Dr. Stephanie Smith

Dr. Stephanie Smith

I am a licensed psychologist and owner of Front Range Psychological Associates in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. I help people with all kinds of issues, but particularly enjoy working with women.

Posts by Dr. Stephanie Smith:

When Your Benefits End – How to Continue Therapy Without the Help of Insurance

All good things must come to an end – at least that is what some health insurance plans would have us believe. While health insurance benefits for mental health treatment has improved over the years, thanks in large part to the 2008 mental parity act, your insurance company may still limit the number of sessions allotted each year. Some health plans are stingy, allowing only 10-15 visits, whereas others are more generous – allowing up to 40-50 visits per year (and that’s a lot even for the most devoted therapy client). But one thing most insurers have in common is that at some point they say enough is enough and try to end reimbursement for psychotherapy sessions.

So what is a person to do when therapy is working, but there is a need to continue?

Your First Session with a Psychologist…What to Bring?

Many of my clients start their first session by admitting how nervous they are to come see me. I usually respond by letting them know that it is completely normal to be nervous – who wouldn’t be? Here they are sitting in the office of a person they have never met, getting ready to share some of the most private parts of their lives.

Luckily there are things a new client can do to help manage the nerves of the first session. And one of those things is: be prepared. So in the spirit of preparedness, I have compiled a list of things you should bring to your first therapy session.

Raising Healthy Kids in a Sexualized Media World

This week is Healthy Media for Youth Week (July 12-16), a week to draw attention to the impact that sexualized media images have on all of us, and in particular, girls and women. It also promotes national legislation to increase research, youth empowerment and media literacy programs, and create a Federal Communications Commission task force to help curb this serious issue.