These are some frequently asked questions that we receive at PBH:
Why are you limiting Telehealth?
We are now limiting Video or Phone sessions for New Clients to hardship cases only. After trying telehealth during the Covid Pandemic we feel that in-person counseling is a much more effective treatment venue with more favorable outcomes and will thus require fewer visits to get you feeling better sooner. If you have a physical disability or any other condition that makes it extremely difficult or impossible to attend in person please discuss your case with our front desk personel to obtain an exception.
Here are some of the reasons why we found face to face to be better:
- Many distractions occur during Telehealth that negatively affect the counseling process and its effectiveness:
- At a client’s home children may be playing, dogs barking, or getting calls and text messages while in counseling (no cell phone use is allowed in the counseling offices), or someone else in the home asking, “Where’s the _______?” are all major distractions and annoyances for both clients and counselors trying to treat in the most effective and efficient manner.
- The quiet confines of a counseling office is peaceful, focused, and without the above interruptions.
- Telehealth video can be grainy, freeze up, or involve garbled audio and sometimes totally disconnect – all negative impacts to proper psychological treatment efforts.
- For most telehealth cameras, audio, and certainly with phone counseling, the counselor cannot see body language;
- Things like trembling hands, bouncing feet, and nervous itching etc. will typically be obscured from view and not useful for diagnostic and treatment purposes.
- With phone counseling the counselor cannot even see tears or any facial expressions conducive to appropriate diagnostic and treatment efforts.
- Overall there is little if any kinesics (body language) to be observed with telehealth that may be useful to a clinician.
- Finally, just getting out of the house is very important and therapeutic for one’s mental sense of well-being and is enhancing to the counseling process.
Note: Despite all of the above we will still accommodate telehealth for an extended time for our Current Clients but will phase out Telehealth soon for the best outcomes for our mental health treatment protocols.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept most major (and some smaller) medical insurance company payments subject to any co-pay and/or deductibles. Many result in full payment without any co-pays if deductibles are met.
What are your appointment hours?
Please call to schedule. We see clients daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. We are closed for all major holidays.
Do you have medically managed (prescription drug) treatment or inpatient services?
We do not but following an assessment if it is deemed that you would require these services we can refer you to local facilities/providers that do.
Can you do Court Ordered Assessments?
Yes absolutely. Our counselors have years of experience in providing “Mental Health Needs Assessment and Diagnosis and Treatment Plans” to Judges, Attorneys, and P.O.'s for substance use and other related offenses. We can provide these reports to a variety of courts in the area such as Summit County and Portage County. Note: Although we can provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plans we cannot recommend worthiness in child custody cases. Recommendations for custody of children can only be evaluated and recommended by a Licensed Psychologist. We can provide referrals for this.
Do you see children or can I bring my child to the Counseling Sessions?
Special Note: We are an Adult Mental Health Care Facility for clients 18 years of age and older only. Unfortunately due to insurance limitations no one under the age of 18 is permitted on the premises. We sometimes see clients with serious mental disorders who are high functioning but whose behavior may be disturbing especially to young children so please make arrangements for outside child care prior to your appointment.