Why do people seek help at the Psychological Clinic?
People come to the Clinic when they are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Concerns the Clinic can help with include: depression and/or anxiety, problems with procrastination, problems with personal relationships, including spouses, family and friends, school and career difficulties, problems at work with colleagues or superiors, confusion or concern about sexual identities or preferences, problems dealing with an upsetting or traumatic event, transition to Ann Arbor from another city or country, or to dealing with an important loss, such as of a loved one or a close relationship.
These are just some reasons a person might seek help at the Clinic, and we are ready to help.
Who can come for help at the Clinic?
The Clinic is open to adults 18 and older, regardless of whether they are affiliated with the University of Michigan. We see graduate and undergraduate students, University of Michigan faculty and staff, and people from the surrounding community. We provide counseling for individuals and couples, as well as a number of groups for individuals dealing with social anxiety or trouble making progress in their life.
What happens when I call?
A Clinic office staff member will talk with you briefly about the concerns for which you are seeking help. He or she will ask a few questions to help steer you to the best help we can offer, and will explain some of the policies and procedures of the Clinic so you’ll know what to expect when you come. The staff member will also ask you for basic demographic information and for any insurance information that you have. They will also ask if you have any preferences for the therapist in regards to gender, ethnicity or level of training. In many cases, we are able to accommodate client’s requests. The staff member may be able to schedule an appointment during your call, or may need to call back after checking for therapist availability or whether another agency would serve you better.
Does the Psychological Clinic accept insurance?
The Clinic is a service provider under Premier Care/Blue Care Network, and is able to accept a number of other insurances as well. Though not under all circumstances, the Clinic can see individuals with Premier Care or BCN for a total of 30 sessions per year for a co payment of $15.
After 30 sessions, the client would pay a sliding scale fee that is discussed below. Individuals with Premier Care simply have to call the Clinic to set up an appointment and provide his/her insurance information. From there, the office staff takes care of contacting Premier Care to set up the referral. We also accept Aetna Student Health, as well as other insurances.
To learn whether your services at the Psychological Clinic will be covered by your insurance company (with the exception of Premier Care), call your insurance company directly. Once you know whether you will be covered, and you wish to be seen, call for an appointment.
How do I make an appointment?
Just give us a call at 734-764-3471.
How much do services cost?
The Clinic has a sliding scale fee based on income and relevant expenses. The fee for psychotherapy ranges from $40 up to our full-scale fee of $190 per session. Fees for testing and psychiatric consultation are described elsewhere.
How is the sliding scale fee determined?
At your first appointment, you will fill out a financial information form that requests information regarding your income and relevant expenses. We use a computer system to determine the sliding scale fee. This fee is put into place by the second session.
Can faculty and staff go to the Clinic?
Yes, faculty and staff are welcome at the Clinic.
Can I refer a friend or family member for therapy?
By all means, encourage a friend or family member to contact us if you see them having difficulties. However, we are unable to contact anyone directly. They must make the initial phone call.
Can I bring a family member or friend with me to my therapy session?
Usually your therapist will want to meet with you by yourself, but meeting together with family or friends can be very helpful as part of the work with your therapist. A friend or family member can accompany you to your appointment and wait while you meet with your therapist.
If you would like a friend or family member to attend your first session with the therapist, you can discuss this on the phone before your first session with your assigned therapist. In most cases, however, it is preferable for the friend or family to wait during the session.
What kind of services do you offer?
We offer individual, couples, group and testing services. Individual psychotherapy is offered using both psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches. An explanation of different services can be found under Clinical Services
Will my parents or family be notified if I come to the Clinic?
Your parents or family will not be notified. Some insurance policies require that the policyholder be notified, but this would not happen without your consent.
Will my visits go on my student record?
No! No information is released to the University of Michigan regarding your care at the Clinic. Your written consent is required for any release of information, except in an emergency or as required by law. Please see “Is my information confidential?” on the FAQ list.
Is my information confidential?
Except for certain situations where confidentiality is required to be breached by law, information related to your care at the Clinic is confidential and can be released only with your consent.
Exceptions include a court subpoena, situations involving child or elder abuse and neglect, or violent threats to identifiable others. In addition, therapists are required to break confidentiality if your therapist believes that you may seriously harm yourself.
No information regarding you or your care is shared with the University of Michigan (subject to the exceptions listed above), and does not go on your student record.
Who will I see?
The Clinic is staffed by Licensed psychologist, Licensed social workers as well as psychology and social work post degree fellows and interns. There are also a number of post-doctoral fellows in psychology and post-masters fellows in social work. Experienced psychologists or social workers supervise all of our trainee therapists.
Can I request a certain therapist?
If a particular therapist at the Clinic has been recommended to you, you may request to see this therapist. It may not always be possible to honor your request due to therapist availability or other factors. If specific requests regarding gender or ethnicity of the therapist are given when you call, we also try to honor your request.
What if I don't like my therapist, or I'm not comfortable with him or her?
You may always request to see a different therapist. We know that the best results occur when you work with someone with whom you're comfortable.
Do you have crisis therapy?
The Clinic works with people who are having significant difficulties, but we do not offer emergency or crisis intervention. If you are experiencing a crisis or have concerns about your safety, you should seek immediate services at your nearest hospital. UM students may contact UM Counseling and Psychological Services at 734-764-8312, where a counselor on duty is available during office hours.
How does filling out forms help me?
We ask you to fill out forms before seeing your therapist for the first time, and at various points during your therapy. Some of these forms are administrative, such as to help us determine your fee or to arrange payment from your insurance company. However, most of the forms are designed to help us help you better. They ask you about issues and facts that have been demonstrated to be important in understanding people’s concerns and in planning how best to help. Your therapist will go over your answers with you, and will use the forms to help decide what to work on with you. Other forms will help your therapist understand how your work together is going.
What if I just need/want medication?
The Clinic offers psychiatric services in conjunction with ongoing psychotherapy at the Clinic. We do not offer psychiatric services independently of ongoing therapy services. We can give you a referral to a psychiatrist or psychiatric facility if your wish is to have a medication treatment without conjoint psychotherapy.
How many times can I see the therapist?
The Clinic does not have a limit on how many sessions you may have with your therapist. We also offer therapy once, twice or three times a week – you and your therapist decide what the best frequency of session would be. Most insurance plans place a limit on how many sessions they will pay for (e.g., 20 or 25 sessions), but our sliding scale fee often allows people to stay longer if they and their therapist decide it would be best.
How long does therapy typically take?
The length of therapy largely depends on what difficulties and concerns you are having. Some difficulties or problems can be effectively addressed in less than 10 sessions. For other difficulties or concerns, a more long term approach may be necessary. If you are concerned about the length of therapy, you can talk with your therapist after the first few sessions about what might be the best length of treatment.
What if I’m assigned to someone that I know more personally or through acquaintances?
In cases such as these, a referral is made to another therapist at the clinic. If this occurs, we will assign you to another therapist and schedule a first appointment as quickly as possible.
What do I talk about when I go in?
This is a good question. In the first session, most therapists begin by asking you an open-ended question about what you are currently struggling with and then follow up with a series of questions to learn more about the problem. Often times, it is not just one thing that is causing difficulties for you, and your therapist would like to learn in the first few sessions about the different struggles and difficulties that you are facing.
What is your cancellation policy?
The Clinic cancellation policy is that a 24 hour cancellation notice must be given in order to cancel a session without being billed for the time. This policy does not affect individuals coming in for their first session, but becomes effective starting in the second session. The cancellation policy is different for psychiatrists. You should ask your therapist about the cancellation policy for psychiatry appointments. The cancellation fee of the 24 hours is set at $35.00.
How long are appointments at the Clinic?
Appointments are 45 minutes long.
How long will I have to wait for a first appointment?
Most appointments are scheduled within 10 days of the first call. At times the wait may be longer and at times it may be shorter – the office staff person will be able to give you an estimate of the wait if there is one.
Is parking available?
Parking passes are available for purchase for $1 for a hang tag. There is a parking structure located directly across Church Street from the Clinic. In order to get a parking pass, you must ask the front desk staff when you arrive.
