A long time ago I became aware that not everyone has it easy in life. Some people--even children--face serious challenges.

So I had a choice: do I spend my life working at a job only to make money, or do I spend my life working to make life a little better for others? The way I see it, I didn't really have  a choice.

Did You Know . . .?

 . . . that I  have also been a tennis instructor, mainly for children. I have taught tennis to beginners and intermediates ever since I was in college. After I started working with children with challenges--from anxiety to ADHD to autism to simple shyness--I found that many do well and gain confidence as they gain skill in tennis. It's a lifelong sport that leads to friendship, fun, and fitness. Ping pong can be a great confidence builder too--and a lot of fun.

My Commitment

As much as possible I am willing to work with parents to help them afford my therapy fees. My hourly fee is $100 which, if not covered by insurance, is difficult for many parents to afford. This is especially true for children with autism spectrum disorders who often require more than a year of treatment. However, the treatment I provide all my young clients, with or without autsim, is designed to help them master the skills of each developmental level. Successful therapy results in greater mastery of life skills and feelings of self confidence and worth which then results in lower levels of anxiety and depression and better overall functioning up to potential--whatever that potentioal may be.

Every year I accept a certain number of clients who pay what they can afford from $45/hr to $55/hr. All I  ask in return is that no one abuse this option and only use it if truly needed.

Finally, my services are more affordable in the long run because I include the family in the therapy. By that I mean that a parent can learn by observing  sessions, by consulting with me, and by supplemental reading I recommend. Then parents can use many of the same strategies and interventions in daily life that I use in therapy. In this way the child gets more help on a daily basis and can progress more quickly. 

Unfortunately some children with autism are on the waiting list for state paid services as long as five years. So if they cannot afford to get private services while on the waiting list, they are missing an important window of opportunity that will never come again. That's not acceptable. My hope is that I  get enough clients who can afford to pay the higher end of my fee scale so I can afford to accept a certain number of clients who pay less. No child should sit and wait and go without services.

Since I have my LCSW-C license I am able to bill insurance. I am in-network with CareFirst BCBS, Magellan, Aetna, and Tricare and parents with those insurances pay the usual low copay.  But I bill other insurances as out-of network and I work with the parent to find a copay they can afford. However I usually cannot bill out-of-network with HMOs.

FYI: In 2015 my time slots after school were full most of the time, and there was no time for me to answer all the calls I got requesting services for children after school.

Therefore in 2016 I am requesting that anyone interested in making an appointment email me rather than phoning, because 10 -11 pm is too late for a phone call, but I can still send an email that late at night.

My email: victoria.seward@familytherapeuticservices.com  

Thanks!