Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer teletherapy?
We are pleased to offer HIPAA-compliant teletherapy services. For the right client and the right situation, teletherapy may be an effective option in place of in-person therapy, and we have specific training in teletherapy practice. Given today’s changing environment as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, please reach out to discuss the potential for teletherapy services, including insurance reimbursement. We will coordinate with you and your insurance provider to make sure we have all the information up front. We are also happy to offer private pay teletherapy services. We will work together to make sure you feel comfortable and confident with your teletherapy tools, and are here to help you troubleshoot any technology challenges along the way!
I am concerned about my child’s speech and language development… what should I do?
First, know you are not alone – we are here to help. As a starting point, there are many fantastic resources online including the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) webpage on Typical Speech and Language Development, as well as the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) webpage on Speech and Language Developmental Milestones. Additionally, we are happy to offer complimentary screenings. A screening consists of a few tasks, paired with observation and clinical interviews, that tell us whether a further evaluation is warranted. Regardless of the outcome of a screening, we are here to support you with tools and resources to help your child achieve the optimal speech and language outcomes! Reach out today to get started.
How do you accept payment?
We are pleased to accept the following insurance options:
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Fallon Community Health
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Health New England
MassHealth
Medicare
Tufts Health Plan
UnitedHealth
WellSense (formerly BMC HealthNet)
Additionally, there are instances where insurance coverage is not an option. If the circumstances require or if you prefer, we are happy to accept private payment as an alternative, which can be received by check or by credit card via our practice management software, SimplePractice. Please reach out to discuss details, including a sliding scale; we want to ensure that therapy is accessible to anyone who needs it.
I do not live in Massachusetts… can I receive therapy at Pierce Speech, Language, and Learning Center?
We are currently licensed in the states of Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. We do also provide teletherapy services; however, in order to provide teletherapy we must be licensed in the state where the patient resides. If you reside in a state other than Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, or Connecticut and are interested in accessing our services, please contact us – if there is sufficient interest, we are happy to pursue licensing in additional states. Additionally, we are happy to consult with your local speech pathologist if our assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) specialties would be of help to you. We want to see you succeed, no matter where you live!
What should I expect on my first visit?
Typically, your first visit will be a time for us to get to know one another and learn more about your, your child’s, or your loved one’s specific needs. After we spend some time getting to know each other, we will use standardized assessments, checklists, clinical interviews, and observations to determine where the client’s needs lie. These assessments let us know how you or your loved one compares to others in the same demographic area and inform our therapy goals. The most important components of our first visits are to build rapport and to get a baseline for where you are.
After your assessments, we will give you or your loved one a moment to rest and decompress so that we can analyze your results. We will then discuss those results as a team so that we can formulate the best path forward, including discussion about which other team members might have helpful input as we develop a dynamic treatment plan.
How long are therapy sessions, and how often do we need to see you?
Therapy is an intense, cognitive process, and the length of each therapy session varies from client to client. We generally recommend sessions ranging between 30 to 45 minutes; however, the length of session is a team decision between your therapist, the client, and their team. The therapist will work with you to determine how frequently the client needs to be seen based on several factors, including severity, diagnosis, and attention span. Sessions per week will range based on these factors.
When are you open?
Pierce Speech, Language, and Learning Center is open by appointment. We recognize that many clients may be juggling school, work, and transportation challenges. We are happy to work with you to find a time that meets your scheduling needs. You can find our 2024 holiday schedule here.
How will you communicate with me? How do you document sessions?
We believe that team communication is paramount to success. As a result, we are pleased to offer easy communication via the SimplePractice client portal, which provides HIPAA-compliant, private communication at your fingertips. We also use this same system to document your visits, channeling data collection to drive your future therapy activities and goals. Ask us today for more information about your data and progress to date.
We are pleased to offer screenings at no cost to our potential clients. A screening consists of a few tasks that will give us an idea of your skills, and how you compare to what we might expect of someone in your situation. Based on the results of this screening, we may suggest a more thorough evaluation if we need more information, or we might provide you with tips and tricks to help you excel in your current environment. Regardless, we are happy to talk through your questions – give us a call or contact us to start the process!