Andrea Knestel, Ph.D. / Licensed Psychologist
Welcome to Boston Trauma Therapy, LLC. Feel free to look around my site to learn about me and the services I offer.
Currently, all services are offered virtually. No in-person appointments are available at this time.
For virtual visits you must be physically located in Massachusetts or New York at the time of the appointment. You will be asked to confirm your location at the start of each session.
I am a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Massachusetts. I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Syracuse University in 2010. During my therapy training, I worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, college mental health, primary care, and rape crisis. Following my formal education, I was an Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor at Brigham Young University for nearly a decade.
My clinical focus has been on trauma. I have extensive experience working with sexual abuse/assault and domestic violence as well as other forms of trauma and PTSD. I was formally trained in trauma therapy at Vera House Incorporated in Syracuse, New York where I provided trauma-informed interventions to children, adolescents, and adults. I have also worked with individuals trying to cope with difficult medical diagnoses.
I have completed the following trainings and/or hold the following certifications that are relevant to working with trauma:
I currently provide individual psychotherapy to older adolescents and adults.
My approach to therapy is largely grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and other trauma-informed interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I place emphasis on the mind/body connection in the healing of trauma and my approach is informed by attachment theory. The negative effects of trauma are often carried in people’s nervous systems and bodies long after the trauma has passed; resulting in either heightened or blunted emotional and bodily states. In therapy we will work together to help you feel more calm, centered, connected, and alive.
Phone Consultation
Prior to scheduling our first appointment, we will set up a brief phone consultation to discuss your presenting concerns, to see if they fall within the scope of my practice, to answer any questions you have, and to determine therapeutic fit.
First Session
Prior to our first session, I will ask you to complete the required intake paperwork. A link to a HIPPA-compliant and secure practice management platform will be e-mailed to you. At the beginning of our session we will then discuss any questions that may have come up while completing the paperwork, followed by the intake interview. This interview will serve as a way for me to learn about you and your current struggles and to see if the type of therapy I provide will be a good fit for you.
Scheduling
We will schedule your next therapy appointment at the end of our session each week. Depending on both of our schedules we may be able to meet at the same time every week or we may schedule our sessions during a different day/time each week. Since I am a solo practitioner who can offer only limited after-hours or emergency care, I am not well positioned to treat those who are acutely suicidal or struggle with mental health concerns that require frequent out-of-session contact. I also have a busy travel schedule, so if you feel that you need to be seen weekly without any breaks or if you need extensive after-hours care, I am probably not the best fit for you.
Billing
I am contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and accept their HMO, PPO, and Indemnity plans. I do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. I also accept BCBS PPO plans from other states. Please confirm with BCBS that your plan allows you to use your insurance benefits in Massachusetts.
For self-paying patients, my rate for a first-time appointment is $250. My rate for a 60-minute therapy session is $200, which is competitive with other psychologists in this area. I also accept all out-of-network insurance plans and can help you seek reimbursement for some portion of the session fees.
Your co-pays or session fees are due at the time of service and I accept personal checks, credit cards, and HSA/FSA cards as forms of payment.
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let me know at least 48 business hours in advance to avoid being charged for your session. My late cancellation and no-show fee is $100.
I require that all new patients provide me with their credit card information in order to schedule their first appointment. Your credit card number will be securely stored in the practice management platform mentioned above.
Good Faith Estimates for Uninsured (or Self-Pay) Individuals
You are generally considered an uninsured or self-pay individual if you do not have health insurance, or do not plan to use your insurance to pay for a medical item or service. If you are an uninsured or self-pay individual, a provider or facility must give you a “good faith estimate” detailing what you may be charged before you receive the item or service.
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.
If you are billed at least $400 more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.
You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Keep a copy of this Good Faith Estimate in a safe place or take pictures of it. You may need it if you are billed a higher amount.
Please feel free to send me a message using the form below.