Getting Started
Interested in therapy but not sure where to start?
If you find one of our therapists resonates with you, you can request them. If you are not sure, we can help get you connected to the right match. Either way, to get started call 207-553-2260 or email us at [email protected]. We are happy to help! Please know that we tend to be quite busy but will do our very best to get you connected to someone in our practice who can meet your needs and has availability. If you are looking for support with something outside of our areas of expertise or requiring a higher level of care, please know that we will do our best to point you in a helpful direction that will best meet your needs.
1. Find the right match
2. Understand your financial commitment
Let’s be frank: therapy requires a commitment of both time and money. There are no quick fixes, though we take to heart the responsibility to be as effective as possible at New Approaches. Many variables impact length of treatment so it’s wise to be prepared with a plan to pay for your treatment over a few months at minimum. Our individual therapy rates are currently $165 for an initial evaluation and $130 for sessions after that.
Insurance
We primarily work with clients who are self-pay (paying directly for the service without billing insurance). Some of our therapists do accept select insurances. If you are using insurance, it is your responsibility to understand your insurance benefits. The best way to ensure you have accurate information is to call your health plan yourself. Explain that you want to know all the costs associated with your outpatient mental health care. New Approaches has providers in-network for MaineHealth employees (and the family members they insure), Lyra, Maine Community Health Options, Martin’s Point Generation, and US Family Health Plan.
If we are out of network with your insurance, we can provide you a superbill (a detailed receipt) that you can submit to insurance for reimbursement after we receive your payment.
Pros and cons of using your insurance to pay for therapy
Insurance can help pay for your service. However, it can also limit your choice. Your insurance can impose limits on how often or how long you can engage in therapy. They routinely ask providers for access to review your treatment information. If you want more control over the terms of your treatment and want the privacy of not having your information shared with your insurance company, you might opt to self-pay and not utilize your insurance benefits at all.
Couples therapy
Couples therapy at New Approaches is not covered by insurance. Couples session are 75 minutes and cost $180 per session. Our couples therapist, Leah Ottow, LCSW, utilizes the Gottman approach to couples work and assessment. While health insurances cover therapy sessions for individuals with mental health diagnoses, Leah treats couples as a unit and does not utilize individual mental health diagnoses (for the purpose of insurance coverage of couples therapy) in this method. Therefore, couples therapy at New Approaches is a self-pay service only. Couples may opt to get individual therapy from another therapist in the practice (or elsewhere) and can utilize insurance for that service.
You are ready! Once you are scheduled for an appointment at New Approaches, we will send you an email confirmation and a link to your client portal to complete your initial paperwork. Our electronic health record platform is called Simple Practice. Please leave yourself 15 minutes to make sure you understand the information in the new client paperwork and to explore Simple Practice. Your new client paperwork must be completed prior to your session. It’s very important to start your therapy journey informed and ready to do the work!
3. Get scheduled and review our policies and informed consent paperwork.
4. Appointment time!
Today’s the day. It’s normal to feel a bit nervous, even if you’ve done this before and feel sure that your New Approaches therapist will be warm, supportive, and kind (because that’s true!). It’s okay to burst into tears, not know what to say, or where to start. We’ve got you. We are used to this. Here’s how to make it to the appointment.
In person at our office
Falmouth
We have recently moved our Falmouth location from Route 1 to 133 Gray Road. There is parking beside and behind the buiding. Enter through the front door and you’ll see the waiting area after you want straight through the front hall.
Brunswick
Our Brunswick office is at 14 Pleasant Street. There is ample free street parking near our building as well as a free municipal lot nearby. Use the buildings side entrance and you’ll walk into the waiting area.
Teletherapy
At the time of the appointment, click on the link from the session reminder email, to your session hosted on Simple Practice.
This HIPAA compliant telemedicine platform works best with a strong, stable internet connection. Try to use a device with an updated browser (Chrome and Safari seem to work best). Quit all other applications and tabs before you log in, as this platform does not run well otherwise. Find a stationary spot for your device as movement disrupts the connection.
Showing up is winning. The rest will take a little time. Give yourself some grace and patience as you start with your new therapist. Manage your expectations and know that everything worth doing takes time. There is no wrong way to do this and your therapist will help guide you. You can ask your therapist questions, voice any concerns, and if it doesn’t feel like a match, know that we can help you figure out what might work better. It’s all about giving yourself room to figure things out. We are here to support your process. Validate yourself – you are showing responsibility and courage in facing your emotions, life challenges, and creating the opportunity to grow as a result. It can be hard at times, but it’s also pretty awesome.
5. Be patient with yourself and the process.
