Getting Started

How do I set up a consultation?

You can contact our friendly, helpful New Patient Coordinator by filling out this form or calling 202-234-0903 ext 15.  They will ask what you are looking for help with, your schedule, any preferences you have for therapist (gender, experience level, etc).  They will then recommend a therapist in our practice who is a good fit for you and set up the initial appointment.  

You will receive a follow up email confirming your appointment and with instructions for forms to fill out before your first appointment.

Can I request a specific therapist?

Yes.  You are welcome to look at the bios for all of our therapists.  If there is someone who feels like they would be a good match for you, please let our New Patient Coordinator know.  They can tell you if that therapist has openings.  If not, they can recommend other therapists on our staff who could also be helpful.

What are your office hours?

We offer sessions between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM Monday-Friday.  Each therapist keeps their own schedule.  If you let us know what times work for you, we will set you up with a therapist who matches your availability.  Evening and early morning hours fill most quickly, so if you are able to come in during the day that will provide you with the most options for therapist selection and scheduling.

Do you offer teletherapy?

Yes.  We provide therapy sessions via our HIPAA-secure video conference platform. For more information, click here.

Do you see patients who live outside the DC metropolitan area?

Yes.  We are now able to offer teletherapy services to residents of 34 states through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.  This means that for the first time people from other areas of the country are able to access the expertise of Capital Institute therapists.

What if I am experiencing a crisis?

If you are already a patient of Capital Institute:  

If you are experiencing a life-threatening or other medical emergency, you should call your therapist’s urgent message number to leave a message and then immediately call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. 

The urgent message number for your therapist can be obtained by calling our main office:  202-234-0903 and then dialing your therapist’s extension.  Their urgent message number will be on their outgoing voicemail.  If your therapist is unavailable for urgent calls, the number of the covering clinician will be on their voicemail.  

You can also access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.

If you are not currently a patient of Capital Institute:

Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Once the crisis has stabilized and you are not in danger, contact us to access on-going therapy.

Sessions

How long are sessions?

Standard sessions are 45 minutes.  Your therapist may recommend longer or shorter sessions depending on what will work best for your treatment plan.

How often are sessions?

We typically recommend meeting once per week at the beginning of therapy.  We find that for most people this allows the most efficient use of your time and resources. 

As therapy progresses, many patients find they are able to benefit from less frequent sessions, ranging from every other week to once a month.

For people who are experiencing an immediate crisis or are at risk for self harm, we may recommend initially meeting more than once per week until their situation has stabilized.  

Some patients who are experiencing severe symptoms that interfere with their daily life benefit from more intensive treatment.  We are able to customize a treatment plan that can include sessions between 3 to 5 times per week and may involve a team of therapists.

What happens in the first session?

The purpose of the first session is for the therapist to find out what you are looking for help with and to provide information about what treatment approach might be useful. The first session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and to begin to decide whether you would feel comfortable working with this therapist.

After reviewing forms and giving you information about confidentiality, the therapist will probably ask you to talk about what brings you into treatment. The therapist may then ask some specific questions to make sure they clearly understand the problems you are facing.

It may take more than one session for the therapist to get all the information they need. Once this initial evaluation is completed, the therapist will provide you with their treatment recommendations. You can then decide whether and how you want to proceed with therapy.

While we work with most psychological problems, if your therapist believes we are not the best treatment provider for you, they will recommend other resources that might be helpful instead of or in addition to treatment with us.

How long does therapy take?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is designed to be a practical and efficient form of treatment.  Research shows that for many problems people can experience measurable improvement in as few as 12-20 sessions.  Optimal outcome may be gained with additional sessions.  

People who are experiencing more complex problems may benefit from longer-term treatment.  In addition, some patients find that once their most troubling symptoms have improved, there are other issues and goals they want to work on.  

Your therapist will collaborate with you to monitor your progress and recommend changes to the treatment plan if it appears that therapy is not moving quickly enough to meet your goals. We are always open to continuing therapy as long as you and your therapist believe it is helpful.  

Do you prescribe medication?

We do not prescribe medication.  However, we can recommend psychiatrists who do.  We are also happy to consult with any prescriber you are currently seeing to coordinate your care.

What if I feel that my therapist is not a good match or I want to try a different approach?

The most important consideration for us is that you get the help you are looking for.  You always have the right to request to see another therapist in our practice or to be referred to an outside therapist.  If you have concerns, we suggest you first bring them up with your therapist.  You may also contact the Director of the Institute, Dr. Stephen Holland.

Insurance and Fees

How is payment handled?

Payment is expected at the time of your session. The most convenient method is to set up automatic payments by credit card. You may also make credit card payments directly through our secure Patient Portal.  And we accept checks and cash.

Do you have a sliding scale for fees?

We offer a range of fees based on the experience level of the therapist.  All of our therapists routinely consult with Dr. Holland and other senior supervisors.  Individual therapists do not in general adjust their fees.  If you have concerns about being able to afford therapy, please let us know so we can make appropriate arrangements for who you see in our practice or elsewhere.