Frequently asked questions about my services.

 

 

 

Rates and Financial Info

 

What is your rate?

50 minute counseling sessions are 140.00

75 minute counseling sessions are 210.00

Groups intake assement interview is 75.00

Group sessions are 60.00 per session. If accepted into group, a minimum of a 14 week committment is required. Payment for groups may be made in one or two payments. Fees are payable via cash, check, or credit card.

 

Do you take my insurance?

I'll provide you with an invoice for your insurance company if you would like to get reimbursed. I don't accept your insurance directly. Here's why: All insurance and managed care companies only re-imburse for treatment provided to patients diagnosed with a mental disorder. When this information becomes part of your permanent medical record, there are several important risks. Here are some ways that having a mental disorder diagnosis may harm you:

• Having a mental disorder diagnosis can make obtaining life insurance, difficult, expensive or impossible
• In legal disputes, such as divorces and child custody cases your interests can be harmed
• If you ever become self employed, purchasing insurance can become impossible or prohibitively expensive
• When your private, personal information is obtained by an insurance company it is released to medical information databases. Your private information becomes shared amongst insurers, market researchers and a host of other organizations.
• If you seek employment which requires a background check or security clearance, your medical records may become available once they are released to an insurance company.
• Important decisions about our work together will be made by someone who has never met either of us

If you have been reading the news, you have heard about how frequently private information gets out. My aim is to provide you with the highest level of ethical care, and your privacy a key underpinning of our work together. The only way I can assure your privacy is by keeping your personal information between you and me.

 

How can I learn more about the risks involved with using my insurance?

If you would like to learn more about how you lose privacy when you use insurance read the articles listed below.

They Know What's in Your Medicine Cabinet

After Treatment for Mental Illness, Fight for Insurance Often Follow

Are Your Health Records an Open Book?

Consumer Reports

Advocates Seek Overturn of Privacy Law

Don't Let Mental Health Claims Ruin Your Health Insurance Prospects

Snooping Into Patient Records

Medical Identity Theft: A Growing Problem

Credit Cards, Mental Health Treament and Privacy

What Your Credit Card Company Knows About You

Credit Industry, Health Records and Consumer Profiling

Medical Records Compromised

 

 

Can you tell me who does take my insurance?

No. Your best course of action would be to attempt to find a contracted provider who is accepting new patients. "Provider panels" have very heavy turnover, so I am unable to recommend anyone specific.

 

Can I use my out of network benefits or flex spending account?

Yes. If you choose, just let me know and I will be happy to provide you with an invoice which you may submit for re-imbursement.

Do you offer a "sliding scale"?

No.

 

Can I sign up for your group?

Possibly. First we'll speak on the phone for a few minutes. If it seems like my services may be beneficial, we can schedule an intake interview. This allows us further time to assess whether or not the group would be the most helpful format for you.

 

Can I join your group with my husband, wife, family member or partner?

No. I don't accept couples or family members into my anger group. In group therapy, each group member needs to have a space in which they are free to look at themselves and their own role in keeping the anger habit going. Many people are unable to do this effectively in the presence of their partner.

 

How do I know if your services are right for me?

Are you are ready to take the steps that are necessary to decrease the amount of frustration that you feel? Are you willing and able to look at the contributing role that you may be playing? Do you feel that you would like the skills that are necessary to live a life that is less frustrating? Are you willing to commit the time, money and effort to improving your relationships, even when it might be a little uncomfortable? Are you willing to follow through with the work that is required for growing, changing and mastering new skills? If you can answer yes to all the previous questions, then you are very likely to benefit from my services.

 

What is different about your groups?

• My experience is extensive. Since 1998, I have helped over 3000 people learn to "break the anger habit"
• I am a licensed therapist. Most anger management groups are run by people with little, or no professional education or training in psychology.
• My groups are filled with motivated self- referred people clients
• Most anger management groups are designed for court ordered clients who have been sent by the criminal justice system, mine are designed for people that know they want to change. No one is making them attend
• My groups are screened. I individually meet with each member to assess the suitability of my services, not everyone is accepted
• My groups are designed for people with "frequent anger or frustration". They do not address the needs of clients that have problems with domestic violence or substance abuse. If you are struggling with these issues, contact me about individual counseling
• You get everything you need to make participate effectively in the group. Your registration includes all group materials and access to a private online support and discussion group

 

 

 

To learn more about my anger managment groups click here...anger_management_workshop_san_francisco

E-mail me at michael@michaelgquirke.com or call me at (415) 820-3943 and I would be happy to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with you.

Looking forward to speaking with you!
Michael G. Quirke, MFT
CA License#39030