How do I make an appointment?

There are several ways you can make an appointment with one of our therapists. You can call our main office number (215) 622-9628. You can also fill out a Contact Form and we will get back to you within 24-48 business hours. If you have a particular therapist you would like to contact, you can call the direct numbers they provide on their pages, located under the About Us tab, or chose their name on the Contact Form.

How important is it that I like my therapist?

Many studies have shown that the relationship between you and your therapist is crucial to the success of the therapy. Your therapist should make you feel safe and respected at all times. When choosing a new therapist it can be helpful to speak with them on the phone or to book a session to see if it's a good fit. The therapist should check in with you at the end of the first session to see if you feel comfortable booking a second appointment. If you have any concerns about your relationship with your therapist we encourage you to fill out our Feedback Form; but most importantly, speak to your therapist about it. Just like with any relationship, there can be times where there is miscommunication or unintentional hurt feelings, speaking with your therapist is the best way to clear up such issues. That being said, there are times when your current therapist may not be the best person to help you due to personality clashes or other reasons. If this is the case, it is the therapist's ethical responsibility to help you find someone who can help you.

How long and how often is therapy?

The typical therapy session lasts 50 minutes. However, there may be times when the therapist may want to schedule a longer session, especially for Relational or Family Therapy cases. Please note that longer sessions will be billed accordingly. The duration and frequency of therapy is dependent on what you and your therapist decide is most conducive to effective treatment. As a general rule, therapy can often take between 8 to 20 sessions, and at times longer treatment may be necessary. Usually, sessions are scheduled once per week. However, there may be times where the frequency is increased. Towards the end of your therapy, your therapist may suggest that you come in for “check in sessions” less frequently to track progress or “brush up” on skills. However, you as the client(s) are in control of the therapy at all times.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes, confidentiality is a foundational component of therapy. We cannot share your information with anyone unless you give us the written permission to do so. This is a right that each client, whether in Individual, Family, or Relational Therapy has the legal right to maintain. However, there are circumstances during which that confidentiality may be broken, such as when you indicate an intent to harm yourself or others. To read more regarding your rights as a client and confidentiality, please visit our Resources page for an important document. There are also special issues regarding how confidentiality works with Relational and Family Therapy that are detailed in our Secrets Policy located on our Forms page.

Do you accept insurance?

We do not currently accept insurance and are considered an out-of-network provider. If you have mental health insurance benefits, you may be eligible to submit a claim for reimbursement for out-of-network services. At your request, we can provide you with a statement of services which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Policies and coverage vary widely, please contact your insurance company directly to verify your plan coverage. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:

• Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion?
• Do I have a deductible and has it been met?
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Is pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed?
• Is there a limit on the number of sessions I may attend?
• Are there restrictions on which therapist I can see?

What can I expect from my first appointment?

We understand how stressful it can be to arrive for your first appointment, especially if you haven’t come to therapy before. In order to help you better familiarize yourself with our office, we’ve provided pictures of both our offices. ​ Prior to your first appointment, please take some time to familiarize yourself with the required forms. If you have the option of filling out the forms online, you can print them and bring them with you to the intake session or email them to your therapist to maximize your session time. There may be additional forms waiting for you on a clip board when you arrive, so coming a few minutes early is beneficial. We recommend at least 15-20 minutes. You can fill out forms in the waiting room area, and help yourself to any refreshments. After completing the forms, your therapist will come out and get you at your scheduled appointment time. There is a restroom located in our office in Doylestown and on the 2nd and 3rd floors in the building of our Philadelphia location. ​ During your first session, you and your therapist will take time to get to know one another and discuss what brought you to therapy. It might be helpful to come to your first appointment with some goals in mind that you and your therapist can discuss. This is also a good time to ask your therapist questions you may have about therapy, as well as any concerns. Because of the personal nature of therapy, it is important you feel comfortable with your therapist and get a clear sense of their approach (also, see “How important is it that I like my therapist?").

What do I do if I don’t feel the therapy is helping me?

Therapy is not an exact science and so it may take some time to see results. There are even times when a client may feel worse for a period of time after beginning therapy. It is also important to note that therapy is a collaborative process and for it to be effective, you need to actively practice the skills learned in therapy in your real life. It may also be helpful to keep a list throughout the week of important things you'd like to discuss in your next session. If you are doing all of this and still feel that the therapy is not helpful to you, you can fill out our Feedback Form. You should also speak about this with your therapist, not doing so may further impede the therapy process. After discussing your concerns, you and your therapist may decide that the best course of action is a referral to a new therapist. Your therapist should assist you in the process of finding a new therapist if you need it. You should never be made to feel uncomfortable for voicing concerns with your therapist.

What does therapy look like?

Therapy is a collaborative process between the client(s) and therapist. During this process the client determines therapeutic goals and the therapist plays a guiding role in helping the client(s) facilitate change. In the beginning of therapy, there is often an assessment phase, which may take several sessions, before the therapist has a complete picture of the presenting issues and relays their observations to the client(s). Following the assessment phase, the client(s) and therapist progress throughout the next several weeks of therapy, before re-evaluating what is the most effective treatment plan for the client(s). Some therapists may utilize homework assignments or readings in conjunction with in-person sessions.

What if I have to cancel an appointment?

We understand that events occur outside of our control and we are sometimes faced with emergencies. However, for all other circumstances, cancellations are accepted without charge up to 24 hours prior to your session time. Please notify your therapist directly via phone or email. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, or you no-show your appointment, you will be charged for the session at full session price. Insurance benefits will not cover late cancel/no-show charges.

What is Relational Therapy?

You can read more about Relational Therapy here.

What is Sex Therapy?

You can read more about Sex Therapy here.

What is Systemic Therapy?

Systemic therapy looks at circular and reciprocal influences on individuals and families, as opposed to linear influences. It examines the way conflict occurs in the context of others and can be applied to individuals, couples, and families within a variety of settings (work, school, culture, etc). Systemic therapy aims to address people in a contextual framework, instead of on the individual level. It is an approach that works with families and those who are in close relationships to foster change. These changes are viewed in terms of the systems of interaction between each person in the family or relationship. The aim of therapy is to work on these problems by encouraging loved ones to help and empathize with each other. Therefore, this therapy helps people understand and appreciate each other's needs, build on strengths and ultimately make useful changes in their lives and relationships.

What is the fee for therapy and what payment methods are accepted?

Therapy is an invaluable investment that can benefit you, and your relationships, for a lifetime. We try to make paying for therapy as convenient as possible. We accept cash, checks and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AmEx). Our therapists offer a limited number of reduced fee spots, based on your household income, for clients that cannot afford the cost of therapy.

Please note that payment is due in full at the end of each session. All fees are based on a 50 minute session. Please contact our therapists for more information.

What types of clients do you see?

Kindred Counseling Center provides services to various populations. For your convenience, we’ve listed some of them under Populations We Work With. We also are able to work with a variety of concerns listed here. If you are concerned about whether we are the "right fit" for you, please feel free to contact us.

Will the therapist take sides?

A therapist’s role is to stay as impartial and objective as possible throughout the therapeutic process. With that being said, there may be times in Relational or Family Therapy sessions where the therapist may focus on a particular individual or issue in order to achieve movement in the system. Our Secrets Policy has more information about this issue. If there is ever a time when you feel your therapist "takes sides" in a disrespectful or unhelpful way please feel free to complete our Feedback Form. In such situations, we also strongly encourage you to discuss the issue with your therapist as you have a right to feel safe and respected, and not doing so, may impede progress.

What questions should I ask my insurance provider about out-of-network benefits?

Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:

• Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
• Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
• If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion?
• Do I have a deductible and has it been met?
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Is pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed?
• Is there a limit on the number of sessions I may attend?
• Are there restrictions on which therapist I can see?