Off-Campus Referrals

 There may be times, based on individual needs and CAPS resources, when referrals to other offices, agencies or resources may be required. It is the responsibility of individuals to follow through with treatment referrals. If you wonder if our services are right for you, please call to schedule an appointment to discuss your needs with a counselor. If you would like to find a therapist yourself, the Psychology Today website is an excellent resource that allows you to search for providers by location, insurance provider, types of therapy, gender preference, and so forth. 

You will probably get a voicemail for your first call; you can leave a simple inquiry message such as:

"Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm calling you on [today's date].  My phone number is [phone number] and I am looking for a therapist.  Can you please call me back so I can see if we are a good match?  Here are some good times to call me [list availability]."

If you like a therapist on the phone, that is a promising sign, but if you meet with them at least once in person and don't like their style, try to find someone else.  Off-campus therapy will cost money, so when you call you might want to ask:

1. "Do you have room for a new client?  Could you describe your therapeutic approach for my situation?"
2.  "What is your fee?  Is it based on income?" (that's called a sliding scale)
3.  "How much of your fee do you expect my insurance to cover?"

Your insurance company is the best source of information about cost. Some questions to ask your insurer:

1. Am I covered for therapy and are there any restrictions?
2. How much of the fee will I be expected to pay? (This is known as copay and/or deductible, often $15-$40 per session)
3. Do you pay the therapists directly or will I pay the full fee and then you pay me back a portion?

In Ithaca, the range of full-price fees before insurance is roughly $60-$125.  Agencies are more likely to have sliding scale fees or may be able to see you regardless of income.