SERVICES:
Therapy for Coping with Type 1 Diabetes
& Other Chronic Health Conditions:
The heavy burden of managing a chronic health condition often goes unseen and unappreciated. Of course, the hundreds (maybe thousands?) of unseen decisions and tasks to remember every day, on top of everything else life demands of us, can lead to a sense of exhaustion and burnout.
Wherever you are in your journey of living with a chronic health condition, having an understanding place to process can make a huge difference. I’m here through each step of the way, anything from new diagnosis tasks of grieving, accepting, and adjusting to a new normal, to building motivation and resilience for the long haul. My goal is to provide non-judgemental support and guide you through achievable change.
Work with T1 Teens and Young Adults:
Burnout is so common through adolescence, even for young people who historically have appeared to cope well with their health management routine. This can be for a number of reasons:
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Teens are paying more attention to their peers and it’s developmentally appropriate to long to fit in. This can cause a new wave of feeling sad, angry, or embarrassed about feeling different from their peers.
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It’s common to unintentionally cope with hard feelings through avoidance. This can look like ignoring the daily tasks it takes to manage diabetes, such as skipping blood sugar checks or avoiding giving insulin in front of peers.
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As teens transition into taking on more responsibility for managing diabetes previously held by parents, the reality of how much work it is can feel new and overwhelming, even if they have been living with diabetes for several years.
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Sometimes we think that we have to approve or feel good about a diagnosis to accept it. This tension can bring its own confusion and frustration.
I work with teens and young adults who are ready to process these challenges, but maybe don’t know where to start. Who want to find acceptance and motivation around their diagnosis, but aren’t sure how to move through the emotional barriers that come up. Younger kids and teens who don’t want therapy for now might benefit more from parent coaching.
Parent Coaching & Support:
Perhaps you are a parent struggling to support your child or teen with diabetes care management and are worried about their future wellbeing and safety as they gain more independence. So often, managing a chronic condition can feel like the parent-teen relationship is dominated by health management-related conflict.
We offer parent consultation and coaching sessions to support you with processing your own grief around the diagnosis and the burden of caregiver burnout, as well as learn how to support your child or teen more effectively. Parents often find that even just a few coaching sessions can give them the tools to really shift the nature of their relationship with their child.
Teen Groups:
Teen/Young Adult DBT for Chronic Medical Illness (DBT-CMI) – Waitlist Open
For: 16-22 year olds diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
What: DBT is an evidence-based therapy that teaches coping skills in distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. In our DBT groups we teach teens to utilize these skills to manage their diabetes distress and prevent or move through burnout.
When: Groups will likely be held on Wednesday afternoons. Time and location will be TBD based on availability and need. Groups require 6-10 participants to launch.
Cost: $100 per session for an eight-session group. If finances are a concern, please ask about our sliding scale!
Sessions might be partially reimbursable by your health insurance. Inquire with your health insurance directly about out-of-network coverage for group therapy. We are happy to provide superbills upon request!
PRICING
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Free 15 minute initial consult call
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$150-$165 - 50 minute individual therapy or family consult session
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Workshop pricing available based on individual need
INSURANCE
Rachel is an out-of-network provider not directly contracted with insurance companies. The majority of clients who have private insurance are eligible to be reimbursed for a significant portion of their fees for services. A Superbill, in other words a receipt of services that contains all of the information needed to submit to insurance for reimbursement, can be provided upon request.
To determine if your insurance provider offers out-of-network coverage reimbursement call your member services line (usually listed on the back of your insurance card) and ask:
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What are my mental health insurance benefits?
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Does my plan cover services to out-of-network mental health providers?
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What is my out-of-network deductible?
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What is the coverage amount per therapy session for an out-of-network provider?
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How many sessions does my plan cover in a year? How many sessions do I have left?
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Do I need pre-authorization or a referral from my PCP to see a therapist?
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How much time do I have to file a claim for out-of-network services?
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What is the process to get reimbursed for out-of-network services?
Helpful Tip: many insurance companies have smartphone member apps that allow you to take a picture of your superbill and submit for reimbursement within just a few seconds online.
