Cedarbrook Services are a Good Value

Good value vs.  good price.

I became a psychologist to help people. Here's my personal mission statement:

At the same time, if I don't pay attention to the business aspect of my practice, I won't be able to help anyone -- and my family will be hungry.

At Cedarbrook, except in rare emergencies, we schedule at least 25 minutes between clients. This provides a number of advantages.

1. It provides client confidentiality – you will not bump into your friends or neighbors sitting in the waiting room.

2. It gives the provider ample time to mentally and emotionally prepare for you and your session. Many research studies show that one of the the most important variables for quality in counseling or therapy is the “therapeutic alliance” (relationship with the counselor). Having time to prepare for you and your time with your counselor allows the psychologist to be mentally and emotionally available to you -- improving the therapeutic alliance.

3. It allows for a reasonable number of clients. Although there are many skills, attitudes, and knowledge required for a counselor, counseling also involves an emotional connection with the client and vicarious experiences of his/her difficulties -- which can be draining. At Cedarbrook, we see 20 – 25 clients per week which is considered optimal for quality services. There are other agencies that expect providers to see 30 or more clients per week, which I consider to be impractical and even unethical.

At Cedarbrook, we control all the variables – the fees, the number of clients, and the overhead expenses.

Yes, our fees are higher than anywhere else – but so is our service. We see fewer clients, which allows for higher quality services to you (see above). Our overhead expenses are higher, and we think it's worth it in these ways:

1. We provide a relaxed and comfortable environment. We believe you are sharing with us some of the most intimate details of your life. The trust you give and the things you share deserve a place worthy of the experience.

2. The artwork in our office is original.

3. Our furniture is reasonably new, high quality, and comfortable.

4. The rooms are insulated and soundproof.

5. We hire the most competent staff who share the Cedarbrook vision. On the rare occasion you would interact with another staff person, you are treated with dignity and respect and with the highest level of competence.

6. When needed, we use the latest and most comprehensive psychological testing available. Annual fees and continual upgrades increase our costs but allow us to be on the leading edge in testing and assessment.

7. We take more than the required amount of Continuing Education for licensure each year – and we provide continuing education for others. Continuing education keeps us up on the latest improvements in the field.