Frequently Asked Questions About Working One-on-One With A Parenting Expert/Child Therapist/Adult therapist

Deciding whether or not to work with a therapist to address parenting issues is a very personal decision.  Sometimes it is hard to make that first phone call without knowing what to expect.  Here are a few common questions people have.  Feel free to contact me by clicking here or by calling (704) 413-3323  if you have other questions.

• What kind of people do you work with?

Most of the clients I work with are intelligent, successful people who are struggling to understand why they are unhappy or why their child is displaying challenging behaviors and why parenthood has brought out so many insecurities.  I work with parents who are feeling stuck in parenting patterns that aren’t working and who are motivated to make lasting changes that lead to reconnecting with their child in meaningful ways. I also work directly with children who need a little extra one-on-one support. I also love working with adults who want to better understand themselves and are interested in reparenting their inner child.

• What if the things my child is doing, that are driving me crazy, are totally age appropriate?

Parenting is both wonderful and extremely challenging.  For much of our history as human beings child rearing was a responsibility that was shared by multiple, closely-related family members.  Today’s parents face pressure to figure out each stage their child enters on their own, as though it is a right of passage.  I believe it takes a village to raise a child. If you are frustrated or concerned I am happy to work with you to identify new strategies even if the problem behavior is completely age appropriate.

• Do you work with adults who want to do their own therapy?

Yes! I am passionate about supporting parents who want to do their own inner work so they can become the best version of themselves.  I think of this as learning to “parent” your inner child.  When clients learn to slow down and get to know the young parts of themselves that are longing for connection they see big shifts in all of their relationships. The result is more connection and a more fulfilling life.

• Where do you see clients?

Typically outpatient therapy for children and adolescents occurs in my office in Charlotte, NC.  The location is across the street from the Cotswold Village Shops near the corner of Providence road and S. Sharon Amity.  I also provide virtual therapy for children and parents using a HIPAA compliant tele-medicine platform.  The beauty of virtual appointments is that they allow for more flexibility.  I can see your child as soon as they get home from school or I can do a parenting appointment during your lunch break.  Adult therapy usually occurs virtually but if your preference is to meet in person I can usually accommodate your needs.

• Can you work with my family if we don’t live in Charlotte?

I am licensed in North Carolina and I offer virtual therapy sessions for parents and children who live anywhere in the state.  That means if you live in Raleigh, Durham, Winston Salem, Greensboro, Wrightsville, Asheville or anywhere else in the state we can work together. If, however, you live across the border in South Carolina I can only work with you if you come to my office in Cotswold for an in person appointment.

• What is your availability?

Appointments are available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30-5:30. There is often a short wait for openings in Amanda’s schedule.  Click here to request a 15 minute consultation interview with Amanda if you are ready to see if her services are the right fit for you or your child.

• What payment methods do you accept?

I accept all major credit cards as well as Health Spending Account cards (HSA or FSA).   I find that working with insurance companies leads to a third party dictating  the duration of work and how we work together and this limits my clients success.   If you would like, however, I am happy to provide you with an invoice as an out-of-network provider that you may submit to your insurance company.  It is your responsibility to confirm whether or not services will be covered by your insurance. If you need help finding out whether your policy will cover out of network services I recommend downloading the Better app (which is an amazing service that specializes in just this).

• How much do sessions cost?

The fee for an initial intake appointment (60-90 minutes) is $250.  Follow up appointments (45-50 minutes) are $185.  Fees are payable by credit card.  Phone consultations, paperwork, and other requested services outside of our formal session time will be billed at my hourly rate at increments of 15 minutes.  You will not be charged for services requiring less than 15 minutes.

• That seems like a lot, how much is a fair price anyway?

You know how much you pay your handy man, your plumber and your beautician but maybe you’ve never gone to therapy before and you have no idea what a fair or typical fee is.  To get a better idea, you can check out Healthcare Bluebook and Fair Health Consumer.  Type in your zipcode and search for “psychotherapy 45 minutes” or CPT code 90834.

• Will I receive a Good Faith Estimate and what is that anyway?

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.

Under the law (section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act), health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.

You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. 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/nosurprises.

• What will happen if I decide to contact you?

Here is a short summary of what you can expect from start to finish in working with me.

You reach out by email…

You use the contact me page or you email me at amandazaidman@constructiveparenting.com to schedule a free phone conversation to find out more about how I can help.  We speak by phone and you provide me with a brief overview of what you and your child are struggling with and I share how I can help and answer any questions you have.  From our talk you get an idea of whether our personalities match and whether these services will be a good fit.  We discuss fees and your schedule and at that point you will have an opportunity to set an appointment.

You decide to schedule an appointment…

We choose a time that will work for you and I ask for a private email address. I provide you with a secure sign-on where you will read over forms, fill out electronic consent forms, and submit a developmental history securely.

We have our first session…

We discuss any questions you have regarding the forms I sent you, the limits of confidentiality, and my policies.  The bulk of this session will be spent with me gathering information about you and/or your child so that I can better understand what components have led to the current behavior pattern.  We will clarify what your goals are and what behaviors you would like to see instead.  We will decide if it makes more sense to do only parent consultations or to do a combination of child therapy and parenting consultation.

Follow up sessions…

I will develop a summary of your child, his or her behaviors, contributing factors and what your goals are.  We use this as a guide to help identify what information you need to better understand what is behind the behaviors and what skills you and your child need to learn to change your interactions and make your child more successful.  I will give you concrete parenting tools you can begin using immediately that  are specifically tailored to the behaviors you are seeing.  If you have chosen for me to work with your child one on one work will virtually (or post pandemic it can occur in my office). The goal will be for me to connect with your child, help him or her learn new skills and then help you build on this  so that your child can thrive.

If you have reached out for adult therapy I will provide psychoeducation about nervous system and the modalities I use and we will work together to reach the goals that feel most important to you.

Winding down…

When you  have met your goals we end our sessions.  I give you final recommendations and we go over any questions you may have. I help connect you with any referrals you may need.  I continue to be available if you would like additional support with any of the recommendations I have made.  This could look like monthly appointments for a period of time to fine tune any of the work we have done.  If in the future a different issue arises with this child or another you understand that I am available for additional support.

• How do I schedule my first appointment?

If you have decided that I may be the right person to help you reach your parenting goals, scheduling your first appointment is easy.  Just click here to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation. I look forward to working with you and your family.