What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (“CBT”) is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is a type of treatment that differs from other traditional “talk” psychotherapies in that the therapist and the patient will actively work together to help the patient recover from his or her difficulties. CBT treatment is problem-focused and goal-directed in addressing the challenging symptoms of various disorders. Because CBT is an active intervention, it also requires the client to do homework and practice outside of sessions.
CBT is proven to be effective for treating anxiety and other related disorders and focuses on teaching clients to gradually confront the things they fear in order to feel less afraid. Additional goals of CBT are for the client to learn healthier ways of coping with stressful situations as well as to become aware of – and then change – the way they think in critical situations.
What is the process for setting up an appointment?
If you are interested in setting up an appointment, you can contact Dr. Spoto directly either by email at dr.deannaspoto@gmail.com or by phone at (516) 847-2682. After a brief phone conversation to ensure that Dr. Spoto is the best match for your therapy needs, an initial evaluation will be scheduled. For child or adolescent patients, the initial meeting will consist of time spent with parents to gather background information. Dr. Spoto will also obtain collateral diagnostic information from the child. The initial session may involve a clinical interview, completion of self-report questionnaires, and when appropriate, consultation with other providers and/or school personnel.
How often does someone come for therapy?
Most people attend therapy on a weekly basis for 45-50 minute sessions. CBT is meant to be a short term therapeutic intervention with a “typical” course of treatment lasting anywhere from 12-20 sessions (3-5 months) depending on the nature and severity of a patient's difficulties. However, for some clients the length of treatment may vary and can be longer than 20 sessions. Dr. Spoto also offers "booster" sessions for patients who have successfully "graduated" from treatment and require additional sessions to review and apply skills learned during treatment.
Do you take insurance?
Dr. Spoto is a fee-for-service provider and does not accept or participate in any insurance programs. However, she will be able to provide receipts that can be submitted to your particular insurance plan.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Dr. Spoto accepts cash and checks.
Can I use my out-of-network benefits?
Depending on your particular insurance plan and out-of-network provider benefits, you may be reimbursed for all or a portion of your therapy payments. The standard CPT-codes that are used are 90791 for the initial evaluation and 90834 for a 45-minute therapy session with a licensed psychologist. You can inquire about the reimbursement rate from your insurance carrier and discuss what portion of the visits will be covered