Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if Rockwall Child & Family Psychology Center is a good fit for my child/family?
A phone consultation is the best way to determine this. Further, keep in mind that your psychologist will provide referrals if specialized treatment not offered at the center is deemed necessary (e.g., substance abuse treatment, biofeedback).
How do I make an appointment?
Feel free to contact our office. Please be aware that email is not considered to be a confidential form of communication. If you wish to communicate electronically on an ongoing basis, you may be provided access to a patient portal prior to your initial appointment.
Can I talk to you before deciding to schedule?
Yes. Once you have requested an appointment, your psychologist will contact you to obtain information about your child, as well as basic demographic information and insurance benefits.
When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time of service.
How do I know my copay?
Prior to your first appointment, your benefits will be verified and you will be contacted with the expected payment due.
Be aware that insurance companies sometimes quote benefits that are incorrect or have changed without our knowledge. Any changes will be communicated as soon as possible. To aid in this, please provide your psychologist with any current or expected changes to your insurance plan as soon as that information is available. Balances will be communicated as soon as possible and are due at the next date of service. Preauthorization for psychological testing is often required, and this process, including the expected cost of an evaluation will be discussed prior to scheduling a testing session.
What form of payment do you accept?
Cash, check, and all major credit cards and Health Savings Account cards.
What insurance do you take?
We accept Tricare, BlueCross/BlueShield, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare, United Health Care/United Behavioral Health, Aetna (EAP not accepted), Compsych (EAP not accepted), Magellan HMO/PPO, and Multiplan.
Medicaid/CHIP not accepted. If you don’t have insurance, contact us to discuss out-of-pocket payment options.
Who can access my child’s records?
Only an individual or their legal guardian can access psychological records. If you are 18 years or older, you must sign a release form before your psychologist will send records or discuss any aspect of your treatment with another individual, including another family member.
How long are sessions?
Therapy sessions typically last between 45-60 minutes. Evaluations may take several hours, and are typically scheduled across multiple days.
How long will my child be in therapy?
This depends on many factors. In some cases, only a few sessions are necessary. Many interventions take between 8-10 sessions. Your psychologist will work with you and your family to create appropriate treatment goals. Progress toward these goals will be reviewed at each session.
When will I get my test results?
Typically test results, including the full psychological report, are completed within 2-4 weeks of the last day of the evaluation. At this time, a feedback session is scheduled to review the results and recommendations. Reports can be sent to other providers and/or schools upon request AFTER you sign a release form allowing the psychologist to release you or your child’s records.
Do you prescribe medication?
No. Only medical doctors and nurse practitioners prescribe medication. Referrals and consultation for medication can be made upon request. Psychologists do not prescribe or make any recommendations regarding specific medications or other medical treatments.
How do I know when my next appointment is?
You will be provided with the date of your next scheduled appointment at the end of each session. However, you may also access the patient portal to view or change your appointment.
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
Please contact the office at least 24 hours in advance of a scheduled appointment if you are unable to attend, in order to avoid any cancellation fees.
Do I need to attend my child’s appointments?
It is always required that you attend the first session. In most cases, one or more family members will be involved in treatment, particularly for younger children. However, teenagers and young adults may attend sessions alone (I.e., without a parent in the waiting room) with prior consent from the psychologist. In some cases, parents may attend some sessions individually to learn strategies to manage behaviors at home, or review test results or treatment progress.
For evaluations, parents are required to remain in the waiting room for the duration of the evaluation, unless permission is provided by the psychologist. If a parent or legal guardian is unable to bring a child to therapy, keep in mind that you must ask your psychologist if it is appropriate to have a friend or other family member bring your child to the appointment.
Further, if you wish for the psychologist to communicate with this individual, you MUST sign a release form PRIOR to the session. Keep in mind, unless designated as a legal guardian, grandparents, stepparents, and siblings are not able to schedule initial appointments or discuss a child’s treatment with the psychologist at any time without prior signed consent.
What if my appointment is during school hours?
We strive to minimize the amount of school time missed as a result of treatment. With that in mind, all appointments are considered excused absences, and a school excuse note will be provided as needed. Please be mindful of field trips, school holidays, state testing, etc., when scheduling your appointment. Be sure to cancel 24 hours in advance if an appointment coincides with a mandatory school event.
What if I need a custody evaluation?
Rockwall Child & Family Psychology Center does not conduct custody evaluations under any circumstances. Further, if you are in the process of a divorce, we will not provide psychological testing of any kind until custody is determined, as evaluations are often subpoenaed in such cases. However, referrals to other providers are available upon request.