Where is be. located?
1501 Sulgrave Ave, Suite #313, Baltimore, MD 21209
Do you offer virtual appointments or in-office visits?
Both! We offer virtual, or online therapy through a HIPAA-compliant platform, as well as in-person visits at our suite in Mount Washington. Many of our local clients choose a hybrid option, allowing for virtual therapy or in-office visits, whichever is most convenient during any given week. There are some circumstances in which telehealth is not an appropriate method of service delivery; your therapist will determine whether telehealth is able to effectively meet your needs. If telehealth is appropriate and you wish to receive therapy in this way, you will need a WiFi connection and access to a private and confidential space. Our therapists use a teletherapy platform that is integrated with our HIPAA-compliant electronic health record. You will receive a link, sent to your email, approximately ten minutes prior to your appointment time that will connect you to the virtual platform, where you will find your therapist waiting for you!
Does online therapy, or telehealth, work as well as in-person therapy?
Many clients find that online therapy, or telehealth, is easy, accessible, and convenient, and research has demonstrated that online therapy is no less effective than therapy delivered in person.
Do you offer online therapy for clients who live in another state?
In most cases, yes! Our psychologists are members of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology across state boundaries. See more about PSYPACT below!
Is parking available?
Yes, there is a free parking lot adjacent to the building. Street parking is also available. be. is also light rail accessible.
Will you accept my insurance?
We are a self-pay practice. We do not bill insurance, but we will provide you with receipts that you may submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement. In order to determine whether you are eligible for out-of-network reimbursement, we encourage you to contact your insurance company to ask the following: 1) Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health visits? 2) What is my deductible for these visits? 3) Once my deductible is met, what is the rate of reimbursement for a mental health visit?
Can I use my flexible spending account (FSA) as a source of payment?
Absolutely! Many of our clients use FSA as a payment option.
How can I make an appointment?
If you are interested scheduling an initial appointment or requesting a 15-minute, complimentary consultation call, you may send a message via our contact page or call us at 443-470-3124.
How do I get matched with a qualified therapist?
At be, psychotherapy, we put a lot of thought and care into matching you with a therapist that has the experience and expertise you need, in order to help you achieve the therapeutic outcomes you are hoping for. Our process typically incudes a 15-minute complimentary phone call to assess your current concerns and goals for therapy. We will also gather important information about your individual preferences for therapy, your treatment history (including what has and hasn’t worked well in the past), and any specific cultural or life experiences that might affect the matching process. We will share information about therapists who have current or upcoming availability and the experience you need to help move you toward your goals, and we will include you in the decision-making process.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
Your therapist will provide an overview of what to expect from the initial visit and subsequent sessions. They will gather information related to your current concerns and ask you about your hopes for therapy. All of this information will guide you and your therapist toward the development of a plan for how you will reach the goals you have in mind. You and your therapist will also discuss your scheduling preferences, as well as appropriate frequency of follow-up visits.
What is evidence-based therapy and how does it work?
Not all therapies are the same! Evidence-based therapies are specific approaches that have been rigorously studied through randomized clinical trials (for years, sometimes decades!) and proven to be effective in bringing about desired change. These therapies work by matching specific interventions that science has shown to be capable of creating positive outcomes with specific problems. For example, exposure therapy is a specific therapy that has been rigorously studied and shown to be very effective in helping people with phobias, like fear of needles or fear of vomiting. Similarly, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based therapy proven effective in helping people with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An evidence-based therapy like CPT is designed to target and reduce specific symptoms of PTSD and has the ability to do this more effectively and more quickly than standard, non-specific “talk therapy” or another therapy that hasn’t been specifically tested for its ability to treat PTSD.
Medical examples often work well to highlight the importance of evidence-based therapy. If I go to the emergency department with a nasty gash on my arm, and it’s determined that I have an infection, I expect to be offered the interventions that have been proven by medical trials to be able to effectively treat my wound (I’m not excited about risking additional complications related to this infection, and I’ve experienced enough pain already). I would like my arm to heal safely and effectively (as quickly as possible). I’m not interested in a new, not yet fully tested treatment, when good old penicillin will undoubtedly get the job done. If penicillin and the “gold-standards” don’t heal what is ailing me, then by all means, I’m open to hearing more, but I’d like to start with the treatments that have the most documented support in treating my infection, please! At be. psychotherapy, we will always talk with you about evidence-based therapies designed to help with the specific problems you are experiencing, because we believe that you deserve to have access to the most effective therapies, and we want you to feel better, faster.
What are the benefits of evidence-based therapies?
Evidence-based therapies, delivered by a skillful and experienced therapist, have the greatest likelihood of helping you reach your goals. Added bonus: evidence-based therapies will teach you new ways to solve your current problems, and these methods can be used for the rest of your life! This means that evidence-based therapies are designed to bring about long-term change - long after therapy ends.
What is evidence-based practice?
Selecting evidence-based therapies is an important part of overarching evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice includes selecting evidence-based therapies that work for treating specific problems, in addition to considering: 1) a client’s cultural experience and how it might impact therapeutic interventions and outcomes, 2) a client’s learning style and individual preferences for therapy, and 3) a therapist’s experience and expertise (a therapist should receive training in specific evidence-based therapies prior to delivering these services).
How long will therapy last?
Our clients vary in their needs and preferences related to duration of therapy. Your therapist will assist you in thinking about your specific needs and preferences; some of our clients want to “get in and get out” as quickly as possible, and others view therapy as more ongoing with maintenance and/or “booster session” over time. We value both perspectives and will work with you to design a plan that meets your needs. Regardless of whether you wish for therapy to be more brief and targeted or more ongoing, our hope is to provide you with the space and guidance that you need to “become your own guide/therapist,” so that when you aren’t in session, you feel equipped to handle whatever comes your way.
What is the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)?
The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology across state boundaries. This is a really exciting compact that allows licensed psychologists approved by the PSYPACT commission to provide online therapy to people across state lines. This can be especially helpful for the following:
- People who live in more remote areas with limited access to psychotherapists
- People seeking certain clinical expertise that may be less accessible in their geographic area
- People anticipating a geographic move who want to avoid having to “start over” with a new therapist
- People who travel frequently for work or pleasure; PSYPACT prevents untimely breaks in therapy that could interfere with progress toward goals
How does PSYPACT work?
Participating in online therapy through PSYPACT is no different from participating in online therapy sessions with a therapist who resides in your state. Clients find that online therapy, or telehealth, is easy, accessible, and convenient, and research has demonstrated that online therapy is no less effective than therapy delivered in person! Participating in telehealth appointments with a be. psychotherapist requires connection to WiFi and the press of a button! Our therapists use a teletherapy platform that is integrated with our HIPAA-compliant electronic health record. You will receive a link, sent to your email, approximately ten minutes prior to your appointment time that will connect you to the virtual platform, where you will find your therapist waiting for you!
Who is eligible to receive online therapy through PSYPACT?
If you live in a state or territory that recognizes PSYPACT, and your therapist determines that virtual therapy appointments are appropriate for your current needs, then you are eligible to receive online therapy or teletherapy from a licensed PSYPACT provider. Most states and territories have joined PSYPACT, and several are currently pending legislation.
PSYPACT PARTICIPATING STATES (40 ENACTED, 39 EFFECTIVE)
Alabama - AL SB 102 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/1/2021)
Arizona - AZ HB 2503 (Enacted on 5/17/2016; Effective 7/1/2020)
Arkansas - AR HB 1760 (Enacted 4/25/2021; Effective (11/18/2021)
Colorado - CO HB 1017 (Enacted 4/12/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - CNMI HB 22-80 (Enacted and Effective 10/24/2022)
Connecticut -CT S 2(Enacted 5/24/2022; Effective 10/1/2022)
Delaware - DE HB 172 (Enacted 6/27/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)
District of Columbia - DC B 145 (Enacted and Effective 4/2/2021)
Florida -FL H 33(Enacted 5/25/2023; Effective 7/1/2023)
Georgia - GA HB 26 (Enacted 4/23/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)
Idaho - ID S 1305 (Enacted 3/23/2022; Effective 7/1/2022)
Illinois - IL HB 1853 (Enacted 8/22/2018, Effective 7/1/2020)
Indiana -IN S 365(Enacted 3/10/2022; Effective 7/1/2022)
Kansas - KS SB 170 (Enacted 5/17/2021; Effective 1/1/2022)
Kentucky - KY HB 38 (Enacted 3/18/2021; Effective 6/28/2021)
Maine - ME HB 631 (Enacted 6/22/2021; Effective 10/18/2021)
Maryland - MD HB 970 (Enacted and Effective 5/18/2021)
Michigan -MI H 5489(Enacted 12/22/2022; Effective 3/29/2023)
Minnesota - MN SB 193 (Enacted 5/25/2021; Effective 5/26/2021)
Missouri - MO HB 1719/MO SB 660 (Enacted 6/1/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)
Nebraska - NE L 1034 (Enacted 4/23/2018; Effective 7/1/2020)
Nevada - NV AB 429 (Enacted on 5/26/2017; Effective 7/1/2020)
New Hampshire- NH SB 232 (Enacted 7/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)
New Jersey -NJ A 4205(Enacted 9/24/2021; Effective 11/23/2021)
North Carolina - NC 361 (Enacted 7/1/2020; Effective 3/1/2021)
North Dakota - ND S 2205 (Enacted 4/13/2023; Effective 8/1/2023)
Ohio -OH S 2 (Enacted 4/27/2021; Effective 7/26/2021)
Oklahoma - OK HB 1057 (Enacted 4/29/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)
Pennsylvania- PA SB 67(Enacted 5/8/2020; Effective 7/8/2020)
Rhode Island -RI H 7501(Enacted 6/21/2022; Effective7/1/2023)
South Carolina -SC H 3204(Enacted 5/16/2023; Effective7/17/2023)
Tennessee -TN S 161 (Enacted and Effective 5/11/2021)
Texas - TX HB 1501 (Enacted 6/10/2019; Effective 7/1/2020)
Utah - UT SB 106 (Enacted on 3/17/2017; Effective 7/1/2020)
Virginia- VA SB 760(Enacted 4/11/2020; Effective 1/1/2021)
Washington -WA H 1286(Enacted 3/4/2022; Effective 6/9/2022)
West Virginia - WV SB 668 (Enacted 4/21/2021; Effective 11/18/2021)
Wisconsin -WI A 537 (Enacted 2/4/2022; Effective 2/6/2022)
Wyoming - WY S 26 (Enacted 2/15/2023; Effective 2/15/2023)
ENACTED, NOT YET EFFECTIVE
Vermont - VT H 282 (Enacted 6/1/2023; Effective Tentatively 7/1/2024)
ACTIVE PSYPACT LEGISLATION (*Please note the following states have introduced PSYPACT legislation but have not yet enacted PSYPACT and therefore are not considered PSYPACT participating states.)
Massachusetts - MA S1980 and MA H2986
New York - NY S6883 and NY A07947