The Lakewood Group

1. How much will therapy cost?
	The cost of therapy to you depends directly on your insurance 
        company.  While most insurance companies cover the cost of therapy,
        coverage varies widely.  We make every effort to be a part of managed
        care panels that provide reasonable coverage and patient care.  Even
        if a therapist is not on a panel, insurance will often still cover,
        but at a different rate.  Our office will verify your insurance
        coverage for you, determine what your copay will be, and clarify
        certification of care requirements.  
	If you do not have insurance, the initial visit will cost $180.00.
        Regular therapy visits are $140.00.  A ½ hour medication check is
        $90.00.  

2. Will family or marital therapy cost extra?
	No.  The charge is the same as for individual therapy.

3. How long will it be before I can get an appointment?
	You can usually get an appointment with someone in the practice
        within 24 hours, sooner in a real emergency.  If you need an
        appointment with a specific therapist, that may take longer
        depending on the current state of his or her schedule.  Usually, an
        appointment can be made within about a weeks time.

4. How long is the session?
	The initial appointment is usually an hour.  You should arrive 20 
        to 30 minutes early to complete paperwork.  Therapy sessions are 45 
        to 50 minutes.

5. Will The Lakewood Group file the insurance for me?
	To keep our costs as low as possible, if you have standard 
        indemnity insurance, we ask that you file your own insurance forms.
        Our contracts with managed care companies require that we file the
        insurance.  We also file insurance for Medicare of Medicaid due to
        their requirements.

6. What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?
	Both are doctoral level providers with about seven years 
        postgraduate training.  A psychiatrist attended medical school, has
        an M.D. or D.O. and can prescribe medications.  A psychiatrist is 
        licensed with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.  A
        psychologist attended graduate school in psychology, has a Ph.D.,
        Ed.D., or Psy.D. degree.  A psychologist usually does psychological
        testing, but does not prescribe medication.  A psychologist is
        licensed with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
        A Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree does not indicate someone is a psychologist;
        they must be licensed by the board.

7. What is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)?
	A Licensed Professional Counselor has at least a masters degree in a
        counseling related field which involves at least 3 years of training
        plus experience.  LPCs are licensed by the Texas State Board of
        Examiners of Professional Counselors.  Many LPCs have gone on to a
        doctoral degree, a Ph.D. or Ed.D.


8. What is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)?
	A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist has either a license in a
        family therapy related field or has 3 years of training plus
        experience.  LMFTs are licensed by the Texas State Board of
        Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapy.  Psychiatrists,
        Psychologists and Licensed Professional Counselors may also be
        trained to provide marriage and family therapy.

9. How many sessions will it take?
	The number of sessions depends on the evaluation required, the
        nature of the problem, and the effort put into treatment.  Some
        problems take only a few sessions, some take longer.  Very severe
        problems can take much longer.  You should be able to get an
        indication from your therapist about the estimated length of 
        treatment at the end of the first session.  In some cases it may be
        the second session.  You should feel free to ask your therapist for
        an update on estimated length of treatment at any time.

10. Do I need a referral?
	In most cases no referral is needed.  When you make an appointment,
        if you have managed care insurance, our office will verify benefits.
        We will let you know if any referral is needed or assist you in
        precertification of visits with your managed care company.

11. How do I know if a therapist is on my managed care plan?
	Let us check for you.  Many books and lists distributed by managed
        care companies are not up to date.  Even if a particular therapist
        is not on a list, the managed care companies will often approve
        visits on a case by case basis.  We make every effort to be a part
        of managed care panels that provide reasonable coverage and patient
        care.  In other cases, the "out of network" benefits are still good.
        Our office can help you sort this out.