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Sunlit rocky trail winding through a lush green forest
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Start Treatment

Starting Therapy

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  • Please take a look at my website to see if you think we’d be a good fit. You can learn more about me, my specialty areas, my services, and get answers to FAQs.

  • If you think we’d be a good fit, please send me an email (EmilyStanoPsyD@DrStano.com) or use my contact form and I’ll be in touch within 48 hours Monday-Friday.

    I will offer any available openings, or will provide options for being added to my waitlist.

  • Our first appointment is the “intake appointment,” which feels a bit different and more formal than the rest of our work together. During this appointment, I will ask questions about what brought you to therapy and gather information about your history and current life circumstances.

    I will share my understanding of how I can help you get “unstuck” and we will collaboratively determine your initial treatment goals.

    When working with kids/teens, I always start these sessions with the patient and their parent(s), and offer the option to have private discussions later in the appointment in case anyone wants to discuss something with me privately.

    I will send Intake Forms prior to this appointment and ask that you return them before we meet.

    This session will last about 55 minutes and can occur in person or virtually.

  • This is the part where you start to feel better and live life better-aligned with your goals!

    I generally start working with patients on a weekly or every-other-week schedule, depending on my appointment availability and your preferences. We will have a recurring, reserved appointment (e.g., Monday at 4 pm, every week; Thursday at 12 pm, every other week). The entire “therapy hour” is reserved for you, with sessions lasting 40-55 minutes.

    Over time, and as you meet your goals, you may prefer to meet less frequently (e.g., every 4 weeks), and we can tweak our schedule to meet your needs.

    Most of my patients work with me for 3-9 months, though I also have some patients who prefer to work together for shorter or longer durations.

    I want to ensure that our work is helpful and meaningful; therefore I am happy meet in whatever way is best for you:

    • Individually: Just the patient

    • Individually with Parent Check-in: Brief meeting with the patient and their parent(s), then just the patient

    • Family: The patient and their parent(s)

    • Parent Only: The patient’s parent(s), to discuss current concerns and ways to support your child’s goals.

    We can meet in person (all ages) or virtually (for patients 10+), and can flexibly alternate our meeting format depending on your needs.

  • When you are feeling better and have met your goals, we will plan for ending our work together. I am so excited for you to reach this point, even if it means that we may not see each other as often.

    Even after we finish our work, I’m always available to meet occasionally for “check-in” appointments, or to re-start therapy if you want to tackle new challenges in the future.

Starting Assessment

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  • Please take a look at my website to see if you think we’d be a good fit. You can learn more about me, my assessment services, and get answers to FAQs.

  • If you think we’d be a good fit, please send me an email (EmilyStanoPsyD@DrStano.com) or use my contact form and I’ll be in touch within 48 hours Monday-Friday.

    I will offer my next available assessment dates so you can choose the slot that works best for your schedule.

  • Our first appointment is the “intake appointment,” during which I will ask questions about what made you want to seek assessment and gather information about your history and current life circumstances.

    I will share my understanding of your current challenges and we will collaboratively determine your assessment goals.

    When assessing kids/teens, these sessions can be “parent(s) only,” or can include the patient as well.

    I will send Intake Forms prior to this appointment and ask that you return them before we meet.

    This session will last about 55 minutes and can occur in person or virtually.

  • The assessment session is scheduled for 6 hours, though most people finish within 4-5 hours.

    The duration includes time for breaks and patients are welcome to bring food (we have a fridge and microwave, if needed), to have food delivered, or to go off-site for food.

    We can plan a lunch break at your preferred time—or work straight through with minimal breaks if you want.

    Assessment standardization procedures require that testing is completed one-on-one with just the patient and Dr. Stano in the room.

    Parent(s) of young patients are not required to stay on-site, though they are welcome to, and I will offer an empty office if you elect to stay during your child’s assessment appointment.

  • We will meet to review the findings of your assessment 2-4 weeks after the assessment appointment.

    At that time, I will explain the results of each test, review diagnoses, and help you plan your next steps through detailed and personalized recommendations. I will also provide copies of your report.

    This session will last about 55 minutes and can occur in person or virtually. For kids/teens, I usually meet with just the parents, though the patient is welcome to attend.