FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
What can I expect when I call to make an appointment?
When you call to schedule an appointment, one of our administrative staff members will have a brief conversation with you. They’ll ask for your name, date of birth, reason for seeking therapy, preferences for in-person or telehealth sessions, preferred location, available days and times, and details about your clinical needs to determine if we’re the best fit for you. If you plan to use health insurance or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), please have that information ready. Depending on clinician availability, you may be matched with a therapist, placed on our waitlist, or provided with other referral options. Please note that calling the office does not guarantee an appointment.
What if my child is 16?
In Tennessee, people age 16 and older are legally protected to make their own mental health decisions. If you are a caregiver interested in therapy for a minor and your child is 16 or older, they will need to call our office to make their appointment and complete their paperwork. See more information here: TDMHSAS Best Practices
What can I expect before my first session?
You can expect to receive a link from FormDoctor to fill out administrative paperwork including: consent to treatment, attendance and financial policies, HIPAA and confidentiality information, insurance and payment information, and other documents needed before you can meet with your therapist. Please submit these documents 24 hours prior to your first appointment as we cannot see you for your first appointment until we receive these documents. Custody agreements or parenting plans must be provided prior to your first session to ensure we are meeting legal requirements for consent to treatment.
What can I expect at my first session?
Your therapist will meet with you either in person or will send a link to a telehealth session via email prior to your scheduled time. During the first session, your therapist will explain limitations of confidentiality, ask you questions about your current mental health concerns or symptoms, mental health treatment history, family history, medications and medical history, and answer any questions you may have about the therapeutic relationship and process. Please be on time for your appointment, as we will consider the session to be a no show if you are more than 15 minutes late. If you are a caregiver of a client under 16, you will attend the intake session and the clinician will see the child beginning at the second session.
Do you provide telehealth?
Yes, ABHS offers both in person and telehealth sessions. We use Google Meet as part of our HIPAA compliant telehealth services, which can be accessed via any browser and requires a camera and microphone on your device. We guarantee confidentiality on our side of the telehealth relationship. It is up to you to secure your setting for privacy and confidentiality. We cannot provide telehealth to clients who are outside of Tennessee. Clients seen via telehealth are expected to provide the address of their current location.
What if I need to reschedule an appointment?
We kindly ask that you provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Please call the office directly to make any changes. Cancellations made within 24 hours of your appointment will be considered a no-show and will incur a $25 no-show fee.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
Therapy sessions outside regular business hours are available by appointment only and are at the discretion of each therapist. If you're interested in an evening appointment, please discuss this directly with your therapist. Please note that we do not offer appointments on weekends.
Do you offer medication management?
ABHS is accepting new clients for medication management at select locations. If you’re an existing client, you can reach out to your medication provider directly or call our office for assistance. Please note that same-day appointments are not available, and our medication management providers are available Monday through Thursday.
Can a family member join my session?
We’re here to support your journey, and sometimes that may include inviting a family member into a session. Therapy works best when everyone involved is open and motivated to participate, so we encourage you to talk it over with both your family member and your therapist before making the invitation. Together, we can ensure the most positive and productive experience for everyone.
What should I do if I or a family member is in crisis?
ABHS is not a crisis response center and cannot provide emergency mental health or medication support. If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately. For additional crisis support, you can also call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 or reach out to Mobile Crisis at (615) 726-0125. Please note that ABHS therapists are not available for emergency or crisis calls.
Insurance & Employee Assistance Programs
Do you take insurance?
Yes, ABHS is in-network with most major commercial insurance providers, including Medicare, TennCare, and TriCare. If we are not in-network with your insurance, we can provide a superbill for you to submit for reimbursement. Please keep in mind that Medicare, TriCare, and some Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) require therapy to be provided by a licensed therapist only (no interns).
How much is my co-pay?
Your co-pay amount depends on your specific insurance plan and coverage. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly at the number on the back of your card and ask about the co-pay for mental health services. Our administrative team can also assist with any information provided by your insurance. Please note: your co-pay must be paid prior to each session.
Do you participate with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)?
Yes, ABHS participates with select Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). To confirm if your company's EAP is accepted, please contact your employer or EAP provider for details, including the authorization process. Currently, we accept EAPs through Compsych, Optum, and Cigna. Please have your authorization number ready when scheduling.
What is the self pay rate?
The self pay rate for sessions is $100 per 50 minute session. Full payment for the session is collected prior to each session. We also have a sliding fee scale. Please call the Nashville office for more information.
Can I make a payment online?
Yes, we can take payment through our online payment system. Existing clients can make payments via the Patient Portal.
Got Questions?
Can My Clinician Provide Documentation for Me?
Yes, your clinician can assist with documentation for treatment purposes after you’ve completed six consecutive sessions. Please note that there is a fee of $25 per hour for completing outside documentation, and it’s up to your clinician’s discretion to determine if they can fulfill the request.
Do You Provide a Good Faith Estimate?
Yes, we provide a Good Faith Estimate as required by federal law for all self-pay clients—whether you’re paying out of pocket due to lack of insurance or choosing not to use your insurance for services. For more information, please refer to this resource.
What Services Does ABHS Not Offer?
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Parental capacity assessments
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Psychological or psychiatric evaluations, assessments, or testing
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ADHD or autism spectrum disorder testing or evaluation
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Geriatric evaluations
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Alcohol and Drug Evaluation / DUI evaluations
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Substance use treatment
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Domestic violence, anger management, or parenting classes
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Parenting evaluations
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Forensic evaluation/court-ordered mental health, psychiatric, or psychological evaluation
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Court-ordered treatment of any kind
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Testimony for custody arrangements
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Supervised visitation
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Conversion therapy
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Sex addiction treatment
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Gambling addiction treatment
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Sex offender evaluation or treatment
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Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
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EMDR, brainspotting, or neurofeedback
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Case management
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Supervision for external licensure candidates
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Same day appointments
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We are not currently accepting new clients for medication management
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Single session evaluations of any kind, including emotional support animal letters. We require a minimum of six sessions before we create client paperwork for any purpose.
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Crisis response: ABHS is not a crisis response center for emergency mental health or medication needs. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. ABHS therapists are not available for emergency or crisis calls at any time.
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ABHS is a Tennessee licensed healthcare provider, who is qualified in the psychiatric or psychological field. However, ABHS does not contract with authorizing law enforcement agencies and cannot provide statements or comments about individuals ability to carry firearms on to school property.
ABHS is not a crisis center
ABHS is not a crisis center and does not provide emergency mental health or medication support. For crisis situations, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.