If I am new to therapy, what should I know?

We care about you and the service you receive at this clinic. It is owner operated, small and personable. We make every attempt to show you respect from the first moment you fill out the appointment request until you discharge with your therapist after all of your goals have been met. If at any point you do not feel comfortable with the process, feel ignored, misunderstood or have concerns about billing, please reach out to the Owner/Clinical Director, Dr Kristy Brecke @ kristybreckeco@gmail.com. Kristy has spent her entire career focused on helping people feel better and the service that is provided to you at this clinic should not be an exception. She does still see clients, so please give her 24-48 hrs to respond if you do send an email.

What does the process look like at this clinic?

Before you start therapy, please call your insurance plan or look up your benefits inside your panels portal.

They may ask you about our specific clinic when you call in.

Name: Dr Brecke Counseling Group

Federal EIN: 84-3129049

TYPE 2 NPI: 1174174908

You will not want to fill out an appointment request until you understand what your responsibilities will be. Once we understand if you have a co-pay or deductible we can give you a good faith estimate for how much out of pocket expenses you will incur. We do collect your co-pay at each session or towards your deductible. If you see a co-pay on your card for office visits or primary, 99% of the time that will be your responsibility. Insurance has to provide the same coverage for you behavioral health as your physical health.

Once you have made this call then you will want to:

1.) The first step is filling out an Appointment Request

2.) The administrator checks the clinics inbox Monday through Thursday by 3 pm and will help you to onboard into our software system. If you email after 3 pm on a business day, you will likely not get a response until the following day.

3.) You will then be matched with the best fit therapist who has current openings based on what you included in the comments section of the request form.

4.) From there, you will receive an invite into the portal as well as instructions in your inbox as to what is required to get on a clinician’s schedule. If you don’t see an email please be sure to check your SPAM box because sometimes emails go there.

5.) Once you are registered with the portal, you can start the process of onboarding. Many people are frustrated with the time it takes (15-20 minutes) however unlike many medical clinics you do not need to come early on your first appointment to fill out paperwork on a clip board. Rather you can do it from the comfort of your home and a time that is convenient for you. **Please note, the portal invitation expires after 48 hours so please go in when you get the invite and at least set up the first page to avoid the expiration.

6.) You will be required to provide us with all of your demographic information, insurance card, ID, credit card and several legal documents that the state of MN requires in order to be seen such as a HIPAA form.

7.) Once you have completed all of the items on the checklist, you must email back the administrator and one your portal is checked over, you will move from “NEW” to “ACTIVE” and then you will be able to schedule. A follow up email will be provided that says, “you are all set”. We do this to avoid asking for these items through out your therapy journey. Once it’s all in there, all the time will be spend on you and your therapy goals, not on finances, insurance and documents that we need.

8.) We suggest scheduling out 4-6 appointment to start on a weekly basis and then ask your therapist to reassess the frequency need from there. The sooner you book appointments, the better flexibility you will find.

9.) Any questions you have for you therapist previous to your first appointment, please message them in the portal and they will promptly respond within 24-48 hours.

After that you are on your way to establishing new goals and finding a new path to a happier, more stable life.

Do you bill by secondary insurance?

No we do not. Our ERA system that we use for billing does not have an option to send claims to secondary insurance. You can print a statement or flex spending statement at any time in the portal by clicking on the billing tab ($ icon). You can ask your therapist for help if you need assistance with this process.

Do you take Medicare?

In some cases if you have Medicare, we can bill. This is not a simple process or a simple answer. If your plan requires for us to bill Medicare first, then no we can’t. We don’t have a contract with Medicare. We have no way to bill them to get a rejection. We have tried, it does not work. If you have a Medicare plan that only has one coverage that is attached to a commercial plan such as BCBS or Health Partners, then we have been able to bill and receive payment from them. The best way to know if you have a plan like this, is to call the member number on the back of your card and ask if we are in network. Also ask, if the provider is required to bill Medicare first. If the answer is yes, then we can’t obtain payments for your, using your insurance. You could do the self-pay option and send claims in to see if they will reimburse you or put it towards your deductible.

How long do I have to come to therapy?

This can vary greatly based on history and your current support system. Most people will need to commit to about 3 months of treatment to get through the assessment period, learn new ways to cope and then have time to practice. Each client creates a treatment plan on your second session that will be focused on your goals as well as treating your diagnosis. Most clients feel significant improvement when they end therapy or have achieved all of their goals. Most of the work does happen outside of the therapy room. The hope would be that both clinician and client are working equally hard to achieve the goals you have set.

What style of therapy do you use?

Each clinician uses different approaches depending on what they were trained in and what their is experience is. To know what your clinician’s approach is, please see their individual pages https://breckecounseling.com/index.php/providers/ for a more detailed description of their therapeutic modality.

How come you don’t take my insurance?

Dr Brecke Counseling Group contracts with insurance companies that share similar values with the work we do. The hope would be that someday, all insurance companies value mental health services equally and pay a similar rate to that of a medical profession with the same amount of education and training. Until that time, the insurance companies listed on the ‘rates and insurance’ page are the companies we can bill. Please keep in mind, if you do not see your insurance company on the list, you can still use your HEALTH SAVING ACCOUNT. You will have to pay the fee for service (self-pay) rate but then can save using your HSA. Some clients also pay upfront and then send in the statement and charges to their insurance company to be applied to their in or out of network benefits.

Can you see me individually and then see my partner or family members?

Yes! This is possible with some of the clinicians. If you are self-paying, we can arrange sessions for what works best for you. If you are using insurance, then there is one primary client identified that will do an intake session. After a treatment plan is established, we can then start adding more members to your sessions as long as it pertains to your diagnosis and your treatment goals. Kristy spent her time in her Doctorate program learning from a systems approach and strongly encourages bringing ‘family’ into the healing process. Systems are any sort of group you live or interact in. Our ‘systems’ impact us and so it is very difficult to make individual progress without bringing in the people who you love the most.

How can therapy help me?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.

What is therapy like?

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly). It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process – such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what’s best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

Do you take insurance, and how does that work?

To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:

What are my mental health benefits?
What is the 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?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist’s office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission. However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations: * Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm another person.

Can I see you and then bring in my partner or family members?

Yes, depending on who you are seeing. Your system includes, your partner, family members, co-workers, community and also the culture you live within. It is very difficult to make progress if you are not considering how all of the systems in your life are impacting you. I encourage partners and family members to join when it feels fitting to the treatment plan. I typically build the treatment plan around one person and from there we can include others depending on what goals we are working on.

How do I know you will not be biased to my partner or to me in couples counseling?

Typically each partner is seen once as an individual before you are seen together to create treatment goals. During this time we work to learn what motivates you, how you communication, differences in background and family culture as well as the strengths you are bringing to the relationship. We do my best to stay focused on the goals you have created together. During the course of couples counseling, often times the relationship may become more unstable for a short period of time due to the new ability to communicate about sources of pain. We will typically start seeing improvement in communication and support after 4-6 sessions. Please know this is normal to have increased tension in the short term. We can not guarantee, one partner or the other will not feel bias. Being open to communicating this feeling if it does arise is very helpful and this issue can be explored together.

How do I know if it is time for my teenager to start therapy?

Teenagers are very complicated to read and understand due to how quickly they are developing emotionally and physically. When you add all of the pressures that are placed on teens, it is not surprising so many have troubles adjusting. Classic symptoms of depression do not typically fit for teens. Many people think of depression as an extended period of sadness. For teenagers this often looks different. Classic symptoms of a teenager struggling with depression maybe the following: reckless behavior such as experimenting with alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, school issues such as poor attendance, drop in grades or low concentration on homework. It could also be prolonged use of social media or screen time. Children who come home after school and appear withdrawn and then isolate, could be experiencing anxiety. If you have found that your child is not participating with activities that previously enjoyed or are not hanging out with friends the same as they used to, this could also indicate symptoms of depression or anxiety. Parents know their children better than anyone, if you have seen one or more of the previous mentioned symptoms for a period of more than a month, getting as assessment could be helpful.