Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
Integrated Bilingual Counseling (IBC) is located at the following address:
64 Thompson Street, B101East Haven, CT 06513
Do you offer remote sessions?
How soon will I see a therapist?
What can I expect in my first session?
You can expect to meet one of our top licensed psychotherapists who has been matched to you based on their expertise in the area of your concern.
The assigned therapist will conduct a complete evaluation to determine your strengths, issues, goals, and objectives.
How long does therapy take?
Will you prescribe medication?
All of our self-paying clients (16 and up) and those using Medicaid (Husky) and Commercial Insurance will undergo an evaluation with our Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
At that time, we’ll make a determination and talk to you about the possible use of medication.
Do you provide medication management only?
Do you conduct disability evaluations (e.g., short-term disability, FMLA, SSI, etc.?
Do you conduct forensic evaluations for legal purposes?
Do you conduct ADHD evaluations?
How do I pay for psychotherapy sessions?
You can pay for psychotherapy sessions using your medical insurance.
We accept Medicaid (Husky), Anthem BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna.
We also accept payments out of pocket and offer a sliding fee scale for those facing financial hardship.
A full description of our rates and fees is available on our website.
Can I get a copy of my records?
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), IBC charges reasonable cost-based fees in advance for providing medical records to clients [45 CFR 164.524(c)].
General records:
We charge a $30 fee for administrative costs and the following fees for copying:
- $1 per page for the first 20 pages
- $0.90 per page for pages 21 through 100
- $0.80 for each page copied over 100 pages
Treatment summary and letters:
If you ever need a treatment summary or a letter for any litigation purposes, please know that IBC therapists can and will only lay out the facts, which can be detrimental to the therapeutic relationship because the summary or letter might not be in your favor.
Nonetheless, if requested, IBC will charge a flat fee of $180, payable in advance.
How do you handle subpoenas?
Court-related matters:
As stated above, we highly discourage clients from having their therapists subpoenaed because the records will only lay out the facts, which might not be in your favor. If one of our therapists is subpoenaed to testify or provide records involving a minor, the therapeutic relationship is effectively ended, and IBC will not continue providing services to that family.
If a client fails to consider IBC’s recommendations, the following fees are in effect:
- Preparation time (including submission of records): $180 per hour (billable in 15-minute increments).
- Phone calls: $180 per hour (billable in 15-minute increments).
- Depositions: $180 per hour (billable in 15-minute increments).
- Time required for giving testimony: $180 per hour (billable in 15-minute increments).
- Mileage: $0.56 per mile
- Time away from the office due to depositions or testimony: $180 per hour (billable in 15-minute increments).
- All attorney fees and costs incurred by IBC therapists as a result of the legal action.
- Filing a document with the court: $120.
- The minimum charge for a court appearance is $1200, due 72 hours in advance.
- If a subpoena or notice to meet an attorney is not received within 72 hours, IBC will charge an additional $250. If the case is reset with less than 72 business hours’ notice, then IBC reserves the right to charge the client $400 in addition to the retainer.
- Also, IBC reserves the right to double the above fees if the therapist has scheduled plans to be out of town.
What psychotherapy interventions do you offer?
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior behind your difficulties and change the way you feel.
Cognitive-Processing Therapy (CPT) is a highly effective and specific form of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (even used by the VA Hospital), comprised of 12 sessions where you’ll learn to evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts you’ve had since you suffered a traumatic event. The evidence shows you can change your feelings by changing your thoughts
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) is a comprehensive, active, directive, philosophically and empirically based psychotherapy that focuses on resolving emotional and behavioral problems and disturbances, enabling you to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their caregivers. Research shows that TF-CBT successfully resolves a broad array of emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single, multiple, and complex trauma experiences.
The Gottman Method is an evidence-based approach developed through over 40 years of research by Dr. John and Julie Gottman. This method aims to help couples resolve conflict through improved verbal communication, improve their connection, and remove barriers that create a sense of stagnancy.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an empirically based approach based on methods designed to help you accept, express, regulate, make sense of, and transform emotion.
Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) is a framework for intervention with youth and families who have experienced multiple and/or prolonged traumatic stress. ARC identifies core domains frequently affected among traumatized youth that are key to future resiliency. Designed to be applied flexibly across child- and family-serving systems, ARC provides a theoretical framework, core principles of intervention, and a guiding structure for providers. ARC is designed for youth from early childhood to adolescence and their caregivers or caregiving systems.
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
Motivational Interviewing is a psychotherapeutic approach that attempts to move an individual away from a state of indecision or uncertainty and toward finding motivation to make positive decisions and accomplish established goals.