Getting Started
Interested in therapy but not sure where to start?
If you find one of our therapists resonates with you, can request them. If you are not sure, we can help get you connected to the right match. Either way, to get started 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), Maine Community Health Options, Martin’s Point Generation, and US Family Health Plan (please note that we are no longer accepting Anthem/BlueCross members).
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 with all initial paperwork to complete via our electronic health record platform, Simple Practice. Below you can review our intake paperwork. Please leave yourself 15 minutes to make sure you understand the information and get registered on Simple Practice. It’s very important to start your therapy journey informed and ready to do the work!
Individual Demographic Form (PDF)
Individual Office Policies and Informed Consent (PDF)
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
GPS doesn’t always help you find us for some reason, so be sure to reference these directions too: Here are some detailed directions:
We are at 361 US Route 1 Falmouth– between Shaw’s Plaza and Johnson Road intersection, near the Falmouth campus of Tyler Tech and directly across from Northern Data Systems. If you are coming from Bucknam Road or the North direction Turnpike spur (where people generally come if taking 295 or the turnpike), you travel north on Route 1. After Sullivan Tire, you pass by Northbrook Road on the right. We are the very next right after Northbrook Road. Travel down the driveway to the lower parking lot and look for our door, the last one on the left. Come in and find the waiting area there.
Teletherapy
At the time of the appointment, click on the link with the appointment information in the email from your therapist, 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..
