Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect in treatment?

Treatment begins with a brief consultation call, where we determine whether my approach is a good fit for your needs. If we move forward, the early phase of therapy focuses on developing a shared understanding of the challenges you are facing and the specific behaviors you would like to increase or decrease in order to improve your quality of life.

The intake and assessment phase typically takes one to three sessions. During this time, we clarify treatment goals and develop a structured treatment plan with clear priorities and measurable targets. Therapy is collaborative and goal-oriented—you are an active participant, and we work together as a team.

Ongoing sessions focus on understanding how thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors interact to maintain current difficulties. We identify patterns that are no longer serving you and practice concrete skills to support change, such as responding differently to urges, managing intense emotions more effectively, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. Safety and stability are foundational to treatment, and when needed, we develop clear plans to support coping during periods of high distress.

My approach is skills-based and practical. Therapy is not solely about feeling better in the moment, but about building the capacity to experience emotions more effectively while moving toward a life that feels meaningful and sustainable. As skills strengthen over time, the goal is increased independence and reduced reliance on therapy.

Between sessions, you can expect structured practice. After most appointments, I will share relevant resources—such as brief readings, worksheets, or tools—to help reinforce skills and support progress outside of session.

In what states can Dr. Benitez treat clients?

I am licensed to practice psychology in Ohio, and I have been approved by the PSYPACT Commission to treat clients in 43 states across the country. See here [https://psypact.gov/page/psypactmap] to learn more about PSYPACT and to see if your state is included. Further, I have considerable experience treating adolescents, young adult and adults for various problems across the country (all four time zones!), and I have developed specific guidelines for creating and maintaining a safe environment for virtual clients. Feel free to ask more about my teletherapy practices in a consultation call!


Do you take insurance?

Yes, I take the following insurances through Headway

Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna, Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey, Independence Blue Cross Pennsylvania - Virtual National Network, Quest Behavioral Health.

https://care.headway.co/providers/cinthia-benitez?state=OHIO

https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1671499

I also see clients through self-pay and out-of-network insurance.

What are your fees?

I offer a free, 15-minute consultation. Please contact us for pricing about 60-minute and 45-minute sessions. Intensive treatment options (e.g., double sessions, multiple sessions per week) are available. I provide a secure portal link, which provides privacy and payment, for all of these services.

I am unsure whether MAR Psychology is right for me. What can I do?

Please call or text us at 614-285-5203 and complete a free, 15-minute consultation with Dr. Benitez.

Are virtual sessions less effective than in-person sessions?

Recent scientific evidence suggests that internet-delivered, structured Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is as effective as in-person therapy, particularly for anxiety, depression and trauma.

What are your office hours?

These are flexible. Typically, I am available Monday afternoons, Wednesday afternoons, Friday afternoons and evenings, Saturday during the day and afternoon and Sunday mornings.

What if I am unsure whether virtual sessions are right for me?

I supported teens, young adults, and adults during and after the pandemic in full-time remote care for several years. In doing so, I have learned that it is my responsibility to assess whether online care is appropriate for my clients, and I have found that online care is much more about my client’s attitude about treatment than whether the client is in person with me. If you are unsure whether to try online care, I suggest you discuss it with me at any time in our work together, and throughout that time, I will continue to assess whether virtual care is the right fit for your treatment needs.