Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that beginning behavioral health treatment involves many questions. Below you will find thorough answers to the questions our intake coordinators and clinical team receive most frequently. If your question is not addressed here, please contact our office at (612) 555-0287 or email intake@healthallianceintegratedcare.org.
What is integrated behavioral health care, and how is it different from seeing a therapist on my own?
Integrated behavioral health care coordinates your mental health therapy, psychiatric medication management, primary care needs, and social services within a single clinical team that communicates daily and shares a unified treatment plan. In traditional standalone therapy, your therapist works independently with no systematic connection to your psychiatrist, primary care physician, or social worker. At Health Alliance, these providers function as a cohesive unit, meeting in clinical huddles, sharing an electronic health record, and making collaborative decisions about your care. Research demonstrates that this model produces significantly better outcomes, higher treatment adherence, and lower total healthcare costs than fragmented care.
What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept Minnesota Medicaid (Medical Assistance), Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, UCare, Medica, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and most other major commercial insurance plans. We also offer a sliding-scale fee structure based on household income and family size for uninsured individuals. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Our intake coordinator verifies your specific benefits and informs you of any copays or deductibles before your first appointment so there are no financial surprises. If you have questions about whether your plan is accepted, call our office and we will verify within one business day.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
Yes. All individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, and psychiatric medication management appointments are available via HIPAA-compliant video telehealth for established patients residing in Minnesota. Telehealth sessions maintain the same clinical rigor, measurement-based outcome tracking, and collaborative care coordination as in-person visits. Your initial comprehensive assessment may be conducted via telehealth or in-person based on your preference. Some specialized services, such as certain trauma processing modalities, may be more effective in person and your clinician will discuss the optimal format during treatment planning.
What should I expect at my first appointment?
Your first appointment is a 60-minute comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment conducted by a licensed clinician. During this session, you will discuss your presenting concerns, mental health history, medical history, family background, substance use history (if applicable), social support network, and treatment goals. Your clinician will administer baseline outcome measures and collaboratively develop an initial treatment plan with specific, measurable objectives. At the conclusion of the assessment, your clinician will explain the recommended frequency and modality of treatment, introduce you to any other team members who will be part of your care (psychiatrist, care coordinator, social worker), and schedule your follow-up sessions.
What if I am in crisis or having thoughts of suicide?
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. For crisis support, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or contact the Hennepin County Crisis Line. During our office hours (Mon–Fri 8 AM–7 PM, Sat 9 AM–1 PM), you can also reach our clinical team directly at (612) 555-0287 and ask for crisis support. For established patients, your clinician has a crisis safety plan on file and can facilitate immediate warm handoffs to crisis stabilization services. Health Alliance maintains active referral partnerships with Hennepin Healthcare's Crisis Assessment and Response program for patients requiring a higher level of care.
How is my confidentiality protected?
All clinical information is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Minnesota Health Records Act, and 42 CFR Part 2 for substance use disorder treatment records. Your information is shared only within your authorized care team for the purpose of treatment coordination. Psychotherapy process notes maintained by your individual therapist are afforded additional protections beyond the standard medical record. We will never share your information with employers, family members, or third parties without your explicit written consent, except in legally mandated situations (imminent danger to self or others, suspected child or vulnerable adult abuse, or valid court order). Our full privacy practices are detailed on our privacy policy page.
Do you treat children and adolescents?
Yes. Our child and adolescent behavioral health program serves young people aged 5 and older, along with their families. Treatment approaches include play therapy for younger children, cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for adolescents, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) for behavioral challenges, and family systems work that engages the entire household. Our clinicians coordinate with school counselors and pediatricians when appropriate to ensure a comprehensive support network. Parental or guardian consent is required for treatment of minors, and adolescent confidentiality protections are carefully maintained in accordance with Minnesota law and clinical best practices.
What therapeutic modalities do your clinicians use?
Our clinical team is trained in a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities and selects the approach best matched to each patient's presentation and goals. Available modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) individual skills and coaching, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman Method for couples, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, Prolonged Exposure, Somatic Experiencing, Play Therapy, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Your clinician will discuss which modality or combination of modalities is recommended for your situation during the treatment planning phase of your assessment.
How long does treatment typically last?
Treatment duration varies based on the nature and severity of your presenting concerns, your treatment goals, and your response to interventions as measured by our outcome tracking system. Brief, focused interventions for adjustment difficulties or mild to moderate anxiety may be effective within 8 to 12 sessions. More complex presentations involving trauma, co-occurring disorders, chronic conditions, or family systems work typically benefit from 6 to 18 months of ongoing treatment with gradually decreasing frequency. Our stepped care model ensures that treatment intensity adjusts dynamically as you progress, stepping up when needed and stepping down as clinical milestones are achieved. You are never locked into a predetermined number of sessions.
What is a “warm handoff” and how does it work?
A warm handoff is a real-time, in-person or same-day introduction to another provider on your care team. Rather than receiving a referral letter and being told to call another office, your therapist walks you to meet the next provider or connects you via video during the same visit. For example, if during a therapy session your clinician determines that a psychiatric medication evaluation would be beneficial, they will introduce you to the psychiatric prescriber that same day or schedule the consultation within 48 hours. This approach eliminates the referral gaps where patients most commonly disengage from care and has been shown to increase referral completion rates from approximately 30 percent to over 85 percent.