FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Since Dr. McCarthy keeps his fee at the lower range for PhD psychologists, there are no discounts, packages, or sliding scale fee. However, he is a provider for most health insurance companies. Regarding marriage counseling: what's important to know is that most all health insurance plans say they do not cover marital therapy. However if you know how to ask the right question: "do you cover marriage therapy if you have a mental health diagnosis" most health plans will tell you that it is covered. This means there needs to be some degree of significant anxiety or depressed feelings honestly being caused by the relationship problems which would fit the criteria for one of the less severe mental health diagnoses such as situational Adjustment Disorder (often this is the case when marital stress is substantial). The determination of whether you would fit the criteria can often be made just by talking with you for a few minutes in the 15 min. free phone consultation.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We usually start with getting acquainted in the 15-20 min. free phone consultation so I can hear about your situation briefly and answer any questions you have about the process. I share with you the overall approach of helping you both: (1.) Identify and change your Negative Relationship Patterns (2) Commit to achieving an Extraordinary Relationship where you both explore and find out exactly what your partner needs to feel deeply loved, and then consciously meet those unique love needs through unselfish love (3) Learn new skills for communicating and how to stop repeating patterns of conflict through a highly respectful conflict resolution method.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am unusual in being dual licensed: as a PhD psychologist and also as a MN Marriage & Family Therapist. I specialize in working with couples—see above About section for more details.