Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
What can I expect when I call to make an appointment?
You can expect a brief conversation with one of our administrative staff where they will ask your name, date of birth, and reason for seeking therapy, preferences around in person vs. telehealth sessions, location, days and times that work best for you, your clinical needs, and if we are the best fit for you. If you want to use your health insurance or EAP, please also have that information available. Depending on clinician availability, you may be matched with a therapist, placed on the waitlist, or provided with appropriate referrals. Calling the office does not guarantee that you will get 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?
We ask for at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Please call the office to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancellations within 24 hours of your appointment time will be considered a no show and will result in a $25 no show fee.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?
Therapy sessions outside of business hours are by appointment only and are at the discretion of each therapist. If you are interested in an appointment outside of business hours, speak with your therapist directly. We do not offer weekend appointments.
What if I want medication management?
ABHS is not currently accepting new clients or external referrals for medication management. Current clients may reach out to their medication provider directly or call the office. ABHS does not provide same day appointments, and medication management providers are available Monday through Thursday.
What if I want a family member to join my session?
Therapy is most effective when all participants are willing and motivated to engage in sessions. Please discuss with your family member and therapist prior to inviting anyone into a session.
What if I am in crisis or my family member is in crisis?
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. Additional resources for crisis include dialing 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline or Mobile Crisis at (615) 726-0125.
Insurance & Employee Assistance Programs
Do you take insurance?
Yes, ABHS is in network with most major insurance companies including TennCare and TriCare. If we do not take your insurance, we can provide you with a superbill for reimbursement through your insurance provider. We are not currently in network with Ambetter or Medicare.
How much is my co-pay?
Co-pays vary by insurance companies and plans. The best way to find out what your copay will be for services is to contact your insurance company at the number listed on the back of your card and ask what the copay will be for mental health services. Your co-pay must be paid prior to your session.
Do you take Employee Assistance Programs?
If ABHS is a provider with your EAP, your company should provide you with the name of the company that oversees the EAP and an authorization number. If ABHS is a provider, our licensed clinicians can see you via your EAP. Please have your authorization number available when you call to schedule. We cannot call your EAP to determine your EAP benefits. We currently take Compsych, Optum, and Cigna EAPs
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.
What if I need my clinician to provide documentation?
Completion of outside documentation for treatment purposes is billed at the rate of $25 per hour. We are unable to provide outside documentation before you have completed six consecutive sessions with your clinician. It is at the clinician’s discretion whether they will complete requested documentation.
Do you provide a Good Faith Estimate?
A Good Faith Estimate is now required by federal law for all clients who are self-pay either because of lack of insurance or due to waiving the use of their insurance for coverage of services. More information can be found here.
What does ABHS NOT do?
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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.