What is a Social Cognitive Specialist?
Do you accept insurance?
What are your fees?
What is your appointment policy?
Confidentiality and Privacy.
Will I be allowed to know what my child/teen says in treatment?
Please explain the diagnostic services that you offer.
How do you evaluate autism spectrum disorders?
What therapeutic services do you offer?
Do you offer consultation services?
What is a Social Cognitive Specialist?
Developmental disorders of social functioning such as autism spectrum, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), non-verbal learning disability (NVLD) and others often pose unique challenges. Growth and change for these individuals may require specialized assessments, treatments and supports. I have specialized training to diagnose, evaluate and help with the challenges that accompany these neuro-developmental differences.
Do you accept insurance?
Many insurance plans provide some level of coverage for psychological services. I am currently a network provider on Cigna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and AZ Foundation for Medical Care insurance networks. Other applications are pending. If you have behavioral health benefits for these insurance plans, you are responsible only for your deductibles and copays. I am an out-of-network
provider for most insurance companies. Filing claims for out-of-network services is simple, and I can walk you through the process. The first step is to contact your insurance company and inquire about your mental or behavioral health out-of-network benefits
. At the time of service, you will be responsible to pay a fee for the treatment received, and you will be provided with a receipt that you can submit to the insurance company for reimbursement.
What are your fees?
Please call me at 480-348-6899 or email at info@drsuelerner.com for more details regarding my rates.
What is your appointment policy?
Appointments are scheduled for each patient or each social therapy group. This time is reserved exclusively for you. Our office policy requires at least 24 hours notice if you cannot keep that appointment. When you cancel an appointment in advance, it allows me to contact other clients who may be waiting for an appointment time. In the event that 24 hours notice is not provided, patients are financially responsible for the reserved appointment. A fee may be charged for late cancellations or missed appointments.
Confidentiality and Privacy
All information is considered confidential, and no one may have access to information about you without your consent. There are, however, exceptions to this by law, which include (1) situations where there is imminent danger to yourself or someone else, (2) suspected abuse of a minor child or an elderly or disabled adult, and (3) when ordered by the court.
Also, if you plan to use your insurance benefits, in order for them to pay your claims, your insurance company will require you to give permission for them to access your records. Details of my privacy and confidentiality policies will be sent with additional forms before the first appointment.
Will I be allowed to know what my child/teen says in treatment?
Social competence require lots of practice. Parents, guardians or others can be great helpers. At the end of each social therapy session, parents/guardians are updated on the day’s lesson and strategies. It is recommended and expected that clients will practice the new skills between sessions.
It is important to keep detailed information in the child/teen sessions confidential whenever possible. This assists with trust and allows your child/teen to feel comfortable sharing personal information. This can be especially important to teenagers. However, I am legally obligated to share information with parents in cases where children/teen are being hurt or wanting to hurt themselves or others.
Please explain the diagnostic services that you offer.
I offer developmental, psychological, psycho-educational and social competence evaluations. My individualized evaluations follow professional “Best Practices” in order to identify strengths, talents and weaknesses pertinent to the referral question(s).
My areas of specialization include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Asperger Syndrome
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Learning Disorders
- Social Competence Problems
My evaluation process concludes with face-to-face and written summaries of finding and recommendations.
How do you evaluate autism spectrum disorders?
The comprehensive evaluation of autism spectrum disorders can involve complex diagnostic questions that require specialized training and skills. I am trained in professional “Best Practice” procedures for clinical evaluations and for autism spectrum in particular. I am trained in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and many other standardized assessment tools and procedures.
What therapeutic services do you offer?
Child, adolescent and adult therapy and counseling includes treatment for social functioning problems such as poor social understanding and skills. Additional focuses included treatment for anxiety, mood problems, self-esteem and social skills.
Therapeutic service may involve individual or small group coaching and practice. My therapeutic work stems from the evidence-based practices of cognitive and applied behavioral therapies and Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking program.
Do you offer consultation services?
Yes. I am available for consultation services in the following specialized areas:
- Skills for parents of individuals with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders or ADHD
- Skills for parents of children or teens with social disabilities
- Educational consultations and transition planning
- Transition to adulthood and independence for individuals with autism spectrum, intellectual or developmental disorders
- Program-development consultations for individuals with autism spectrum, intellectual or developmental disorders
