Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Can seeing a therapist really help me?
Q. What’s with all those different types of therapy?
Q. How long does treatment last?
Q. What type of adult issues do you treat?
Q. What type of child and adolescent issues do you treat?
Q. Do you provide assessment or evaluation services for children or teens?
Q. Do you provide assessment or evaluation services for adults?
Q. What if I may need to be evaluated for medication?
Q. Is what I share with my therapist confidential?
Q. Do you take insurance?
Q. What are your fees and do you have a sliding scale?
Q. What are the therapist’s qualifications?
Q. How long are individual therapy sessions?
Q. How often do I come for therapy?
Q. How do I get started?
Q. Can seeing a therapist really help me?
Simply and directly, yes. Research on the effectiveness of therapy has consistently shown that psychotherapy is indeed helpful for the vast majority of people.
Q. What’s with all those different types of therapy?
Different schools of thought about how best to conduct therapy have developed over the years, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalysis, humanistic therapy etc. The bottom line? Most major approaches to psychotherapy have been shown to be equally effective. There are a few exceptions to this general finding, for example, with young children play therapy is the therapy of choice in most cases. Finding the right therapist for you, the right match, is the most critically important factor to a positive outcome in therapy.
Q. How long does treatment last?
The length of treatment varies greatly, depending upon each individual, the situation, the issues etc. Some problems can be resolved in just a few sessions while others take much longer.
Q. What type of adult issues do you treat?
Some of the issues that we commonly address include: Abuse, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse; Anger issues; Anxiety and phobias; Bipolar disorder and other mood disorders; Depression; Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating; Family issues; Gay, lesbian and sexual identity issues; Geriatric issues; Grief and loss issues; Life & career transitions; Mood disorders; Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); Chronic pain and other issues related to physical conditions; Panic; Personal issues, including low self-esteem, lonliness, guilt, jealosy, excessive worry, job concerns,etc; Relationship issues; Stress management; Substance use and abuse; Trauma and PTSD;
Q. What type of child or adolescent issues do you treat?
Some of the child and adolescent issues that we commonly address include: ADD and ADHD; ; Adjustment difficulties; Anger issues; Anxiety and fears; Behavioral, oppositional and conduct disorders; Childhood bipolar disorder; Depression; Eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating; Learning disabilities; Loss & grief issues; Mood disorders; Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); Parent-child conflicts; Relationship issues; School refusal; Self-esteem issues; Self mutilation and self harm; Seperation anxiety; Social skills; Substance use and abuse; Trauma and PTSD;
Q. Do you provide assessment or evaluation services for children or teens?
Yes we do! Our evaluation and assessment services include: ADD and ADHD evaluations; Educational assessments and achievement testing; Intelligence or cognitive testing; Learning disabilities assessment; Neuropsychological evaluations; and personality testing.
Q. Do you provide assessment or evaluation services for adults?
Yes we do! Our adult evaluation and assessment services include: Adoption evaluations; Neuropsychological evaluations; Pain management evaluations; Personality evaluations; and Psychophysiological evaluations;
Q. What if I may need to be evaluated for medication?
Our therapists are licensed and trained to practice psychotherapy. However, we often consult with physicians and psychiatrists and nurse practitioners that prescribe medication.
If you and your therapist feel that medication may be helpful, there is a consulting psychiatrist and nurse practitioner at Psychological Associates of North Jersey with whom we can consult. Our therapists can also refer you to other psychiatrists outside of our practice for medication consultation or medication management.
Q. Is what I share with my therapist confidential?
Your confidentiality is protected by state law and the rules of ethics of our profession. All patient information is kept confidential and is released only through procedures consistent with the law and professional ethics.
Q. Do you take insurances?
Yes. We take most insurance. We are considered ‘in-network’ with some insurance plans. With other insurance plans, we work as ‘out of network’ providers. Generally, insurance companies cover between 50% and 100% of treatment services, depending upon your insurance plan. We recommend contacting your insurance company and inquiring about your mental health benefits. When you call our office, we can also assist you with this.
Q. What are your fees and do you have a sliding scale?
Psychological Associates of North Jersey has a fee scale, which generally ranges from $100. to $200, and is based on insurance coverage, your financial situation and the therapist you see for treatment. Fees for treatment are arranged privately between you and your therapist.
Q. What are the therapists’ qualifications?
Our professional staff include licensed and permitted psychologists, clinical social workers, school psychologists, testing specialists etc. They are all highly trained and very experienced professionals, dedicated to providing the utmost in personalized, quality care.
Q. How long are individual therapy sessions?
Generally, therapy sessions are 45 minutes, but can vary depending upon your particular therapist.
Q. How often do I come for therapy?
We offer sessions as frequently as needed. The majority of patients have once a week sessions. Some are seen bi-weekly while others are seen several times a week.
Q. How do I get started?
There are two ways. First, you can call us at 908-979-1144 for your free confidential telephone consultation. Dr. Roberta Fallig, clinical and executive director of PANJ, will be happy to discuss your questions at that time. We will provide you with the therapist who is best suited to your needs and you will be given the earliest available appointment with that therapist. A second way to reach us is through the contact form available on the ‘contact us’ page of this website.
The right therapist makes all the difference in the world!