Our health and wellness is my top priority. Due to the recommended precautions for COVID-19 containment, I will be conducting therapy sessions via Telehealth platforms (such as Zoom, FaceTime & Google Meet). My office staff will be answering phones and offering normal support. We can help you get set up for your telehealth session. We will continue to monitor developments and assess additional actions as the situation may require. If you have any concerns or questions, please let us know. 435-238-4884.
All my best, Amy

FAQs

Q: What is play therapy?
A:

Play therapy uses various methods to foster learning, provide a reparative experience, and to help your child communicate. Play is a natural form of expression and communication for children and can help them when their vocabulary falls short. Play therapy also provides a very natural way for children to build a relationship with the therapist and to strengthen relationships with their caregivers. Because children learn much better through experience, it fits their developmental needs better than traditional talk-therapy alone. Play therapy includes toys that encourage expression, such as art, games, sand-tray, dollhouses, imaginative play, role-playing, puppets, attention and focus activities, and music.

Q: Do you do custody evaluations?
A:

No, I do not do custody evaluations. Upon prior arrangement, I may provide mediation for parenting plans, co-parenting skills, and supervised visitation.

Q: How do you involve parents?
A:

You are an important instrument for change in your child’s life. I generally have parents attend the first session, then use a combination of individual therapy and parent-child therapy.  I will keep you updated and will let you know your child’s take home therapy assignments. If you have an update or questions for me, let me know at the beginning of the session, and we will reserve some time to visit. You are always welcome to email me with an update prior to your child’s session. My email is acluff@amycluff.com.

Q: Can therapy help for very young children under age three?
A:

Yes, but it’s better described as parent-child therapy.  Therapy can help for young children that have experienced trauma, removal from their home, or disruption with their caregivers. If a parent has experienced feeling severely overwhelmed, postpartum depression, or has had trouble bonding with their child, therapy can help.

Q: What is Therapy?
A:

Therapy, also referred to as counseling, is a process to help you overcome barriers that keep you from healing, learning, and growing. You can gain understanding about your difficulties, discover solutions to the problems you face, develop new coping skills, and improve your relationships.

Q: What is Therapy like?
A:

You will learn about connection in relationships, meeting your emotional needs, improving thinking patters, and changing your behavior. Therapy is a great tool to help you learn to feel and function better.

As your therapist, I am there to be a safe connection for you, a confidant as you process your experiences, and a teacher. There will be moments where I may challenge you toward making a change, and this is normal to help you shift and progress. We will work together to set your goals, and I may suggest work to do outside of therapy to practice what you are learning.

I encourage you to share your experience of therapy and give me feedback as to how I can help you. If I say or do something that does not seem to “fit” for you, I encourage you to tell me. These exchanges will make therapy more useful for you and will be practice for you in your other relationships.

Q: How do I get started?
A:

Call my office to set an appointment. My office manager can help you with this and get your contact information. Generally, my schedule fills quickly, so you may want to set several appointments in advance. If you are not sure how long to go in-between sessions, start with 1-3 weeks apart. The office phone number is 435-238-4884.

Before we begin therapy, you will need to complete the intake paperwork. You can complete this beforehand and turn it in on your first appointment. Or if you prefer, you can complete it in my office on your first appointment.

Q: What are the first appointments like?
A:

The first 1-2 appointments are devoted to share your story of what brings you in. This is called an assessment. Depending on your situation, this may take a portion or all of the time, as I may need to get an in-depth history from you. As part of your assessment, I will give you feedback and we will set your therapy goals. Goals usually involve activities and exercises to improve your emotions, thinking patterns, relationship patterns, communication, and behavior.

Q: What are the initial appointments for Children and Teens like?
A:

The first appointment for children and teens will look one of four ways. If you are not sure which will fit your situation best, then come to the first session with your child, and bring another adult if your child needs to be watched, in the event that I need some alone time with you.

  1. If you and your child are both aware and open about what brings them in, then we will begin the session together. We can then determine if it will be helpful for me to have individual time with them.
  2. If you have information to share with me that is sensitive or private, it may be helpful to come to the initial session without your child. Then after I have your perspective, I will meet with your child (and possibly you and your child together) to complete the assessment.
  3. You and your child may come together on the first appointment and we will split the time between you and your child to get the assessment information. If your child is young, please come with another adult to watch your child while I meet alone with you.
  4. If your child/teen is resistant to your involvement, then I will begin with them individually. As we progress, we will determine how to involve you as their parent.
Q: How much does a therapy session cost?
A:

Session Fee: $120.00 per 60 minute initial assessment, and $110 for all following 50 minute sessions, unless otherwise agreed upon with Amy Cluff, LCSW. Payment will be taken upon arrival, prior to your session.

Court- Related Services: $200 per hour. Please see additional policies on court / legal- related services in the Office Policies document in the intake packet.

Cancellation/ No Show: Because the scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time specifically to you, a minimum of 24 hours notice is required for canceling an appointment. Unless we reach a different agreement, the full session fee will be charged to you for sessions missed without such notification. Insurance companies and third party payers will not be responsible for reimbursing missed sessions.

Q: Can I use my insurance?
A:
  • Amy Cluff is a provider for Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield and Select Health insurance.
  • It is your responsibility to contact your insurance company to determine your copay/ deductible.
  • You are responsible for full payment of services in the event that you have not met your deductible or if your insurance denies coverage.
  • Amy Cluff does not bill out of network insurance companies.
  • If you have insurance other than Blue Cross Blue Shield or Select Health, you are responsible for payment at the time of service. You are responsible to contact your insurance provider to determine if they will reimburse you for costs of services.