Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What type of services do we provide?

  A: We provide therapy for children and teens, parent coaching, evaluations for learning disabilities and behavioral disorders, and functional behavior assessments

• Q: How much do services cost?

  A: Sessions are $175 per hour and last 60 minutes. However, for services provided in-home, the cost is subject to change based on travel time. Rates for evaluations vary based on the type of evaluation. For more information on evaluations, please call 813-498-4301 or email diana.ginns@behavioralhealthtampa.com

• Q: Where are services provided?

  A: Depending on the need, services are either provided in office or in the child’s home. This is something we will discuss during your intake appointment.

• Q: What should our family expect at the first appointment?

  A: The first appointment is a chance for us to get to know you and your child. We will discuss your and your child's goals for therapy, current barriers to success, and the role we can play in helping you get there. We will send you paperwork to complete before your first appointment that may include background information on your child, a release of information form, and general information about our practice.

  If you have documentation that you feel will be helpful for us to understand your son/daughter, please feel free to bring it to your first appointment. This may include any outside evaluations, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from school, doctor's records, academic work from your child's school, or any other information you think may be helpful.

• Q: Do providers at Bridges Behavioral Health accept health insurance?

  A: We only accept Cigna insurance at this time. We do assist families with processing out-of-network benefits, and many individuals we work with receive 80%-100% of their services covered by insurance. For more information, see FAQs under insurance.

• Q: How should I introduce the idea of therapy/working with a psychologist to my child?

  A: This depends on the developmental level of the child and what the child has been exposed to previously. If the child/teen has worked with a psychologist previously whom they referred to in a specific way, I recommend the child/teen refer to me the same way. For younger kids, I collaborate with the parents to determine the best way for the child to refer to me. For example, some children/teens call me Dr. Diana, while others call me Dr. Ginns. Some parents think referring to me as a therapist, teacher or behavior coach will be helpful for their child. Sometimes, when I am working with just the parents, parents refer to me as their friend when I observe. The parents believe this helps the child feel more at ease when I observe their child (especially at home or in the community).

• Q: What is therapy like for young kids?

  A: Much of the work I do with younger kids involves drawing, playing, and watching videos all to help build social, behavioral, and coping skills. I use various activities to introduce and help build skills within a cognitive behavioral framework. Typically, kids enjoy coming to therapy. They like the activities and get to have one on one time with a nurturing, empathetic adult. They get to learn new skills while having fun!

• Q: What is a therapy session like?

  A: A standard therapy session lasts about 60 minutes. Typically, I work with both the parent(s) and the child/teen individually for 20-30 minutes each and then the parents, family, and child for another 20-30 minutes. Activities and discussions are targeted towards the specific needs and developmental level of the child.

• Q: Will I have things to do between sessions?

  A: I often give “homework” for either parents, the child/teen, or both to do between sessions. This homework may include practicing certain activities (e.g., relaxation techniques, social skills) or taking data on how often certain behaviors are occurring. I may also give parents things to try with their child between sessions, such as telling instead of asking their child to complete a task.

• Q: How will I know if therapy is working?

  A: You should be able to see behavior change in your child/teen rather quickly when they are in therapy. Usually, behavior change occurs the fastest when both the child and the parents are working towards the goals/changes discussed and planned for during therapy sessions. Additionally, parents may be asked to take data based on their observations between sessions. Collecting this data can help highlight improvement in behavior and provide information on how effective the treatment is.