VIDEO THERAPY is available to Hawaii residents. I am a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider, so you can be confident that I have the proper training to deliver safe and effective therapy via video interactions with you.

 

 

 

SHOULD YOU DO VIDEO THERAPY WITH ME?

Technology, laws & ethics, and insurance reimbursement for video therapy (telehealth/telemental health) have changed dramatically the past few years. Research studies show that there are no significant differences in efficacy between video therapy and in-person therapy, and that with video-therapy, there is POSITIVE OUTCOMES and HIGH PATIENT SATISFACTION. *This is based on a 2008 meta-analysis of 93 studies, and a 2009 meta-analysis of 148 peer-reviewed publications. I enjoy providing video therapy and my clients find it just as helpful as in-person sessions, and is more convenient. Many major government organizations support the use of telemental health, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMSHSA), US Dept of Health and Human Services, US Department of Defense, especially considering that 58 millions of people who need mental healthcare, are not getting it. Most likely, your insurance company in HI and CA are reimbursing your video therapy session fees. 

 

 

HOW? AND COST

I use the “HMSA Online Care” app for video sessions for HMSA members. I use the “Simplepractice” app for video sessions for non-HMSA members.

They are both safe HIPAA-compliant platforms (apps) that you can download on your smartphone or any other digital device.

If you have HMSA insurance, most likely, sessions are free for you.

If you do not have HMSA Insurance, your fee is $140 per 60-minute session (50-minutes spent together, and 10-minutes for me to review, plan, and document your interventions). You can seek reimbursement if you have a PPO plan (I can provide you with a “superbill for reimbursement). Please check with your insurance company for details.

Call me to make sure we are a good fit for each other, and we can schedule your appointment if we are: 808-690-7597

 

 

PROCEDURES:

1. HMSA ONLINE CARE SESSIONS (USUALLY FREE FOR HMSA MEMBERS)

A.  If you found me on HMSA ONLINE CARE, and are not seeking help for a crisis situation, and do not have an active addiction, you can schedule an appointment with me via my calendar there or call me for an appt: 808-690-7597.

• ***Make sure that at your appointment time, you will be in a private and quiet space with no interruptions, and where no one can hear what you are saying. Also note that we will be fully focused on our session together and will not be multitasking and doing anything else during the session. If you cannot provide this kind of space for yourself at the time of your session, you should reschedule for when you can.***  It is also helpful if you have some blank paper and basic art supplies such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, etc. You can have as little or as much variety as you want. Even just a few different colored pens could work.

• At our scheduled appointment time, open your app, find “Laura Tran” and click on it. We should be connected momentarily.

• If you would like to see me regularly after the first video session, whether in person or via video, I may send you some forms/info for you to provide me via Simplepractice, for a more comprehensive background gathering and treatment formulation. If this is the case, see “SimplePractice Telehealth Sessions” steps 4-6 below.

• Thank you for entrusting me to help!

 

B.  If you HAVE HMSA INSURANCE and would like to schedule a session with me:

• Call me at 808-690-7597 to make sure I can properly assist you with video sessions (Telehealth), given the kind of help you are seeking. I see adults online who are not in crisis and do not have an active addiction that affects their ability to participate in therapy.

• If we are a good fit for working together, we schedule your appointment.

• Download the “HMSA Online Care” app on any device you want sessions on.

• Register yourself on the HMSA Online Care app. For immediate help, call 808-948-6013. If it is unclear after registering what your copay will be in seeing me, you can call this same number and ask (it should be $0, or $10 or less).

• ***Make sure that at your appointment time, you will be in a private and quiet space with no interruptions, and where no one can hear what you are saying. Also note that we will be fully focused on our session together and will not be multitasking and doing anything else during the session. If you cannot provide this kind of space for yourself at the time of your session, you should reschedule for when you can.***  It is also helpful if you have some blank paper and basic art supplies such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, etc. You can have as little or as much variety as you want. Even just a few different colored pens could work.

• At our scheduled appointment time, open your app, find “Laura Tran” and click on it. We should be connected momentarily.

• If you would like to see me regularly after the first video session, whether in person or via video, I may send you some forms/info for you to provide me via Simplepractice, for a more comprehensive background gathering and treatment formulation. If this is the case, see “SimplePractice Telehealth Sessions” steps 4-6 below.

• Thank you for entrusting me to help!

 

 

2.  For Everyone Else, NON-HMSA MEMBERS (sessions are done using “TELEHEALTH BY SIMPLEPRACTICE” APP):

• Call me at 808-690-7597 to make sure I can properly assist you with video sessions (Telehealth), given the kind of help you are seeking. I see adults online who are not in crisis and do not have an active addiction that affects their ability to participate in therapy.
• If we are a good fit for working together, we schedule your appointment, and I take down your info to be entered into my database.
• Download the “Telehealth by SimplePractice” app on any digital device you want to have sessions on.
• Receive an email from me to create Client Portal login and password, to receive forms to sign electronically and info to fill out. Accessing this portal is also a way for you to confidentially communicate with me (HIPAA-compliant security).
• Once you have the login and password, you can communicate with me privately there (your client portal).
• Review and sign all forms electronically that I have sent you a day before your session. Please call for clarification on any question before signing. Most of it is standard practice for therapy. Therapy is strictly confidential, except for the cases of possible serious self-harm and other special situations indicated in the consent form. There is a $50/session fee for any sessions cancelled less than 24-hours in advance.
• Complete any other info I had requested with the forms, such as demographic info and billing info. Most people save their credit card info there (it is a secure site) and you will get automatically charged for your copay or fee the night after your session, and will receive an automatic receipt for your payment. Call me with any questions.
• You will receive an email from me with a unique URL link that you will click on to start your session with me later.
• ***Make sure that at your appointment time, you will be in a private and quiet space with no interruptions, and where no one can hear what you are saying. Also note that we will be fully focused on our session together and will not be multitasking and doing anything else during the session. If you cannot provide this kind of space for yourself at the time of your session, you should reschedule for when you can.***  It is also helpful if you have some blank paper and basic art supplies such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, pastels, etc. You can have as little or as much variety as you want. Even just a few different colored pens could work.
• At your scheduled appointment time, find the email with the URL link, and click on it. This will connect us to have our video session together.
• Your receipt should appear on your client portal the day after your appointment for you to print if you want. If you need a Superbill for reimbursement with your insurance company, please let me know if you would like them after every session or monthly.
• Thank you for entrusting me to help!

 

*Journal of Technology in Human Services, Vol. 26, No. 2 and Clinical Psychology: Science and Practices, Vol. 16, No.3)