How do I coordinate an initial appointment?
There are many ways to schedule an appointment with a provider at Attention, Behavior & Cognition by phone, email or submitting your information securely online.
Do you accept my insurance?
Most insurances provide behavioral health coverage and Attention, Behavior & Cognition accepts insurance payment from many different plans. Please see Rates & Insurance for more detailed information.
How are psychologists trained?
On average, psychologists have more than seven years of training in addition to their bachelor’s degree, and 3,000 hours of supervised practice in psychology. A year of supervised post-doctoral psychological training must be completed before psychologists take their national and state administered licensure exams.
Psychologists licensed to practice in the state of Massachusetts have one of the following degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.), Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), or Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). Psychologists in MA are required to take 20 hours of continuing education courses every two years to keep their licenses current.
How do I choose a provider?
Therapy involves a commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be careful in selecting a provider. Although credentials, training, and experience are important, by far the most important factor is whether you and/or your child connect with that person. The therapuetic relationship is one of the most important variables that contributes to the success of treatment.
How long are the sessions?
Sessions typically last 45 minutes and are usually scheduled once a week, or every-other week. The length of therapy depends on many factors including the goals that were set at the onset of treatment.
What can I expect in a therapy session?
A standard therapy session lasts 45-50 minutes. During the session, we will review what has happened since the last session, discuss the use of previously learned skills or strategies, and/or identify new skills or strategies to reach treatment goals. Our approach to treatment is collaborative, practical and engaging. We sometimes use “homework” in attempt to help you practice what we have worked on within your therapy session. This is not “homework” like school but rather, assignments on how to use learned skills or strategies in specific situations.
Are sessions confidential?
Yes, we have both an ethical and legal requirements to ensure that the information you and/or your child share is confidential. Although discussed in more specific detail during our first meeting, there are limits to confidentiality where we have to share information from therapy. One of the most important is that, if a client makes statements that present a credible threat either to harm him/herself or to harm another person, the psychologist required to take necessary steps to ensure safety. In most cases related to harming oneself, the psychologist is going to work with the client to find a way to ensure safety without breaking confidentiality. Another exception is that psychologists are “mandated reporters.” This means that, if a person shares information about child abuse or about the abuse of an elder or dependent adult, the psychologist must report that information to appropriate authorities. In addition, there also are a few cases where a judge might order a psychologist to share some confidential information. The psychologist will “claim privilege” and not provide information in these cases until the judge orders him or her to do so.