Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about therapy at Good Beginnings, from your first visit to ongoing care.
BEFORE GETTING STARTED
If you’re wondering, it’s usually worth checking. We often tell families that you don’t need to have it all figured out, that’s what the evaluation is for. Whether it’s motor skills, feeding, coordination, sensory differences, or something that just doesn’t feel quite right, we can help guide you.
In most cases, no referral is needed to schedule an evaluation. However, some insurance plans do require one, so we’ll help check your specific benefits before you get started.
We do our best to get evaluations scheduled as soon as possible and will walk you through next steps from there to find a schedule that works for your family.
Nothing special. If you have previous reports or evaluations, feel free to bring them, but it’s not required. We’ll guide you through everything and help you figure out next steps.
SCHEDULING AND LOGISTICS
We do offer some after-school times, though they tend to fill quickly. If daytime is an option, it often allows for more flexibility. In certain situations, we may also offer weekend or alternative scheduling options.
We know things come up, but consistency is a big part of progress in therapy. We ask for advance notice whenever possible. If you’re unable to come in, we can often offer a make-up session or a telehealth visit to help maintain that consistency.
We know life with kids can be unpredictable. We’ll always review our policies with you ahead of time so there are no surprises, and we’re happy to answer any questions about specific situations.
DURING THERAPY
We believe communication is key. Therapists provide updates regularly, and we complete more formal check-ins every few months to review progress, update goals, and answer any questions.
Yes! When appropriate, we’ll share ideas and strategies you can carry over at home. We try to keep these realistic and manageable so they actually fit into your day.
This is very common, especially at the beginning. We meet each child where they are and take the time to build trust. Some children need a gradual transition, and we’ll guide you through what works best.
It depends on the child and the situation; we do both. If a child can focus and attend with a parent in the room, we often keep parents in so you can observe, participate as directed, and learn as we go. However, if a child is more distracted with a parent present, we may recommend drop-off, and then review everything we worked on at the end of the session during pick-up.
INSURANCE AND BILLING
Yes, we handle benefit checks, submit claims, and manage the process for you. Insurance can be confusing, and we try to make it as simple and hands-off as possible for families.
You’re not alone, this is one of the most common questions we get. Our billing team is always happy to walk through it with you and explain things clearly.
Every plan is different. Depending on your benefits, you may have a deductible, co-insurance, or co-pay. We’ll help you understand what to expect up front as best we can.
Fees vary depending on the type of service. Once we verify your insurance benefits, we’ll give you a clear breakdown of any expected costs.
This depends on your individual insurance plan (deductible, co-insurance, etc.). We are always happy to review benefits with you ahead of time so there are no surprises. Please feel free to call our billing department.
FIT AND PHILOSOPHY
We take a very individualized, relationship-based approach. Therapy is tailored to each child, and we focus on building skills in a way that feels engaging, supportive, and meaningful, not one-size-fits-all.
That’s okay. Our goal is always to support your child, even if that means helping guide you toward a different setting or approach that may be a better fit.
During the evaluation, we take a look at how your child is moving, playing, and managing everyday activities. Depending on your child’s needs, this may include strength, coordination, motor skills, sensory processing, attention, and regulation.
The session often feels like play, but each activity is purposeful and helps us understand what’s going on. We’ll also talk through your concerns and review next steps before you leave.
Sessions are 53 minutes long. Therapy often looks like play, but each activity is selected to target specific skills. Depending on your child’s needs, sessions may include work on strength, coordination, motor skills, sensory regulation, attention, and social interaction.
When appropriate, we may also incorporate opportunities to interact with peers and build social skills.