I Wonder

A licensed psychologist has earned a doctoral degree in the field of psychology from an accredited university or training institution.  They complete a one-year supervised internship and another year of supervised post-doctoral training before becoming licensed.  Upon completion of training requirements, they passed all required licensing exams and met all requirements set by the state licensing board.  Licensed psychologists participate in continuing education throughout their careers to maintain their credentials, to advance their understanding of mental health concerns and treatment methods, and to provide quality care to the communities they serve.  Psychologists provide many types of services which may include assessment and diagnosis of mental health issues and conditions, psychotherapy, consultation, education, and research.  There are a variety of specialties, including but not limited to clinical, counseling, school, forensic, and neuropsychology.

Dr. McGee is looking forward to speaking with you.  Please call (972) 265-9448 or complete the Contact form found on the Home page to schedule a brief phone consultation and/or an intake/diagnostic interview.  Once you are scheduled for an intake/diagnostic interview, you will receive additional information about how to set up your account in the patient portal and complete the initial paperwork.

The frequency of therapy sessions is determined by the current concerns and needs of the client.  Typically, Dr. McGee prefers to schedule weekly appointments for about 4-8 weeks.  This allows time to build a strong treatment relationship and opportunity to help stabilize clients with intense feelings/behaviors.  Once appropriate, sessions may gradually decrease in frequency over time (e.g., alternate weeks, monthly, etc.) as clients show consistent progress towards goals.  Dr. McGee will work with each client/family to create a treatment schedule that works best for you and your current needs.

The initial intake, or diagnostic interview is scheduled for 90 minutes.  These appointments are for adults only (young adult clients or parents).  Please do not bring minors to these sessions, as they are designed with adults in mind.  For minor clients, Dr. McGee will be gathering information about your child’s strengths, symptoms, treatment history, family history, life changes, etc.  She anticipates that you may have questions too, and she wants you to be able to speak freely without worrying about how your communication may affect your child. 

Individual therapy, family therapy, and parent consultation appointments are 50 minutes.  Youth clients will attend their first therapy session after the initial parent appointment(s).  Initial youth therapy sessions focus on connecting with them and assessing areas of challenge from their point-of-view.  Typically, parents/caregivers will be present at the beginning and the ending of these appointments, but they will spend most of this time in a nearby waiting room. 

Yes, Dr. McGee will provide notes to allow youth absences for therapy appointments to be excused.

Absolutely!  Dr. McGee needs frequent, regular communication from parents as well as youth clients to understand whether treatment is helpful outside the therapy hour.  There may also be “homework” (readings, videos, skills to practice, etc.) that youth and parents will need to share with Dr. McGee to assess effectiveness.  In addition, Dr. McGee understands that life changes/stresses don’t stop because a family is involved in therapy.  These events often affect youth mental health and well-being, so communication is critical for choosing helpful interventions.

Family therapy sessions and parent consultation sessions are available as desired and/or as recommended based on treatment needs.  These sessions will be scheduled in advance via collaboration between the youth, parents, and Dr. McGee.

It is strongly recommended that parents refrain from bringing siblings or other children to your youth’s individual therapy sessions. Having other children in attendance risks compromising client’s confidentiality and the therapy relationship. 

In addition, Caddo Offices, where Dr. McGee’s office is located, requires that all minors under the age of 16 always be in the company of an adult.  As such, siblings will not be allowed to remain in the waiting room while you and your child meet with Dr. McGee.  If a sibling must accompany you due to unforeseen circumstances, please notify Dr. McGee in advance to develop a plan that protects the client’s privacy and meets your family’s needs.  

Family therapy sessions and parent consultation sessions are available as desired based on treatment needs.  These sessions will be scheduled in advance via collaboration between the youth, parents, and Dr. McGee.

Dr. McGee is happy to collaborate with physicians, psychiatrists, school personnel, and other individuals important to your/your child’s care.  If indicated, please discuss this with Dr. McGee to insure you complete proper documentation to release information and there is clear understanding and agreement as what the nature of the information to be shared.

Therapy works best when appointments are attended on time and consistently.  However, Dr. McGee understands that sometimes life happens. Unexpected events influence our schedules and our best-laid plans.  If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please remember to contact Dr. McGee at least 24 hours/1 business day in advance.  Every effort will be made to identify options, such as an alternate appointment time or telehealth visit if appropriate, that accommodates your needs without impacting client care.

If you are planning to attend your appointment but are running late, please call Dr. McGee to provide an estimated arrival time.  She will make every effort to accommodate as long as you arrive within 15 minutes of the original appointment time.  Clients providing less than 24 hours’ notice, who do not show for their appointment, or who arrive more than 15 minutes late without notifying Dr. McGee in advance will be charged a $100 no-show/late cancellation fee.

Dr. McGee cares about your safety.  In the event of inclement weather, Dr. McGee’s office will follow the guidelines set out by Lewisville Independent School District.  Clients who are appropriate for telehealth may be able to change to virtual sessions, pending discussion and agreement with Dr. McGee.   If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. McGee by phone or through the patient portal.

Dr. McGee cares deeply about providing help and healing to young people and their families.  Unfortunately, her practice does not receive outside funding (e.g., grants, donations, etc.) to assist with funding mental health services.  Private practice providers rely on clients to honor commitments to appointment times as their source of income which covers business expenses for providing quality care as well as personal living expenses.  When clients do not attend scheduled appointments and/or fail to communicate a need to reschedule in a timely manner, the appointment time cannot made available to another client.  This affects both the provider’s compensation as well as access to care for other clients who need support.  Dr. McGee appreciates your compassionate understanding and commitment to respecting her time and the needs of her practice.

There are pros and cons for both using insurance and for private pay, but ultimately, the decision comes down to issues of privacy, cost, and flexibility and control over your therapy experience. 

Reasons for choosing to use insurance include lower out of pocket costs, access to the plan’s network of providers, and access to care that otherwise might not be affordable.

Reasons for choosing private pay include increased confidentiality as your information is not shared with insurance companies with the exception of some limited protected health information (type of service, diagnosis, date and length of appointment, and fees) for those submitting a Superbill.  Your insurance plan would not have the right to access information or audit your records if they are not paying for the service.  Private pay also provides increased flexibility of treatment planning, allowing the psychologist to tailor treatment to your needs/goals rather than what insurance deems medically necessary based on a qualifying diagnosis.  Not all concerns or challenges warrant a diagnosis, though clients may still wish to access therapy services.  Finally, private pay allows clients and families the freedom to choose the therapist, type of therapy, and timing and length of treatment based on your needs/preferences and what is most meaningful to you.

Whitney McGee Psychological Services, PLLC places a high value on client privacy and choice and on flexibility of treatment provision.  In addition, the management of insurance contracts and claims requires additional time investment outside of client appointments which is not insignificant.  Whitney McGee Psychological Services, PLLC chooses to create more time and space for service provision and direct client care, allowing increased opportunities for children, adolescents, young adults, and families to access the treatment they need.

Clients have the right to request a copy of their health care records. To request your records, please submit a written request to Dr. McGee. Requests may be made through secure client portal, email, or in writing. Please include the client’s full name, date of birth, phone number/contact information, and specific records you are requesting, preferred delivery method, signature, and date. If you are requesting records on behalf of a minor or an individual other than yourself, you must provide documentation of legal authority (e.g., guardianship, medical power of attorney). Identify verification may be required to protect client privacy. Requests may be subject to applicable fees as permitted by law. Records will be provided in accordance with the timeframe and privacy regulations required by Texas law. If you have questions about accessing your records, please contact Dr. McGee for assistance.

Dr. McGee cares about your experience and welcomes any feedback.  If you would like to make a formal complaint regarding mental health services, you may contact the Texas Behavior Health Executive Council (BHEC). The Texas BHEC website is www.bhec.texas.gov.  You may also call 1-800-821-3205 for more information.

If you believe your rights have been violated or you wish to file a consumer complaint regarding business practices, you may contact the Office of the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Complaints may be filed online at: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection.