Sean Flannery, Ph. D.
(434) 257 - 3002

I offer 45-50 minute sessions. Many clients choose to meet on a weekly basis, but I will work with you to determine the level of support that will be most helpful. We'll continue to evaluate the appropriate frequency as we work together.

Therapy can be helpful in a wide range of situations and for almost everyone. Working with a therapist that you are comfortable with can alleviate suffering in your life and address important areas you wish to change. The therapist/client relationship is almost always the most important aspect of therapy. Because of the importance of the relationship, I offer free consultation calls for new clients. During these brief calls we will discuss what you hope to achieve through therapy, and I will share some of my experience and approach. If we agree your situation is a good fit, the next step is an intake appointment to begin the process of working together. I recommend meeting for at least 2-3 sessions. If, in the end we are not a good match I will assist you in finding another provider who is better suited to your needs.

I will speak to my approach alone here, as there are many different therapist stances on how therapy works (and volumes have been written about this topic alone). My belief is that therapy is designed to establish an environment where it is safe to be openly and deeply curious about yourself, your life, and meaningful relationships. When successful, therapy allows us to explore, identify, and make conscious, purposeful decisions about personal direction, spiritual journeys, and living with authenticity. A common concern in therapy is what information to bring in to session and is it "therapeutic" enough to bring up. I'm confident that if we turn a focused and curious ear to your inner world we will always have something important to discuss. Some clients opt to journal or take notes about topics, others are more comfortable with organically observing what comes up in-session. In this sense, there is no right or wrong way, just what works best for you.

My rate is $200 per 45-50 minute session for both individual and couple's therapy. I do not accept insurance directly, therefore the amount is due at the time of session. I provide a "superbill" at the end of the month for you to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

My practice does not accept insurance and I'm considered an out-of-network provider. However, I will provide you with documentation that you can use to file yourself with your insurance company. Some questions to ask your insurance company to determine your out-of-pocket costs: 1) Do I have out-of-network medical and behavioral health benefits? 2) Is pre-authorization (or pre-certification) required to use out-of-network benefits? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from your insurance provider) 3) Is a referral from [the patient]’s primary care provider required? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from the primary care provider) 4) What is my deductible, has it been met, and do out-of-network expenses count towards my deductible? 7) What percentage of the allowable charge will the insurance provider pay and what percentage of the allowable charge should I expect to pay?

I offer sliding scale rates to make my services more available to those with limited resources. Discounts for services are offered based on availability, income, and family size. Please inquire about these rates by contacting me.

This is not uncommon. I would offer two possible solutions: 1) Ask your loved one to join you in therapy for 2-3 sessions during which we can discuss any concerns and decide together if therapy might be helpful. I am also happy to do consultation calls for couples. 2) Since my couple's therapy approach focuses heavily on interactions, or the "dance" a couple performs together, it is entirely possible to improve relationships by changing one person. Sticking with the metaphor of dancing, if one partner decides to step differently or change pace while remaining engaged, it gently nudges the other party to do their steps differently. That said, I would still recommend having both parties involved in therapy if possible.

In my practice, my stance is that couple therapy is to save and improve the relationship (except in extreme or dangerous situations) rather than assist individuals as they move on from a relationship that has ended. I ask that my clients commit to staying in and working on making their relationship work better together while in therapy with me. If the unfortunate decision is made to end the relationship, I can help connect you to other providers who specialize in helping you both through that process.

My practice does not accept insurance and I'm considered an out-of-network provider. However, I will provide you with documentation that you can use to file yourself with your insurance company. Some questions to ask your insurance company to determine your out-of-pocket costs: 1) Do I have out-of-network medical and behavioral health benefits? 2) Is pre-authorization (or pre-certification) required to use out-of-network benefits? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from your insurance provider) 3) Is a referral from [the patient]’s primary care provider required? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from the primary care provider) 4) What is my deductible, has it been met, and do out-of-network expenses count towards my deductible? 7) What percentage of the allowable charge will the insurance provider pay and what percentage of the allowable charge should I expect to pay?

I offer sliding scale rates to make my services more available to those with limited resources. Discounts for services are offered based on availability, income, and family size. Please inquire about these rates by contacting me.

The process consists of four main aspects: 1) I meet with the client or, if they are a minor, their parent(s) for an interview. This session is scheduled for two (2) hours.  2) The client is administered several tasks one-on-one for approximately four to six (4-6) hours. This includes paper and pencil tests, questionnaires, etc. This comprehensive evaluation assesses many different areas, including intelligence, personality, visual-motor, attention, etc. 3) After scoring and interpreting the test results we meet again for a feedback session (parents if client is a minor). This feedback will go over the results of the tests, any diagnostic impressions, strengths and weaknesses of the client, and recommendations for future treatment, lifestyle changes, academic accommodations, etc..  4) Following feedback, I'll provide a final, official report for you to share with whomever you deem appropriate (e.g., school, doctors, etc.). With your permission I can also follow-up with other providers regarding the results.

The entire assessment process from initial interview to finalized report takes approximately one month, depending on scheduling. The initial appointment is two hours, testing takes approximately four to six hours and then a two-hour feedback session after the results have been evaluated. In total there are three meetings unless multiple testing sessions are needed to complete the tasks.

A standard assessment, including meetings, testing, and report, is a flat fee of $3,500. In the unlikely event that any additional steps are indicated I will meet with you and discuss the benefits and costs. No additional fees will ever be added without your prior consent. Consultations are free of charge to help determine if an assessment is appropriate given your goals. Please be aware that not all services are covered by insurance plans. For example, most plans do not cover educational testing to diagnose learning disorders. Many plans require pre-authorization for psychological testing and limit the allowable number of hours of testing per benefit year.

Since I do not accept insurance, the following questions may be very helpful for you to ask your insurance provider to find out how much of an assessment is covered by your plan. 1) Do I have out-of-network medical and behavioral health benefits? 2) Is pre-authorization (or pre-certification) required to use out-of-network benefits? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from your insurance provider) 3) Is a referral from the patient’s primary care provider required? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from the primary care provider) 4) Should medical or behavioral/mental health benefits be used for an evaluation given the reasons for the evaluation? 5) What is my deductible, has it been met, and do out-of-network expenses count towards my deductible? 6) How many units of the following procedure (CPT) codes are allowable per year, and what is the maximum allowable charge the insurance company will pay for each of the following CPT codes: 96130; 96131; 96136; 96137 7) What percentage of the allowable charge will the insurance provider pay and what percentage of the allowable charge should I expect to pay? 8)What is the address where the claims need to be sent?

My practice does not accept insurance and I'm considered an out-of-network provider. However, I will provide you with documentation that you can use to file yourself with your insurance company. Some questions to ask your insurance company to determine your out-of-pocket costs: 1) Do I have out-of-network medical and behavioral health benefits? 2) Is pre-authorization (or pre-certification) required to use out-of-network benefits? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from your insurance provider) 3) Is a referral from [the patient]’s primary care provider required? (If this is a “yes”, you will need to obtain this directly from the primary care provider) 4) What is my deductible, has it been met, and do out-of-network expenses count towards my deductible? 7) What percentage of the allowable charge will the insurance provider pay and what percentage of the allowable charge should I expect to pay?

I offer sliding scale rates to make my services more available to those with limited resources. Discounts for services are offered based on availability, income, and family size. Please inquire about these rates by contacting me.