Practice Updates & Blog

Welcome to M.A. Jean-Charles Psychotherapy and Consulting LLC Updates and Blogs

IMPORTANT

Effective noon on Tuesday March 24, 2020, Governor Baker has ordered that all non-essential businesses cease in-person operationsthrough April 7, 2020. A list of essential businesses can be found here. M.A. Jean-Charles Psychotherapy and Consulting LLC is providing psychotherapy clients to meet via HIPAA-secure videoconference, rather than via our usual in-person meetings as an option to all clients.  

We understand that there are many unknowns about COVID-19 and
intend to be consistent with public health goals around reducing the spread of COVID-19 such that it does not overwhelm healthcare resources. Research on telehealth (psychotherapy via teleconference, also referred to as tele-psychology) has shown to be generally as effective as face-to-face meetings. We believe that the use of telepsychology at this time will be a way to protect individual and public health as well as support good treatment progress and outcomes. To participate in telepsychology, you will need the following resources:

  • A room or space that is private and feels comfortable for you (and your family, as applicable) to participate in therapy
  • One of the following items:
    • Desktop computer with a webcam and speakers  
    • Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers  
    • Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers
    • Smartphone (Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice – available for iOS or Android in the app store)
  • An internet connection

We acknowledge that some clients may not feel comfortable with telehealth as a treatment modality, or have the necessary equipment, internet access, or confidential space to participate in a telehealth session. We know this is not an ideal setting to cultivate a productive therapeutic relationship. We hope this is not too much of an imposition, but we believe this is the best decision for keeping clients as well as the community safe. In order to participate in telepsychology, you will need the following resources:

  • Perform routine environmental cleaning: Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
  • Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down by visitors before each use.
  • Maintain at least 6 feet distance between yourself and clients
  • Required telehealth for clients who feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until they recover.

For more information on COVID-19, please see the links below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public 

https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-essential-services/download

No Surprises Law

Effective January 1, 2022, the “No Suprise” Act became effective. Under the law, health care providers need t to be transparent in medical costs and protect clients from “surprise” medical bills caused by out-of-network care. The bill requires therapists to:

  • Prohibiting balance billing or surprise billing (i.e., when a health care provider bills a patient for the difference between the amount the provider charges and the amount the insurance pays) for out-of-network providers in an in-network facility
  • Requiring a good faith estimate (GFE) of expected costs before scheduled services for uninsured and self-pay clients
  • Ensuring continuity of care and accuracy of provider directories

Good Faith Estimate Billing (GFE)

A therapist is required to a GFE for uninsured and self-pay clients before services are rendered. The GFE is just an estimate; it is not legally binding and may change. However, if the actual charge is more than $400 above the estimate, the client has the right to dispute the charge through the new patient-provider dispute resolution process.

Continuity of care and provider directories

If a counselor’s contractual relationship with a client’s insurance ends (i.e., they are no longer in-network with the insurer) per the law, they must continue to accept the in-network rate for 90 days after the health plan or issuer notifies the client of the change in network status. This law also stipulates that health care providers who have a contractual relationship with an insurer must submit up-to-date provider directory information to the insurer. And providers must reimburse insured clients who inadvertently relied on an incorrect provider directory and received out-of-network care or paid more than the in-network sharing amount.

Now joining the podcast, Beyond The Smile: Real Talk from Real People

Happy New Year!

I have labeled 2023 as The Year of Glow Up! A glow-up can occur in all sectors of one’s life: emotionally, spiritually, financially, in relationships, intellectually, or physically. Therapy can be an excellent means of achieving your individualized glow-up. What are the things you hope to change, embellish, or improve upon the next year? How will you hold yourself accountable? Or who in your village will help you achieve what you want? It is your journey. It is your choice. It is your GLOW-UP!

Introducing Roots and Wings Counseling Associates!

We are happy to announce the MA Jean-Charles Psychotherapy and Counseling LLC will be doing business as Roots & Wings Counseling Associates! What does this mean for you? Nothing! We will be conducting business as usual. The rebranding is to prepare for expanding the practice and hiring new clinicians. The long waitlist identified a need for more therapists. We opened this practice to provide psychodynamic therapy to women and the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on the BIPOC community. It has been evident that there is a need for more private practices concentrating on people of color. Hiring more clinicians will allow us to expand the practice’s capacity in executing our mission. It will also allow us to expand into therapeutic groups and other programs we have been thinking of these past three years.

Happy 2024!

Happy New Year! I am very excited about 2024! In the new year, some people craft New Year’s Resolutions and create vision boards, while others choose to identify goals or themes for the year. Either way- resolution or theme- it is always an excellent time to consider the new year as an opportunity to reflect on the life you want to live and who you want to be.  

Here are some resources that may prove helpful in working on and achieving individual goals.

For books, I have found the following helpful in working towards helping one focus on goals : 

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear 
  • Self-Love- Workbook by Megan Logan
  • Think Like a Monk, by Jay Shetty
  • Bet on Black: The Good News About Being Black in America Today, by Eboni K. Williams.
  • The Power of When: Discover Your Chronotype–and the Best Time to Eat Lunch, Ask for a Raise, Have Sex, Write a Novel, Take Your Meds, and More by Michael Breus

I recommend Atomic Habits for those seeking additional information on creating helpful habits. Clear’s book is a helpful breakdown of changing or developing new habits. I suggest Logan’s Self-Love Workbook for individuals who prefer a more engaged format. Logan’s book focuses on improving self-esteem and adopting practices that cultivate a self-love mindset. Think Like A Monk is genuinely a masterful book on mindfulness and the art of letting go. I hope that you find one or all three suggestions helpful. Please note that both Atomic Habits and Think Like A Monk are in audio format. The Power of When is an excellent book for understanding your chronotype to be more efficient. By understanding your biological clock, i.e., chronotype (lion, bear, wolf, or dolphin), you can craft a schedule that maximizes your circadian rhythm and be more productive. 

If you do not have time to read (or don’t like non-fiction) or are into podcasts, I have grown fond of Jay Shetty’s podcast, On Purpose. The following are links to three good episodes I have enjoyed and will refer to from time to time:

Lastly, over the years, some of my tech-savvy clients have shared apps they like to use as they work towards their goals. 

Many of you have heard me suggest implementing a positive affirmation practice as part of your daily routines. ThinkUp is a low-lift means of doing so. In the free version, you choose three affirmations you would like to practice and record them in your voice. I have suggested to those who do not like their voice that they can have someone they love or trust record the affirmations. The recording is then set to soothing music when played back to you. I do this in the morning or as part of my sleep routine. 

The app Habit is a helpful tool to help develop or quit habits. The app is easy to use and effective, whether increasing exercise, reading daily, or quitting smoking. Choose the behavior you want to change or adopt and how often you wish to perform it and use the notifications to keep you on track.

Lastly, the app, Dailyo, is a mood-tracking app. I suggest this app to help assess any mood fluctuations and not any patterns (such as medication use, menstrual cycles, work vs. vacation mode). I have asked clients to use this app to track any triggers and to see if any activities help alleviate moods.

Hopefully, one or all of the above resources will motivate you to work on achieving the goals you set for this year. I wish you a wonderful New Year, and let’s do this!

The Journey from MA Jean-Charles Psychotherapy to Roots & Wings Counseling Associates

We are in the process of rebranding MA Jean-Charles Psychotherapy & Consulting. As you may know, I announced the creation of Roots & Wings Counseling Associates (RWCA).

The purpose of RWCA is to enable the practice to grow and expand by welcoming additional clinicians under a unified mission that transcends individual names. This transition also allows me to clearly distinguish the Consulting arm from the Psychotherapy services. Furthermore, RWCA provides an opportunity for clinicians who join the practice to feel deeply connected to its mission and values.

RWCA and MA Jean-Charles Psychotherapy & Consulting share the same mission: to provide compassionate, evidence-based psychotherapy that empowers clients to heal, grow, and thrive. Guided by our core values of Positivity, Joy, Hope, and Advocacy, we provide clinical care to individuals, couples, and families to foster resilience, cultivate meaningful change, and support the creation of a joyful and fulfilling life.

RWCA continues to focus on providing psychodynamic therapy to individuals, couples, and families of color. Our mission is to provide a therapeutic space that promotes healing, empowerment, and belonging.

What this means for you: there will be no change to your clinical care. Your therapeutic experience and continuity of services will remain the same.

I am truly excited about this next chapter and grateful for your continued trust and support as we grow.

We’re Expanding to the North Shore!

We’re excited to share that we now have an office in Marblehead, Massachusetts — officially bringing our services to the beautiful North Shore community!

After shifting to 100% telehealth from our Cambridge office, we realized how much we missed the in-person connection with our clients. With that in mind (and after many long commutes!), we decided it was time to find a space closer to home and Marblehead felt like the perfect fit.

While we’ll continue subletting our Cambridge office, our in-person sessions will now be held in Marblehead, just a short walk from cozy coffee shops and breathtaking ocean views. Our new space is minutes from Salem, Lynn, and Beverly, making it an ideal location for clients across the North Shore.

We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter and look forward to connecting with both new and returning clients. To our Suffolk County clients, we can’t wait to welcome you to this cozy new space by the sea.

Here’s to growth, connection, and community — we look forward to seeing you soon!

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