Lifespan Wellness Marriage and Family Therapy PLLC FAQs
Interesting name for a therapy site! What does it mean, exactly?
Thanks! Lifespan Wellness Marriage & Family Therapy provides psychotherapy services to clients of all ages across the lifespan, and specializes in working with couples and families. Lifespan recognizes that there are many issues that affect couples and families such as mental/medical illnesses, pre-marital questions and compatibility concerns, couples conflicts, infidelity, sexuality, developmental issues in children, parenting issues, divorce, trauma, loss and grief, and more. Lifespan’s treatment approach is offered to the couple and family systems to enhance support and wellness as part of the psychotherapy. In cases of mental/medical illnesses, family therapy is provided to all members impacted by the illness to facilitate stress management, stability, and wellness practices for all the members.
Does Lifespan Wellness MFT accept my insurance?
Insurance programs require that you agree to have a psychiatric diagnosis associated with your treatment. If you want to use your insurance coverage to pay for your treatment, you will need to have your primary care physician or psychiatrist formally issue a diagnosis for you to Lifespan Wellness MFT. Lifespan Wellness may serve as an Out of Network Provider, but if your insurance provider does not provide reimbursement then you will be personally responsible for paying the unpaid fees.
If you have health insurance, call your insurance company to find out if your health coverage also includes mental health coverage. Some helpful questions you can ask them include:
What are my mental health benefits?
Is there a carve-out plan or secondary provider for mental health benefits?
What is the copay coverage amount per therapy session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of- network provider?
Does Lifespan offer psychiatric medication services?
Lifespan does not provide psychiatric medication services. Lifespan can provide psychotherapy support to medication users in collaboration with your prescribing medical providers, with your written consent.
Does Lifespan provide psychological evaluations (for court, surgery procedure, etc.)?
Lifespan does not provide psychological evaluations.
I am worried that my child is being sexually abused. Does Lifespan assess for sexual abuse?
Lifespan does not provide individual psychotherapy for active substance abusers. See Lifespan’s “Resources” page for information about how to locate state approved substance abuse recovery site.
Does Lifespan handle cases where there is active substance abuse?
Lifespan does not provide individual psychotherapy for active substance abusers, and recommends that individuals seeking detox and substance abuse services go to a state approved substance abuse recovery site. Lifespan does provide couples and family therapy for people who have completed a substance abuse program and obtained a certificate of completion and will need to submit a copy of the certificate of completion and a treatment summary of their treatment from that program. Both the certificate of completion and the treatment summary must be received before or at the intake session in order to assess whether Lifespan can assist at this time.
I am a single parent and my kids do not have contact with their other parent. Can I bring them in?
Yes, but you will asked to sign a document attesting that you do not have contact with the other parent and are unable to contact the other parent to discuss therapy arrangements. If the other parent re-enters the children’s lives during the course of therapy, the case will be reviewed and additional documentation may be required to resume therapy.
I am in the process of divorcing my spouse (or have already divorced) and I have children that I want to bring in for therapy. I heard that even though the kids live with me I still need the consent of the other parent to bring them in. Is this true?
Yes. Lifespan requires the written consent of both parents to treat children. If you are involved in court proceedings and you have the court’s permission and support to bring the kids for therapy despite your spouse’s objections, please provide a copy of the court’s letter expressing permission and support for the children to receive therapy.
I want my child, who is younger than 18yrs old, to receive therapy services, but my child does not want me in the sessions. How can I respect my child’s privacy and still stay involved in the treatment and provide consents for my child’s treatment?
Lifespan does not provide individual therapy for minors. Lifespan recommends family therapy for cases involving treatment for minors.
Does Lifespan provide family counseling for court-mandated and court-referred cases?
No. Lifespan Wellness and Family Therapy PLLC focuses on physical and psychological wellness issues, and coaching services.
My treatment records, or my child’s, are being subpoenaed by the court. Will Lifespan be required to provide them?
Yes, Lifespan will be legally required to provide them. Lifespan will try to provide a treatment summary unless the subpoena specifically states otherwise. Please remember that there is a fee of $200 per hour for any case-related activities outside of the treatment session time, which will be additional costs for you and your family that are typically not covered or reimbursed by insurance and the family will need to pay these costs directly to Lifespan Wellness MFT.
I am seeking therapy because my spouse is hitting me. I am scared that if I come in for therapy and my spouse finds out that I am discussing this issues things will get worse. What should I do?
If you are in an abusive relationship then you will need to prioritize your safety concerns at this time. If you are concerned for your immediate safety, or the safety of anyone that lives with you, please consider contacting 911 or your local police department. If you are a New York State resident looking for information about how to get ongoing support, you may contact:
New York State Domestic Violence Hotlines at 1-800-942-6906, English & español/Multi-language Accessibility. Deaf or Hard of Hearing: dial 711. In NYC call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or dial 311. TTY (teletypewriter for hard of hearing or deaf): 1-866-604-5350.
Safe Horizons
2 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor Fax: 212-577-3897 E-mail: help@safehorizons.org
New York, NY 10007
Domestic violence hotline: 800-621–HOPE (4673)
Support for crime victims & family members of homicide victims: 866-689-HELP (4357).
Rape and sexual assault: 212-227-3000. (Or call NYC’s 311) TYY (for all HOTLINES) 866-604-5350
I need to have copies of my treatment records, does Lifespan provide these?
HIPAA requires that health records be provided to clients upon request, but please be aware that once you have your records they may also be accessible by unauthorized people who have access to where you keep your records. Lifespan bears no responsibility related to what happens with your records once they are provided to you. In order to protect your confidential files as much as possible, Lifespan will provide a treatment summary, which is a concise synopsis of your treatment without all the sensitive details.
Does Lifespan provide case management? I need assistance with housing, managing money, and looking for work.
Lifespan does not provide assistance with managing housing issues, financial decisions, or job placement services.
Sometimes I, or my family members, may be feeling suicidal. What should I do?
If there is a risk of imminent harm or death, call 911.
If you need someone to talk through the crisis, see Lifespan’s “Resources” page for information about how to locate crisis support.
What do I do if I have an emergency situation while Lifespan’s office is closed?
Call 911 immediately.