FAQ

What can I reasonably expect in my free phone consultation?

The free twenty-minute phone consultation is offered to help you make a decision about therapy. It is a gift of my time, at no charge, for you to help me understand what you are looking for and see if I am the right therapist for you. The questions I will ask are general and not diagnostic in nature. I will want to know what your need is that prompted the phone call-- in other words, what problems you might be having in your life right now. The next step is for me to articulate how I would envision meeting that need with the therapy process.

What happens in therapy?

The most important parts of any type of therapy, regardless of the orientation, are partnership, communication, collaboration, trust, understanding, goals and action. Therapy is not just talking about your problems; it is also working toward solutions. Therapy may involve homework such as reading, tracking moods or behaviors; writing thoughts or feelings; or trying a new approach to a problem. You will be encouraged to look at things differently in order to create perceptual shifts that lead to insight and understanding and new ways to react to events, people or your own feelings.

How do I get started?

Think of the things that are bothering you and the issues you would like help with. Bring them to your first appointment with Dr. Johnson. You might include: issues in your family or relationships, troubling feelings of anger, anxiety or sadness, symptoms and changes in your experience, problems that you are having in your life. Think of your relationship with me, your therapist, as a partnership. I am here to engage you in the process of examining your life, understanding your feelings and behaviors, while deciding what you need to do to live more fully and effectively, and helping you do it.

How do I know if I am making progress?

After the first few sessions, you should see some change, even if it’s just a better understanding and awareness of your own thoughts and feelings. Change won’t happen overnight, but you should feel some relief of your presenting problems. You have a right to the best treatment possible, and you can feel better. Successful therapy will help you change your thoughts, perceptions, actions, and moods for the better.

Why do you not take insurance directly?

  1. Lack of confidentiality: All Managed Care Plans (MCP) involve direct clinical management by the plan’s case managers. It makes it necessary for your therapist to disclose anything and everything related to your case to your MCP.
  2. Difficulty getting treatment authorized: You might need preauthorization, are often limited in the number of sessions, and getting authorized can be difficult and cumbersome, time consuming. Furthermore, some MCP’s want to control the treatment plan and the time to terminate treatment.
  3. Misdiagnosing and/or over-diagnosing in order to get treatment authorized: Some MCP’s will not cover treatment unless a specific diagnosis is given. Most do not cover marriage counseling, family counseling, or adjustment counseling. You, the client, should not be given a mental illness diagnosis that is not correct, or more serious than what is true, simply to get treatment paid by the MCP.

What forms of payment do you accept?

I accept the following forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, checks or cash. If your preferred form of payment is by credit card, then I use an Electronic Payment Authorization form. The Electronic Payment form contains your credit card information and will be securely stored in your clinical file. I will deduct your session fees from the account designated on this form after each session. All payments are due at time of service. You will receive a receipt for services with the identifying information needed to meet insurance requirements should you choose to submit for reimbursement yourself.

How can I reach you to set up an appointment?

Call 818-522-2941 to set up an appointment, or if you would like to ask a general question, you can email me at patti@drpattijohnson.com. The email system is not set up for emergency situations or to arrange appointment times, but feel free to contact me for general information.

Do you have a Newsletter?

I’m excited to share tips, reminders and new research with anyone who is interested in improving their life. I will be launching an eNewsletter soon, so subscribe below to get the first issue.