No. Unfortunately, at this time, I only work with individual adults in my practice. If this changes in the future, my website will be updated accordingly.

The duration of therapy varies depending on the individual's needs and goals. While most clients who participate in the time-limited therapy complete their treatment trial in 12-16 weeks, some clients may benefit from short-term therapy (3-7 sessions), while others may require longer-term support (1-2 years). During our initial sessions, we will discuss your specific circumstances and develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique situation. Also, see the Medical Necessity FAQ section regarding other factors considered in the length of treatment. 

Currently, the majority of my sessions are virtual, given the accessibility of this option. I see clients in person in my Barre office every Wednesday. For virtual sessions, I require clients to use a laptop, desktop, or at least a tablet for best connectivity and screen size. Using your phone for sessions should be an exception rather than the rule. I do not provide therapy while the client is driving.

The simple answer is no. Emails and text messages are only used for logistics-type communication, like scheduling and appointment requests.  Although I occasionally have to do phone sessions because of the internet challenges, it is not a mode that is not considered therapeutic because body language and non-verbal queues are essential to the work done in therapy. Insurance companies only cover phone sessions as an exception and not as the primary mode of service. 

Unfortunately, due to the current mental health licensure laws, I can only work with clients who are present in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Georgia, or Florida during their sessions. So, I may not be the best fit for you if you're not in these states most of the time.

My office hours are Monday through Thursday between 8:00 am and 5 pm. I occasionally adjust these hours to accommodate my clients' needs, but as a rule, I do not have evening and weekend availability. 

Yes, I am an in-network provider for Traditional Medicare Part B, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans, MVP, Optum/United Behavioral Health, Cigna/Evernorth, and Harvard Pilgrim/Point 32. However, it's always best to check with your specific insurance provider regarding coverage and any out-of-pocket costs because some plans only cover therapists who are located in the same state as the client regardless of licensure. I am also happy to provide you with the necessary documentation for out-of-network reimbursement. 

Under Section 2799-6 of the Public Health Service Act, healthcare providers and healthcare facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.
· You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost under the law; healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
· You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
· Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
· If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. 
· There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate.
· Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprisesor call 800-985-3059.

As it applies to therapy, medical necessity generally refers to whether the therapeutic services are considered clinically appropriate and necessary for diagnosing or treating a patient's mental health condition. Here are some key points about how medical necessity applies to therapy:
1. Insurance companies define medical necessity criteria in their policies, which therapists must meet in order for treatment to be covered. Common elements include:

Services are needed to diagnose, treat, or prevent an illness/condition

Services follow accepted standards of medical practice

Services are clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, duration, etc.

Services are not experimental, investigational or cosmetic in nature

2. Therapy progress notes should clearly document the patient's diagnosis, symptoms, functional impairments, and how the therapeutic treatment addresses these issues and improves or prevents deterioration.
3. Insurers want to see a treatment plan with estimated timelines and goals that justify the need for continued therapy sessions. There should be a reasonable expectation for when treatment may be complete.
4. Therapy must be deemed medically necessary rather than just desired by the patient. The therapist should believe it is a proven, appropriate level of treatment for the patient's condition.
5. Insurers use various review processes (pre-certification, concurrent, retrospective) to evaluate if therapy meets medical necessity based on documentation provided.
6. If therapy is not considered medically necessary per the insurer's criteria, they may deny coverage for services or only approve a limited number of sessions.
In summary, medical necessity criteria aim to ensure therapy services are clinically justified, follow treatment standards, and lead to functional improvement for a diagnosed mental health condition based on the documentation and treatment planning provided by the therapist.

As the insurance policy holder, it is your responsibility to reach out to your insurance provider to find out if you need any pre-authorization, what your mental health benefits are, and what you can expect to pay out of pocket. I also urge you to double-check that I am in your provider network. Your insurer may need this information to verify my enrollment: my official name is Taisiya Tess Thomas, and my practice name is Black Bear Counseling Services. My individual NPI is 1942593124, and my group NPI is 1366212383.

Yes, I use AI in some aspects of my practice. I utilize a HIPAA-compliant platform (Clinical Notes AI) to support clinical documentation, including progress notes and treatment planning. “HIPAA-compliant” means the platform meets federal standards for protecting the privacy and security of your health information. Insurance providers require comprehensive, timely documentation to establish medical necessity and ensure compliance with reimbursement standards, which can be administratively burdensome. This tool enhances the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of documentation while maintaining regulatory compliance. No identifying client information (such as your name, date of birth, or other details that could be used to identify you) is entered into the system. When applicable, a session transcription feature may be used to assist with documentation, but only with prior written client consent. No audio recordings of sessions are created; instead, a temporary transcript is generated to support note-writing and is automatically deleted after two weeks.The use of this technology supports adherence to documentation requirements while preserving clinical focus during sessions.

I understand that schedules can change, so I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. You have access to a secure client portal where you can manage your appointments independently. Appointments canceled within 48 hours, missed without notice, or attended for less than 16 minutes are considered late cancellations or no-shows and may be charged a $100 fee. I do not ask for the reason for a late cancellation or no-show, as I aim to apply this policy consistently and avoid making judgments about individual circumstances. For telehealth sessions, if you do not join within 10 minutes of the start time, the appointment is considered a no-show. One late cancellation fee may be waived per year (not applicable to no-shows), and rescheduling within the same week may help avoid a fee when availability allows. Repeated missed appointments may lead to a discussion about fit and, if needed, referral to other providers. If you have Medicaid, you will not be charged late cancellation or no-show fees.