Search
Patient Portal
Call Us Today(412) 214-0042

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to Refer a Patient

Provider Referrals Form

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions regarding our clinic practices.

Our providers treat a variety of conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, and mood disorders. We also treat all patient age groups and consider ourselves allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, with multiple providers who specialize in some of their unique needs.
We offer treatments such as medication management, functional medicine, telemedicine, CBT, MBSR, EMDR, and neurofeedback. In addition to these treatments, we are one of the leading providers of TMS therapy in Pittsburgh. Dr. Thorkelson and our team have traveled worldwide to study and present case studies on the treatment of MDD patients with TMS.
While we do offer Psychotherapy to our patients, we do not have Therapists or Counselors on staff who are able to provide weekly therapy sessions.
What we don’t do: Disability assessments, custody or security clearance evaluations, counseling, work/school fitness determination, FMLA documents for new patients, legal related evaluations, drug/alcohol addition or opiate management
While we treat patients with these conditions, and can diagnose them based on cumulative clinical symptoms, observations, and patient history- we do not do diagnostic testing of any sort.
If you need a one-time assessment or psychological testing for ADHD or other diagnostic reasons, we suggest calling your insurance and inquiring about facilities in your network that do Neuropsychological Testing, as this is not a service we can provide, even for active patients in the clinic, and would refer you out for this test if it were
We do not require any pre-evaluations, however, there are intake forms and questionnaires which all potential patients are required to complete prior to being considered for scheduling.
It is our policy not to complete this type of requested documentation for patients with whom we have not established a solid and consistent clinical relationship. This kind of documentation hinges on your provider being able to offer supporting clinical evidence and information based on their treatment of you over a consistent period of time. As this relationship has not yet been established for new patients, we are not able to honestly and effectively offer this information for patients who have not been seen in clinic for at least six (6) months.
We suggest that you forward these requests to your PCP or another provider who may have a more extensive clinical history with you and will be able to offer the information and documentation requested.
For established patients these forms may be able tp be completed, at your providers discretion, during an appointment or outside office hours for a fee.
Pharmacologic management is the most common treatment for many mental health conditions, but not the only option.
There are treatment options that include holistic treatment such as mindfulness, therapies like CBT/DBT, hypnosis, EMDR, supplements, and diet changes to name a few. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan that allows you to feel comfortable and is most likely to help you live a happier, more productive life.
All providers at the Nexus Group have the appropriate license and DEA credentials to order prescription medication.
One of the things we do differently as a practice is our approach to medications. While many of our patients are on medications and we do closely manage them, we may not immediately refill the prescriptions your previous provider from another facility was giving you.
This may be because we want to assess lab work or other testing first, or because your provider does not believe that to be the best course of treatment for you.
Regardless, this will be discussed in depth with you at the appointment and we will never leave you in an unsafe situation with your medications.
Our intake staff will make every effort to verify insurance coverage and will provide all information needed for you to get detailed benefit information from your insurance company directly.

 

We do accept self-pay patients and, while the rates can fluctuate slightly based on the services performed, in general New Patient Evaluation appointments are approximately $350.00 and follow-up appointments are $258.00.

 

 If you have insurance coverage and are inquiring about your out-of-pocket costs for your specific plan, unfortunately there is no way for us to access that information and you will need to contact your insurance directly to find out what your out-of-pocket costs may be.
We are in network providers and accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield/Highmark, Cigna, UPMC, and United Healthcare/United Behavioral Health/Optum insurances, including their CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) products.
Besides CHIP, we do not participate in any Medicaid or any Medicare programs. We do not participate in UPMC For Life , UPMC For You, or Aetna Better Health.
Many companies have carve-out policies for Mental Health services and, though we may be in network for most policies, it is possible that we may not be for some policies due to this. Because of insurance and HIPAA restrictions, we are unable to access some information and so it is the patient’s responsibility to verify their own policy coverage.
 Please contact your insurance directly to check our network status for your specific plan or any information regarding deductibles, co-insurance, or co-pays.
Wait times to schedule a new patient appointment vary. New patients are typically contacted within two weeks of submitting their intake information and Intake appointments are usually booked out 2-3 weeks.
Your follow up appointment will be scheduled at the end of your session, and the length between appointments is determined by your provider.
We have always offered remote tele-health appointments, however, please note, that all new patient appointments must be in-person . All patients are required to attend in-person appointments at the clinic at least yearly and telehealth coverage is dependent on your individual insurance policy.
 Additionally, per medical licensing regulations, all patients must be physically in the state of Pennsylvania during their appointment to be seen, this will be verified by the provider at each appointment.
While we understand that reaching out for help can be an anxious time, and is a big step for many patients, due to HIPAA guidelines and the sensitivity of all Mental Health information we are unable to communicate with patient families or friends prior to establishing a clinical relationship with the patient and then only after obtaining the proper consents.
For those patients who are not able to make their own health care decisions for cognitive reasons we do not currently have any providers with the experience managing the needs of this particular patient group who are taking on new patients. If your loved one is unable, or unwilling, to complete the intake process on their own we, unfortunately, may not be the best fit for your needs, as we require all patients to be able to be actively engaged and participating fully in their own treatment.
We apologize for the extended time it may take to review your intake form. Once submitted it can normally take 4-6 weeks to review and reach out. Our providers and intake team personally review each of the hundreds of intake forms we receive each week to ensure that we are able to meet each patient’s needs and that patients are paired with a provider that fits their situation. This can sometimes take longer if there is additional information needed by the intake team to review.
If you are in need of immediate care we would suggest reaching out to your insurance for additional referrals. In the case of emergent needs or any safety concerns please contact your local crisis hotline, 911, or report to your local emergency room.
We are limiting in-person appointments to those who require hands on treatment, such as TMS. Only employees and those with an appointment are allowed to enter our office.
We are being cautious, inside and outside the office, by wearing masks, practicing social distancing, taking temperatures at work and increasing our already stringent disinfecting protocols.
If you’re looking to change providers we invite you to complete a new patient intake form. No referrals are needed to transfer your care.
Once completed, our intake team will review your information and reach out for scheduling or with other resources if we are not able to accommodate your needs at this time.
Please complete an intake form and indicate that you are transferring with your provider in the ‘reason for seeking treatment’ section. At the question that asks if you have seen one of our providers before please list your provider’s name. we’ll give you a call to schedule an appointment as soon as possible!
You do not need a password or access code if you have a phone that allows text messaging.
Simply click the link at the top of the page and you can log in right from your mobile device or desktop!
Your billing statements as well as appointment history can be found by visiting your patient portal! While we will automatically collect your payment from the card on file after a statement has been sent, you can always make a separate payment or use another payment method by visiting your portal!
The offices are open Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm. Phones are answered throughout the day.
If you are having a difficult time connecting to a person please leave us a voicemail- these are all returned by the end of business or the next morning at latest.
We understand that not reaching a person immediately is frustrating and ask for your patience if we are assisting other patients when you call!
The offices are closed on the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Holiday hours and closures will be posted in advance on our website.

Insurances We Accept

blue cross
United
Upmc
anthem
aetna
×

    Refer a patient

    Once received we'll reach out to your patient directly for scheduling!


    Date of birth*