Fee Information

Individual and/ or Family Therapy appointments: $125 per 50 minute session

Documents are provided for clients to seek reimbursement from their insurance policies for out of network services. Susan is a participating provider for Aetna, Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, and Ceridian insurance plans. Clients are responsible for whatever co-pays and/ or deductibles required by their individual insurance policy. It is highly recommended that clients determine the type of benefits they are eligible for prior to seeking outpatient behavioral healthcare services.

Sliding Scale fees are offered based on client/ family eligibility.

Other rates apply for the following services: Psychological Testing, Parent Child Evaluation, Attachment History Evaluation, Consultation, and Report Writing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What treatment approach or philosophy does Ms. Alvarado follow? Susan's treatment philosophy is that all persons have the innate capacity and strengths needed to create secure and trusting relationships. Her approach relies heavily on attachment theory.
• How do I know if what my child is experiencing is related to adoption? He never talks about it! Some children feel hesitant to discuss feelings about adoption, birth families or birth country with their parents of concern of hurting their parents feelings (even when adoptive parents have told their child over and over that it is OK to discuss these things). Counseling can assist families to learn how to discuss this sensitive, yet very important issue together.
• How long will treatment take? This is a difficult question to answer since it depends on the reason why a family enters counseling. Regardless of the specific treatment issue, the most successful families and people are those who attend consistently and who work outside of the counseling room to make lasting, healthy changes in their families.
• Can the therapist treat other disorders not related to adoption / attachment? Yes, Susan has a background in community mental health where she was trained to diagnose and treat a variety of mental health concerns.
• Can the therapist prescribe medications? No. In the Commonwealth of Virginia only medical physicians (IE psychiatrists, general practitioners) can prescribe medications for mental health disorders.
• How can my child have problems with attachment when we are very bonded? Does this mean I (the parent) did something wrong?Everyone, regardless of adoptive status, has an attachment style. Therapy can assist everyone in the family to develop a more secure attachment style with one another. Most parents do the best they can to assist their child based on what they know.

• What is a Licensed Professional Counselor? Will my insurance reimburse us for this type of license?A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) must complete graduate training in counseling or psychology which includes a supervised internship and practicum. After completing a graduate degree from an accredited institution, a Counselor in Residence (as it is referred to in VA) must complete 4000 hours of supervised work experience providing direct psychotherapy / counseling services. Additionally, the Counselor in Residence must receive a minimum of 200 hours of clinical supervision from a Licensed Professional Counselor, with more than two year's practicing experience and with specialized training in Counselor Supervision (in most cases). After these criteria are met, an applicant may request consideration from the Board of Health Professions in VA to sit for the licensing exam. The exam is only offered at certain times and in certain locations throughout the year. After taking the exam, the potential LPC must wait an agonizing two months before learning if she passed.