• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING GROUP SESSIONS

  • What will my child be doing in group?

    In our groups we use a combination of several different curricula including social thinking, positive behavior support, collaborative problem solving, and emotional regulation as well as in the moment and incidental teaching and modeling of skills. Each group has a lesson related to the skill that we are focusing on. Each lesson typically includes a game or activity to teach and reinforce the concepts we are mastering. We also have time at the beginning of each group for students to share how their week went and what they are looking forward to during the upcoming week. This allows all of us the opportunity to share situations that have occurred during the week and problem solve/reflect together. This is particularly helpful because often it can be more beneficial for participants to hear from others their own age, to know that they are not the only one experiencing these things, and to problem solve together.

    Do you accept insurance for group?

    Our groups are skill-based and therefore are not covered by insurance. We keep the private pay fees for our groups reasonably low.

     

    Some providers are accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, UHC, HPHC, and Tufts HMO Commercial for individual therapy. No other plans are accepted at this time.

    We do not currently accept any public plans through MassHealth or the Health Connector. Additionally, if you are a BCBS subscriber, please inquire with whom your behavioral/mental health is contracted. At times, it is contracted through providers which Compass may not be credentialed with.

     

    Many families have found success working with ARC and HMEA to get assistance in paying for skills groups.

    How do I enroll my child/teen?

    Our skills groups and individual service providers are accepting new participants when space is available and on an open enrollment basis. To connect with our intake coordinator, please fill out the appropriate contact form.

    What is the Parent Consultation?

    The parent consultation is a time for you to discuss your child/teen/adolescent with one of our providers without your child present. We will gather information about your child/teen/adolescent from you related to areas or strength, areas where it would be helpful for them to develop additional skills, personality, likes and dislikes, areas of concern, and more. This part of the process will help us make a determination about what type of services would best benefit your child and will allow us to determine if we are currently running a group that would be a good fit for your child/teen/adolescent. Individual services may be recommended at this time in order for your child to acquire the necessary skills to be a successful participant in one of our groups.

     

    What is the Child/Adolescent/Teen Consultation?

    The Child/Adolescent/Teen consultation is a time for one of our providers to meet with your child to do an informal assessment related to skills and to gather information about them including likes, dislikes, personality, and more. It is also a time for your child to meet our provider and see the physical space that group will be taking place in. From here our providers will determine if we have a current group that it running that would be a good fit for your child, if individual services are being recommended, or if we will continue to work on finding a good group fit for your child.

     

    We are very thoughtful about who we group together for our skills groups. We want to make sure that children are placed in a group where they will be able to make the most progress related to the skills identified as areas of need during the consultations. As mentioned above, providers may recommend individual services related to specific skills before students would be ready to join one of our groups.

     

    The total combined cost for the child and parent consultation is $75. The consultation length combined is 45 minutes.

    What is Telehealth?

    Telehealth technology allows us to communicate remotely with providers. This technology allows us to “meet” with our providers on a virtual platform from the comfort of our own homes. Despite telehealth’s many redeeming qualities, the idea of a video chat or phone call with a professional may spark anxiety for clients. However, there are many helpful ways to prepare for and feel confident using a telehealth platform for sessions. Learn more

    What is the Cost of Group?

    Group is $65 per session. Groups meet once per week for 45 minutes.

    What is the Cost Private Pay Therapy?

    Private Pay therapy is $130 per 60 minute session. The cost for a 45 minute private pay session is $97.50.