Frequently Asked Questions

We believe it’s important that you feel a connection with your therapist. Contact our office for a free 30-minute meet and greet to ask questions and make sure the therapist is a good fit for you and your family. Next, we schedule an intake and, if you are using insurance, we can help walk you through the process for payment.

Dawn Institute currently accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Optum (formerly United Healthcare). Other insurances may reimburse clients for Dawn’s therapy services. We encourage clients to reach out to their insurance carrier to understand benefits. Dawn also has grant funding available for children under 18 who have been sexually abused.

While we do involve parents and caregivers in their children’s treatment, this depends on the child’s age. The younger the child, the more involved a parent will be. The older the child, the more they take ownership of their treatment meaning less involvement of the parent.

Dawn Institute will provide you with an itemized bill to aide you in receiving reimbursement from your insurance when possible.

Dawn Institute’s cash rates range from $100 to $150 an hour, with the intake session ranging from $125 to $150 with our licensed therapists. We do offer intern rates at the same price of the client’s insurance copay without billing insurance (with a minimum of $40).

Trauma is the response to any significant event that impacts an individual’s ability to function in their daily activities. While there are no objective criteria to evaluate which events cause trauma or post-traumatic symptoms, circumstances typically involve abuse, neglect, helplessness, pain, confusion and/or loss.  Some examples of trauma include physical abuse, sexual abuse, being a first responder, growing up with a parent who has mental illness, growing up in a broken home.

All Dawn therapists have a masters degree or above in therapy, are trained in best standard practices, and have received or are in process of supervision to ensure ethical care and best practice. Our therapists have a combined 20 years of experience and work to stay current in trauma treatment modalities. We also exceed the required hours of annual training required by the state board.

Treatment length is determined by complexity of the trauma or presenting concerns but can typically range from 6 months to 2 years.

Dawn therapists work to stay current in evidence based treatment modalities for trauma. We currently offer:

• EMDR

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR is one of the most researched and supported forms of therapy that has proven effective in treating trauma.

• Sand Tray Play Therapy

  • Sand tray play therapy is a modality of treatment that allows children, teens and adults to process through trauma within the safe confines of a sand tray.  

• Theraplay

  • Theraplay is structured play therapy for children and their parents intended to enhance attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement

• Mindfulness-Based Therapy

  • Mindfulness-based therapy involves a combination of cognitive therapy and the cultivation of a present-oriented, non-judgmental attitude called “mindfulness.”