Frequently asked questions.
I’m interested in seeking treatment. What’s next?
We’d love to hear from you! We always start with a free phone consultation to ensure that we’re the right fit for your needs and answer any questions you have.
You have two options for booking the phone consultation with us:
1) Book a free phone consultation here.
2) Call and leave us a secure voicemail at 253-434-4220.
If you are interested in our services after that initial call, and if we believe we are well-suited to helping with your needs, we will schedule an initial intake appointment (either via zoom or in-person) for 90 minutes to complete a thorough assessment and make sure you are matched with a therapist who can best meet your needs.
The first 2-4 sessions are assessment and treatment planning, and you will be provided extensive information about DBT so that you can make an informed decision prior to committing to the program. We encourage you to ask questions to determine whether DBT generally, our program specifically, and your assigned individual clinician are good fits for you.
Do you provide DBT for adolescents?
Yes! We provide DBT for adolescents (ages 13-18) in Washington state.
Do you provide DBT for adults?
Yes, we provide DBT for adults (ages 18 and up) in Washington state.
Do you take insurance?
We are not in-network with any insurance plans, but we will provide you with a monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be reimbursed by your insurance company for a substantial portion of therapy costs. We recommend that if you have never used your out-of-network insurance benefits, you call your insurance company (the phone number is on your card) and ask the following questions:
Am I eligible for out-of-network therapy?
(If relevant) Am I eligible for these services to be delivered via telehealth (i.e., modifier 95 after the above codes)?
What is my out-of-network deductible?
Will you reimburse for services provided by a clinician with an associate license (LMHCA or LSWAIC) under the supervision of a licensed psychologist?
What percentage of the provider’s fee is reimbursed for out-of-network services?
Do I have any limits to my out-of-network coverage (e.g., # visits)?
What is the allowable amount for each procedure code?
Your insurance company may ask about the services that will be provided - here are the procedure codes we use:
90791: Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation
90837: 55-60 minutes of psychotherapy
90853: Group therapy
90849: Multifamily Group therapy
You may also use an HSA or FSA card, if you have one, to pay for services at DBT Center of Tacoma.
Many clients are able to advocate to their insurance company to be reimbursed for comprehensive DBT with us as if it were in-network, if the treatment is deemed medically necessary. This often means a lower deductible and a higher % of costs reimbursed. This is called a benefit level exception (or “network deficiency”) and is based on the reality that outpatient comprehensive DBT (the gold standard) is unavailable in-network with insurance, particularly within a 30 mile radius of Tacoma. You can find helpful resources for advocating to insurance here, and your current provider may be able to help. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about this process.
Curious about why we aren’t paneled with insurance? The current healthcare system makes access to sustainable, effective healthcare extremely difficult for clients and deeply undervalues the time, emotional labor, and massive financial investments made by clinicians to provide therapy. Further, DBT is a highly specialized treatment, requiring extensive training and elements of treatment that are not standard in other outpatient models, including therapist consultation team and as-needed phone coaching. DBT clinicians generally see a smaller caseload of clients than a general practitioner, due to the specialized nature of the treatment and increased demands on their time. Therefore, in order to pay our clinicians a living wage and a wage that honors their hard work and specialization, we are unable to be paneled with any insurance companies.
What are your fees?
Intake evaluation (90 minutes): $300
Individual therapy session (typically 55 minutes) fees depend on the clinician you see:
Master’s clinicians: $150-175
Founders (Dr. Hunter and Dr. LoTempio): $325
Adult skills group (2 hours): $125
Multifamily skills group (2 hours): $200 (covers tuition for adolescent and 1-2 parents/guardians - no separate fee per family member)
You will receive a detailed Fee Agreement with additional information during the informed consent process.
For comprehensive DBT you can anticipate weekly individual therapy and weekly skills group for 6-12 months. You will receive a Good Faith Estimate covering expected total costs in the early phase of treatment.
Do you provide in-person services? Do you offer telehealth/virtual services (such as via zoom)?
We are able to offer both in-person services in Ruston, WA for those in the surrounding areas (Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Vashon, Federal Way, Lakewood, Bremerton, Olympia, Port Orchard) who are able to reach our office.
We are also able to provide HIPAA-secure telehealth services via Zoom (or similar platform) for clients throughout WA state who prefer this option. We know that one way of doing therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Part of our mission is to increase the accessibility of DBT, which is a highly specialized treatment that has historically been unavailable to most Washington residents due to geographical limitations. As long as you are located in the state of Washington, we would be happy to work with you virtually.
Do you prescribe medications?
We do not currently have a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner on staff for medication management. However, we are happy to provide referrals and to work in conjunction with your medical treatment team throughout your therapy.
Do parents have to participate in DBT for adolescents?
Parent participation is a core part of DBT for adolescents. At least one parent or guardian attends the multi-family skills group alongside their teen, learning the same skills so the whole family can support each other and reduce conflict at home. It is incredibly helpful for the parent to also learn and practice DBT skills and to have a shared understanding and vocabulary with their teen.
What conditions does DBT treat?
DBT is effective for adolescents and adults struggling with self-harm, suicidal thinking, borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, substance use, eating disorders, trauma, and intense emotional dysregulation — even without a specific diagnosis.
Why doesn’t the DBT Center of Tacoma respond to online reviews?
Posting a review of our services is a client’s right, and it is entirely up to the individual to decide whether they wish to write a review. We never ask clients to post reviews of our practice and we never respond to reviews for the reasons below:
The American Psychological Association's Ethics Code states that it is unethical for psychologists to solicit testimonials: Principle 5.05 "Psychologists do not solicit testimonials from current therapy clients/patients or other persons who because of their particular circumstances are vulnerable to undue influence." Since a former client may decide to return to therapy with us at a later date, we do not request testimonials from people who have ended therapy with us.
Unlike other business owners who may respond to their online reviews, as mental health providers, we must provide confidentiality to all clients. This means we are restricted from responding in any way that acknowledges whether someone has been in our care.
If you work with us, we hope we can discuss your feelings about our work directly and in person. This may not always feel comfortable, but discussion of your positive and negative reactions to our work can be an important part of your therapy. If our program is not a good match, we are always happy to help you find a therapist who better suits you.
If you believe that we, or any other licensed mental health professional(s), have done something harmful, please consider contacting the WA licensing board to make a formal complaint. This may protect other consumers of therapy services. Be aware that details of your therapy may come up if there is a formal investigation.
