Referring Patients for Sexuality Counseling and Education

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

• Is sexuality counseling and education like therapy?

  While there is some crossover in terms of the counseling and education each type of professional provides to clients, I neither diagnose nor initiate psychological treatment. Your patient and I will agree on counseling or learning objectives, and I will engage them in dialogue or provide information and answers and help them explore the feelings, attitudes and specific concerns that led you to refer them to me. Sexuality counseling and education are short-term interventions.

• What do sessions include?

  Each session lasts an hour. At the first session, your patient and I will discuss the reasons for the consultation, establish counseling or learning objectives, discuss your patient’s sexual history, and begin counseling or education, depending on their needs. Sessions may incorporate anatomy illustrations or recommendations of books, videos, or websites. We may discuss sexual aids or adult pleasure products, although I do not sell or distribute products. At the end of the session, we will determine whether further sessions would be helpful.

When making a referral, please assure your patient that they control the amount of personal information disclosed during the session, and all communication with me remains confidential unless they ask me to share information with you.

• Where do you work?

  I see clients in the New Jersey Center for Sexual Wellness, which is located within the medical offices of Lifeline Medical Associates in Bedminster and Morristown, New Jersey. The offices are wheelchair accessible and staffed by caring personnel. For clients who are outside the geographic area or concerned about health risks during the Covid-19 pandemic, I conduct sessions by via Doxyme.com, which is an encrypted online healthcare portal.

• Will your patient’s visit remain confidential?

  I would be happy to provide you with a report if your patient gives me written permission to do so.

• How much does a consultation cost?

  Visits are $175 per hour. Payment by check, online payment, or cash is due at the time of service.

• What kinds of clients do you see?

  I work with teens, individual adults, and couples of all genders and orientations.  Clients under 18 must provide a parent- or guardian-signed permission slip acknowledging that I will not share what the teen says during the session unless I suspect the teen may be a danger to themselves or others.

• Is consultation covered by insurance?

  Insurance companies don’t currently reimburse for sexuality education. However, your patients and clients may be able to use workplace health savings accounts to offset consultation.

• Does the patient need a referral?

  No referral slip is needed. Please provide my phone number (908-568-8349) and/or email address (answers @ melaniedavisphs.com ) with the recommendation that your patient or client contact me. You are also welcome to contact me with a heads-up on why you referred them; however, that is not required.