mental Health Services

• As of April 1 2021, Telka vacated her East Lansing office to work exclusively from her home office via teletherapy. 
• No  in-person sessions. Brief, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral, cognitive processing therapy is highly adaptable for service delivery over the telephone. Teletherapy helps resolve issues with mobility, childcare, time off work, travel expense,  parking hassles,  as well as carbon footprint. Telemedicine maintains high rates of clinical success and patient satisfaction.
• Sorry, not accepting new referrals. New referrals may use the tools on this website with the therapist of their choice. To find a local provider who meets your individual needs by location, insurance coverage and specialty area visit www.PsychologyToday 

Telka's training and consultation is available at no cost, as a "give back" to the profession and local mental health providers.

• Mental health providers interested in brief CBT tools and other therapy skills training to improve effectiveness with treatment outcome may attend  Telka's free monthly trainings via Zoom. For registration, contact Jenn at  Jenn.arbo@yahoo.com  
• Individual consultation and coaching for mental health care providers interested in improving skills and growing their private practices is also available, contact Telka directly for scheduling.  Small groups are currently meeting to provide skills and support.

Telka's therapy services, covered by most major insurances, are available for: 

Telka's former clients between the ages of 21 and 62 who are highly motivated,  insightful and interested in resuming a brief, solution-focused treatment model.

Service Restrictions: A brief therapy model is not compatible treatment for psychiatric emergencies, case management, legal issues, active addictions, severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) including episodes of suicidal or self-injurious behavior, psychotic disorders nor for those with histories of recent inpatient hospitalizations.

Service Hours:  Teletherapy services are limited to current and former clients who are available to schedule teletherapy on weekdays between the hours of 9a and 3p to address brief treatment needs.

Scheduling: Due to high demand for services, new referrals are not accepted.  Former clients may contact Telka directly to discuss services. Couples and family therapy are no longer offered, as those services benefit from video or in-person services.  Telka schedules her own appointments. Email is the fastest way to contact Telka at  Therapy@TelkaArend-Ritter.com  

Former clients interested in resuming brief, solution-focused services, please include the following information: 

1. Your name  now and the name you used during your prior work with Telka. 

2. Your current age,  (Services limited to  those who are now between the ages 21 to 62)

3. Occupation, employer and whether or not you have located Telka's name in your mental health provider directory.  

• Telka is an "in-network" provider for  Blue Cross Blue Shield*, Blue Care Network, Cigna*, Cofinity*, HAP, Health Plus, McLaren,  Messa, PHP and SPN,   *Specific plans may vary.  Please consult your mental health policy for details about coverage including your telemed benefit for outpatient mental health therapy over the phone.
• Locate Telka Arend-Ritter LMSW in your provider directory using her NPI # 1013066067 
• Please note that because Telka's services are not specifically designed for geriatric or disability concerns, she is not a Medicare provider.
• Ingham County Medicaid recipients may contact Community Mental Health. 

Cancellation Policy

To cancel or reschedule a telephone appointment, please provide 24 hour or more advance notice via  email to Therapy@TelkaArend-Ritter.com. Please keep in mind that short notice cancellations prevent others from receiving services during that reserved time.  Although Telka does not charge cancellation fees, repeated cancellations indicate that current scheduling practices are not working. Repeated cancellations will result in referral for services elsewhere.