Outpatient Therapy – Jodie Carvalho Therapy LLC

Outpatient Therapy FAQS

What should I expect during a session?

Sessions are 45 minutes long. During the session, we’ll work to explore what negative cognitions have become tangled up for you, and begin doing the work to challenge and dissolve them. This is largely done through utilizing the safe space of the therapy room to begin to unpack the upsetting events, dynamics, or anxiety-inducing experiences that you’ve endured. I typically provide a direct approach, providing prompts or questions that help you to make connections.

Do you work with children?

I love working with children! I work with children as young as 3 years old. When working with children in therapy, there’s typically a longer rapport building stage. Since children aren’t often voluntarily choosing therapy, rapport building a large part of buy-in. I practice CBT, TFCBT, and EMDR with children, while incorporating aspects of Play Therapy, Bibliotherapy, and Psychoeducation.

My speciality is supporting children in processing through a traumatic event. This could be sexual abuse, a car accident, entering the foster care system, loss of a loved one, or anything that a child has deemed largely upsetting.

What is your background?

My background is working with children ages 3-18 to process trauma. Through my work at the Children Crisis Treatment Center, I supported at-risk children and their families in the foster care system, working through traumatic experiences. This was done through outpatient therapy and work in the court system, providing testimony on behalf of my clients and their needs.

I began Jodie Carvalho Therapy LLC in 2018, seeing both children and adults as clients. I now utilize TF-CBT and EMDR in my therapy approach. In addition to trauma, I specialize in self-esteem, anger management, parenting, and adoption.

I began doing psychological evaluations in 2023, and work with many local attorneys to provide services to their clients. I later began working at CCES in Bucks county, where I supported families by providing Child Custody Evaluations.

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach used to connect our thoughts to our feelings and our feelings to our behaviors. It focuses on the dissolving of negative cognitions in order to find healing, and advocates the belief that naming things can make them lose power. The more than we connect, the more we understand, and the more we can break cycles.

I’m also certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) which adds an additional trauma lens to our untangling. This is especially helpful in identifying trauma narratives and working to pinpoint the role of upsetting experiences in our cognitive distortions.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized therapy that works to take power out of traumatic memories. Similar to the way our brains process unconsciously during REM sleep, when our eyes move back and forth, EMDR imitates this bilateral stimulation, allowing our brain to process traumatic memories and anxiety distortions at a deeper level. Holding gentle buzzers in your hand as they buzz back and forth will light up your brain in a way that allows for it to process the core fears and stressful experiences, and regain a sense of control and safety.

If you feel like you’ve done a lot of work to process your symptoms verbally and logically, and are still feeling stuck, EMDR is an excellent modality to try.

Do you accept insurance? What is your rate?

Though I previously have accepted insurance, I am not accepting any insurance clients. My private pay rate is $135 per session. I do offer Out of Network reimbursement documentation which clients can provide to their insurance company (usually submitted through their claims portal) after payment. Some clients receive back 80% of the paid bill, and others receive none- it depends on your OON benefits.

What is your availability? Is there a required amount of sessions?

Current slots are available Monday-Thursday. After your free consultation call, you’ll be given access to the online portal (Sessions Health), where you can sign intake paperwork and then have access to the full calendar. You can then schedule at your convenience. No set schedule is required for sessions, you’re welcome to schedule whenever works for you. If you’d like a certain slot reserved on a regular cadence, simply reach out and it can be blocked off.

What is your cancellation policy?

Therapy appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice are subject to a full session fee of $135, regardless of sliding scale or insurance payment arrangements. Evaluation cancellation fees are subject to a higher charge, which can be found in the evaluation consent form.