Question 1

What are your rates?

Accepted Answer

My market rates are listed below. See my equitable pricing model (https://michellesinkgraventherapy.com/equitable-pricing)to see the full range of options including Collective Care Rate and Reduced Rate pricing. 
 • 50-minute sessions in-person or virtual using EMDR or more traditional talk-therapy with elements of EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS or “parts” work) with a somatic lens woven in. This is offered at the market rate of $230. 
 • Extended 90-minute sessions in-person or virtual for those who want to work intensively with EMDR or prefer longer sessions at a rate of $450 per session. 
 • EMDR intensives, consisting of 9-12 contact hours over the course of 4-5 days; 2 of which are virtual and 2-3 in-person. 
    • Weekday intensives are offered on M/W/F.  This program costs $4,500. 
    • Weekday intensives specifically for a recent, single event trauma are available on M/F or F/M. The cost of this program is $3,000. 
    • Premium weekend intensives are offered on F/Sa/Su. The cost of this program is $6,000.

Question 2

Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

I do not accept insurance. I do however provide a superbill at the end of  every month which is an itemized form that details the out-of-network services provided. To submit a claim to your insurance company you submit the superbill so they can apply it to your deductible for out-of-network providers and/or provide you with a reimbursement.

Question 3

Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?

Accepted Answer

I offer limited evening appointments one day a week. As for weekend appointments, I offer weekend EMDR Intensives but I do not have appointments for individual therapy sessions on weekends.

Question 4

Do you offer telehealth?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I do offer virtual telehealth therapy via Zoom's HIPAA compliant business platform.

Question 5

What ages do you work with?

Accepted Answer

I offer therapy for adults 18 years and older.

Question 6

What is your cancelation policy?

Accepted Answer

Committing to regular attendance and arriving on time are essential to effective therapy. When we agree to a scheduled time I am committing that time slot to you and your designated appointment is your financial responsibility. When life happens, as it will for both you and I, if we can reschedule your session within the week before, during or after the date of your absence you will not be charged for the missed or canceled session. I am committed to working together to find a make up time to ensure that you continue to receive consistent care.

Per calendar year, you are allotted one (1) cancellation,  two (2) if you are regularly on my calendar for more than once a week or your regular time slot is a 90-minute session. You will not need to use your cancellation on any of the following holidays, as I take off: Labor Day, TH/F of Thanksgiving week, and the last week in December.

You will be charged for a full session if: 
 • you cancel a scheduled session and no alternative time is available to reschedule within the week before, during or after the absence. NOTE: If I have no availability to reschedule you will not be charged.
 • you are a “no-show” to a scheduled appointment. 
 • you have already used your “free” cancellation(s) for the calendar year.

Note for In-Person Clients
There are occasions (3-5 per year) in which I may be working remotely and will need to meet with you virtually instead of in person. Should you forgo the virtual sessions these will be considered missed appointments and if you used up your “free” cancellation(s) you will be charged for the session or it will count as your allotted cancellation.

Frequent Cancellations
Three (3) or more cancellations that you are unable to reschedule will result in the forfeiture of your allotted time slot and you would be moved to an ad hoc schedule in which spots would be offered on a weekly basis based on my availability but you would no longer have your own dedicated time. After the second session you miss or cancel and are unable to reschedule we would talk about any barriers you face to regular attendance and work to ensure that we address them.

Extended Absences
If you anticipate extended absences (family leave, sabbaticals, medical procedures, etc.) your fee will be eliminated during those time periods but your specific time slot may not be saved for you so when you return you will need to select from my available options.

Question 7

How much of my past trauma do I have to share?

Accepted Answer

Understandably, many people are hesitant to talk through details of their traumatic experiences for fear of being retraumatized or overwhelmed. In EMDR, you're not obligated to recount every agonizing moment. EMDR is a departure from traditional talk therapy. It doesn't demand detailed recounts of events. The use of EMDR's "Recent Traumatic Event Protocol" or R-Tep; however, does call for clients to recall the incident from beginning to end, as if running a movie, so that each disturbing part can be processed.

Kambria Evans from Zero Disturbance says it best, "When something traumatic happens to us, it can be healing to have a therapist listen to and/or validate our horrible experience, especially if no one else has before. However, rehashing the details of that traumatic event can be retraumatizing. Brain-based therapies like EMDR teach us that we don't have to talk about the trauma or the details if we don't want to because the real healing doesn't focus on the traumatic event itself."

Question 8

Do you recommend homework between sessions?

Accepted Answer

I do not refer to any recommended practice between sessions as "homework" as this implies an expectation and a need to get it correct. Instead, I offer invitations from time-to-time if I feel it will support or enhance the work we have done together during the session. As with all invitations you get to decide if you'd like to participate or not.

Question 9

Do you offer "walking therapy"?

Accepted Answer

For those who are not engaged in EMDR therapy I am open to meet at one of two designated locations in Rock Creek Park (one near Dupont Circle and the other in upper NW, DC across from St. John's College HS) to conduct a therapy session while walking through a section of the park with very little foot traffic so we can maintain confidentiality. This arrangement needs to be made in advanced and may need to happen on a day and time that is not your regular session appointment time.

Question 10

Can I contact you outside of our session time in case of an emergency?

Accepted Answer

I am happy to make myself available, should my schedule allow, to meet for an additional session with you during the week if you need additional support. However, if you are in a crisis or need immediate assistance, please contact to one of the following resources 24/7:

• DC Rape Crisis Center Hotline (https://www.dcrcc.org/)at 202-333-7273 
 • TransLifeline (https://translifeline.org/)at 1-877-565-8860 
 • Suicide & Crisis Hotline (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988)at 988 (text/chat also available)
 • National Domestic Violence Hotline (https://www.thehotline.org/)at 1-800-799-SAFE  (text/chat also available)
 • The Trevor Project (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/)for LGBTQ+- (text/chat also available)
 • 911 or go to the nearest emergency room
 • Crisis Text Line 741741(https://www.crisistextline.org/)

Question 11

How can I tell if you are the right therapist for me?

Accepted Answer

The therapeutic relationship is so important to your healing so I want to be sure we are the right fit for each other. For that reason, I require a free 30-minute zoom consultation so we can get a feel for what it is like to share space together. I want you to feel confident in my professional expertise; comfortable with the prospect of being open and vulnerable with me; and trust your intuition (cognitively and somatically) that we would work well together.

I take seriously my responsibility for my competence as a brain-based therapist. I completed basic EMDR training in 2022 and intermediate training in 2023, I have used EMDR in over 200 therapy sessions, including 45-min, 90-min and intensives. I will work with you not only to clear your negative beliefs from your past traumas but to integrate your positive beliefs. My favorite positive belief is: "I can learn and I believe in my capacity to figure things out." I am in an EMDR consultation group and receive supervision from an EMDR-trained therapist. My growing edges and blind spots as a clinician are ending sessions on time but it is are area of growth I am committed to improving.

Question 12

When do I pay for my sessions?

Accepted Answer

Some clients like having one bill at the end of the month and  only one superbill to submit to their insurance per month. Some prefer to pay after each session so as to not have a large amount due at the end of the month and are ok with submitting weekly superbills to their insurance company. I leave the choice up to you.

Question 13

What questions should I ask my insurance to see if they will reimburse me for therapy?

Accepted Answer

I am an out-of-network provider and I do not participate with insurance panels. Your insurance company may reimburse you for a percentage of the cost of therapy. To find out what might be covered I recommend asking your plan the following questions: 
1. Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
2. Do I have out-of-network benefits?
3. Do I have a deductible and if so, what is it?
4. Is there a maximum number of visits per year?
5. What is the coverage amount per therapy session for an out-of-network provider?
6. Is coverage determined by the treatment diagnosis?
7. What is the out-of-network reimbursement rate for the following procedure codes? 
		- 90834: 45-minute Individual Psychotherapy
		- 90837: 53+ minutes Individual Psychotherapy
		- 99354: 90-minute Individual Psychotherapy

Frequently Asked Questions