FAQs

What is addiction?

Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences. Prevention efforts and treatment approaches for addiction are generally as successful as those for other chronic diseases.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-Assisted Treatment uses FDA-approved medications, for example, Buprenorphine or Naltrexone/Vivitrol, in conjunction with psychosocial counseling and support to treat substance use disorders. The most common misperceptions from our patients, are by prescribing Buprenorphine or Naltrexone, we are just replacing one addiction with another. That is not true. There is a big difference between being physically dependent on a controlled substance in a controlled setting vs. substance use disorder, which is a brain disease where a primitive part of your brain is dysfunctional to the point where the drug becomes the biggest motivation in your life. Reference: www.pamedsoc.org

Do you treat behavioral addictions as well as substance addictions?

Yes, we treat both behavioral addictions as well as substance addictions. For behavioral addictions, we use psychosocial interventions. For substance use disorders we use FDA-approved medications in conjunction with evidence-based psychosocial interventions.

Do you also treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder?

Yes, we treat all psychiatric conditions that often co-exist with substance use – including but not limited to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, PTSD, OCD. We provide evidence-based care and adhere to the nationally recognized guidelines set forth by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association.

Do you accept insurance?

No, TAOW is considered Out-of-Network. The advantage of private pay is that your treatment plans will be determined by you and your doctor rather than your insurance provider. No authorizations are necessary to start therapy or medications and no private medical records are shared with insurance companies.

Otherwise, depending on your current health insurance provider or employee benefit plan, it is possible for services to be covered in full or in part. Please contact your provider to verify how your plan compensates you for psychotherapy services. We’d recommend asking these questions to your insurance provider to help determine your benefits:

  • Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?
  • Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
  • Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
  • Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
What happens at the initial evaluation?

The initial consultation is typically a 60-90 minute consultation, to determine if the services offered at The Art of Wellness are the right fit for you. It is important that you and your doctor are on the same page when it comes to your health and well-being. This consultation time will give us an opportunity to identify your needs and goals. It does not establish a patient-doctor relationship unless we mutually agree on a treatment plan. If TAOW is not the best fit for you, then you can rest assured you will be provided with alternative resources in the Greater Philadelphia Area.




Philadelphia, PA 19106

info@philadelphiapsych.com
(484) 321-6977

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