Frequently Asked Questions

The first session is an intake appointment in which Dr. Handy learns about your concerns, relevant history, and goals for treatment. Together, you will begin identifying the patterns that may be contributing to your difficulties and discuss an approach to treatment. Depending on your needs, treatment may include practice or exercises between sessions and periodic assessments to monitor progress. If additional care would be helpful, Dr. Handy may recommend consultation with or referral to another provider.

Exposure therapy is an evidence-based treatment used for OCD, anxiety disorders, and phobias, and it is also an important component of treatment for some other concerns, including PTSD. Treatment involves gradually approaching situations, thoughts, or sensations that trigger fear or distress, rather than relying on avoidance or other responses that provide short-term relief. The goal is to change patterns that keep fear going and build the ability to respond more flexibly to uncertainty and discomfort.

Exposure is planned collaboratively and tailored to the person and the concern being treated. Read this to learn more.

Therapy often involves practicing what you discuss in sessions in your everyday life. Depending on your treatment goals, this may include exposure exercises, trying a different response to distress, or completing brief activities to help track progress. This practice is an important part of many cognitive behavioral treatments, because it gives you opportunities to apply new skills outside the therapy room. Read this to learn more.

The length of treatment varies depending on the concerns being addressed, their severity and complexity, your goals, and the type of treatment. Some people benefit from a more focused course of treatment, while others need longer-term therapy. Dr. Handy can discuss the likely scope of treatment as you clarify your goals together.

Dr. Handy works with adults age 18 and older. She does not provide therapy to children or adolescents.

The fee for a 50-minute individual therapy session is $350. Fees may increase annually by up to 5%.

Dr. Handy does not participate directly with insurance plans and does not bill insurance on your behalf. Superbills can be provided monthly for you to submit to your insurance company to seek personal reimbursement. Reimbursement varies by plan, so it is best to contact your insurance company to understand your specific benefits prior to beginning treatment. You may use an HSA account to pay for sessions.

Call the member-services number on your insurance card and ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits. Questions to ask include:

• What is the reimbursement rate for behavioral health services? Specifically, what are the rates for CPT codes 90791 (intake) and 90834 (50-minute session)?

• Do I need to meet a deductible or obtain pre-authorization?

• Is there a limit to the number of sessions covered?

• What is the process for submitting superbills for reimbursement?

Dr. Handy asks for 24 hours notice when canceling a session. Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours notice are charged the full session fee. See Practice Policies

To inquire about working with Dr. Handy, submit an inquiry through the Contact page.