signature receipt.  

We may charge you for printing copies and mailing these copies to you. Please note that the mailing address on your signed release form and the copy of your drivers’ license must match your address on file  with us.


Which books do you recommend?

Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
The Lovin Aint Over for Women With Cancer by Ralph Alterowitz and Barbara Alterowitz
The Sex-Starved Marriage: Boosting Your Marriage Libido: A Couple's Guide by Michele Weiner-Davis
For Women Only, Revised Edition: A Revolutionary Guide to Reclaiming Your Sex Life by Jennifer Berman, Laura Berman, and Elisabeth Bumilier

Come As You Are: The Surprising Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski 


How much do you charge?

Please see website entitled Rates and Insurance for all details. 


Do you accept insurance?

We are out-of-network providers for insurance companies.  This means that at the end of each session, you will be responsible to provide payment in full.  We provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. Because we value confidentiality and believe that you and not your insurance company should guide your therapy, we do not participate directly in any managed care plans. Too often, managed care companies predetermine the necessity of therapy, while we believe these needs should be determined through a collaborative process between you and your therapist, driven by your personal progress and needs. Contact your health insurance company about how much they reimburse for out-of-network mental health providers.  Some reimburse up to 80-100% for mental health services.

Here are some questions to ask your health insurance provider:

1. What are my Out Of Network, Mental Health insurance benefits?
2. What is my deductible and has it been met?
3. How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
4. What is the coverage amount per therapy session? (It is usually expressed as a percentage, like 80% or a flat rate, like $80.)
5. Is preauthorization (e.g. preapproval, precertification) required from my insurance company or primary care physician?


What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, check, and major credit cards. 


What are your hours of operation?

By appointment only.


What is your cancellation policy?

We require 24 hours notice to cancel appointments. If you do not show up to your appointment and have not notified me by phone or email at least 24 hours in advance, you will be charged the full amount of the missed session.


LOCATION

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Office Hours

Primary

Monday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Saturday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Sunday:

10:00 AM-8:00 PM