Evidence-Based Psychology Services

Compassionate care delivered by a skilled clinician for trauma and health

Our Mission

Expertise in Evidence Based Treatments

At Goodness Psychological Services, we specialize in using Evidence Based Treatments (EBT) for trauma, coping with acute and chronic illness, and mood and anxiety disorders. EBTs are a treatment approach that uses research-based interventions that have been shown to be effective in improving client outcomes.

Personalized Treatment Plans

At Goodness Psychological Services, we believe that every client is unique and deserves a personalized treatment plan. We work closely with each client to develop a plan that suits their individual needs, goals, and preferences. We use evidence-based practices and regularly review progress to ensure our clients are getting the most effective treatment possible.

Compassionate and Non-Judgmental Environment

We understand that seeking therapy can be a difficult and vulnerable experience. That's why at Goodness Psychological Services, we strive to create a safe and non-judgmental environment where clients can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. We are compassionate professionals who are dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals.

Our Approach

View of multiple trees in a forest; bright light in the canopy, and shade near the trunks.

At Goodness Psychological Services, we specialize in using Evidence Based Treatments (EBT) for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There are three types of EBT for PTSD that have robust support in clinical research, and our providers are trained in all three: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Additionally, we specialize in Health Psychology, which examines how biological, social and psychological factors influence health and illness. Health psychologists use psychological science to promote mental health and physical health, prevent illness and improve health care systems. Additional therapy modalities used in Health Psychology treatments are: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Your providers have worked in hospital and primary care settings, and can work with you while you work with your medical teams.

Meet your provider, Dr. Tracie Goodness, PhD

Training

Biography

Education

PhD, Clinical Psychology, Boston University

MA, Psychology, Boston University

BS, Biology, University of Michigan

Clinical Internship

VA Boston Healthcare System

Major Rotation: Behavioral Medicine

Minor Rotation: Inpatient Mental Health

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Home Base, A Massachusetts General Hospital/Red Sox Foundation

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Dr. Tracie Goodness, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

Biography

I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma and health psychology. I also have experience in working with clients who have experienced the intersection of these fields (medical trauma).

I have a strong commitment to working with people who are processing past and/or current trauma. I provide evidence-based, compassionate

I have a strong commitment to working with people who are processing past and/or current trauma. I provide evidence-based, compassionate care grounded in theories and research. I have extensive experience in implementing them in practice in populations of varying ages, backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. I can flexibly use the treatment modalities learned over years of training, and can collaboratively work with clients to meet their treatment goals. I provide the three evidence-based treatments with the most support in helping trauma: CPT, PE, and EMDR. As such, I am uniquely equipped to help you process your traumas.

I have worked in multiple treatment locations, including outpatient therapy practices, outpatient hospital settings, primary care clinics, specialty health clinics on integrated teams (e.g., oncology, dialysis), and in inpatient mental health settings.

Show Less

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at traciegoodnessphd@proton.me if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What services does Goodness Psychological Services offer?

I offer individual therapy and some family therapy as part of that work. My primary areas of focus are: PTSD/trauma, adjusting to acute or chronic illness and/or pain, insomnia, depression, anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia.

What types of therapy modalities do you use?

I have extensive education and training in multiple evidence-based treatments for trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, and health conditions.

For trauma, I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I also use other modalities for managing strong emotions/distress, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

For mood and anxiety disorders, I most often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and DBT.

For health conditions, I use tailored approaches for various conditions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Chronic Pain, and I pull from multiple modalities for other health conditions (e.g., diagnosis and adjustment to cancer and cancer treatment, dialysis, HIV/AIDS, etc).

Finally, I use Prolonged Grief Treatment (PGT) for those experiencing Prolonged Grief, and also draw on various approaches for grief treatment for those coping with grief.

How long are therapy sessions?

Sessions are typically 45 minutes long, but I may adjust the duration based on your needs and circumstances.

How often would we meet?

Generally, I see patients once a week at the start, and research generally supports this approach for seeing reductions in symptom frequency/severity. Occasionally I can start with every-other-week, depending on a client's goals and needs. Often, people will start with weekly and will reduce in frequency prior to termination of treatment. Often, people will come back for a "booster" session(s) at a later date. Goals can be shorter- or longer-term, and I'll share how therapy can support you in seeing the results you want.

What types of clients do you work with?

I work with adults (18+) who are able to be in the State of Massachusetts during appointments. My areas of expertise are trauma and health psychology, and the most common diagnoses I work with are: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, Adjustment Disorders (acute and chronic), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Panic Disorder (PD), Agoraphobia (AG), Specific Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Prolonged Grief Disorder.

Medical conditions that I work with (from the therapy perspective) are: chronic pain, insomnia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other common medical diagnoses that are new or chronic, and distressing (e.g., migraines, GI issues).

I love working with clients who are LGBTQIA+, Veterans, and first responders.

The clients I work best with are typically 25-75 years old, motivated for change, and are open for active participation in treatment.

My clients have described me as understanding, caring, easy to talk to, genuine, and have noted that I provide a space where they feel safe to be themselves, and truly be seen, on their own timeline.

Are there clients you don't treat, or wouldn't be a good fit for?

I do not work with children under 18 years, and I am unable to see anyone who has Medicare as a primary or secondary insurance.

I also do not treat the following disorders: Bipolar I Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), active addictions, eating disorders, psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, etc.), or personality disorders.

I also do not work with clients with active or expected legal involvement (including custody disputes). Forensic Psychologists are a better fit for those types of services.

If I am not a good fit after we meet for evaluation/diagnostic assessment, I will provide you with referrals for other therapists who could be a better fit.

Do you accept insurance?

No, I am not in network with any insurance companies. However, I can provide you with billing statements that include information needed in order to submit for out-of-network reimbursement through your insurance company. I cannot guarantee that your insurance will provide reimbursement for my services.

It is your responsibility to understand your own insurance coverage and to reach out to them directly regarding any questions or concerns you have.

Please reach out to your insurance company directly, and ask about reimbursement for out-of-network benefits. Other good questions to ask are:

Do I have a mental or behavioral health policy that includes out-of-network benefits?
What is the coverage amount for a diagnostic evaluation (CPT code 90791), a 45 minute therapy session (CPT code 90834) and a 52+ minute session (CPT code 90837)? Please note, these are the most commonly used codes, but this is not an exhaustive list.
How much does my insurance reimburse for services provided by an out-of-network provider?
Do I have an out-of-network deductible, and has that deductible been met at this time?
Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor to see an out-of-network provider?

Why don't you accept insurance?

Ideally, I would take insurance (and have, for many years). However, taking insurance is becoming less feasible for many mental health providers for several reasons, including the quality of care you receive and your privacy. If you're interested in learning more, I've outline some reasons below.

Confidentiality: When you use insurance to cover therapy, your insurance company gains access to your diagnosis and treatment plan. This could lead to your personal information being shared with others, such as your employer, other healthcare providers, or medical insurance reviewers. For some clients, this is a significant concern.

Limitations on Treatment Frequency and Duration: Insurance companies may restrict the number of therapy sessions you can have, mandate specific diagnoses, or dictate the types of therapy that can be used. This can be challenging for therapists who aim to provide optimal care but are constrained by these requirements. Insurance companies often prioritize cost-saving measures over what is best for your treatment, which can result in ending therapy before your goals are fully achieved or limiting the care that might be most beneficial to you.

Therapist Burnout: After your session ends, the work with insurance companies begin. This is time that is uncompensated, and includes filling out additional paperwork, making phone calls, and waiting to receive payment for services delivered. This can take away valuable time that could be spent with clients, on engaging in professional development, or on practicing what we preach in session (self care).

Additionally, therapists often receive less than 50-60% of the rate they charge when going through insurance. Less income from clients seen means having to see more clients to make a living.

Expertise: A therapist’s standard rate usually reflects the amount of training and experience the therapist has in their field. Being a therapist can be just as expensive as any other business owner. In addition to getting a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate, we do pre- and post-doctoral specialty trainings. We also have to think about continuing education requirements, license applications and exams, liability insurance, electronic health record programs, trainings, etc.

Other professionals have similarly priced fees, and have similar policies on no-shows/late cancellations, and direct pay (e.g., lawyers, hair dressers, fitness coaches). It’s a different way of thinking of therapy for many, and I understand.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please let me know.

What are your rates?

Diagnostic Evaluation (90 minutes) - $375

Individual Therapy (45 minutes) - $250

Individual Therapy (60 minutes) - $275

Family Therapy (50 minutes) - $300

All payments are collected on the day of service. I accept most major credit or debit cards and HSA/FSA cards. When you set up your portal account, you will be asked to provide a card number that will be kept on file to cover all incurred fees. Scheduling sessions will be paused if payment is not received. If you are in need of a payment plan, please speak to me.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate - click here to learn more.

Do you offer any in-person sessions?

No, not at this time. All services are provided via secure telehealth platforms.

For all sessions, you need to be in the State of Massachusetts at the time of your appointment.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you cancel within 24 hours or no-show, you will be required to pay the full cost of the session. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency or illness. If you arrive late or need to end the session early, you will still be responsible for the full cost of the session (and this may reduce the likelihood of reimbursement for that session by your insurance company if you submit a superbill).

Do you prescribe medication?

No, I am not a medical doctor and I cannot prescribe medications (or advise you on any medication changes). I am happy to coordinate/collaborate with your prescriber(s). Depending on the frequency of contact and/or time outside of session, there may be additional charges for ongoing work.

Are there other services outside of session that may be required?

Possibly. My hourly rate for most work outside of session is $300/hour. In addition to weekly appointments, I charge this amount for other professional services you may need, though I will break down the hourly cost if I work for periods of less than one hour. Other services include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 10 minutes, attendance at meetings with other professionals you have authorized, preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may request.

If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time even if I am called to testify by another party. My legal fees are $600/hour, and I require a full day's fee (8 hours) up front if I am required to be in court in person, and half a day's fee (4 hours) up front if I am required to be in court via virtual platform. This is due to the fact that travel time and time in court is time that I cannot spend seeing other clients. It additionally requires preparation time up front, coordination with professional legal counsel, etc.

Goodness Psychological Services, LLC

Goodness Psychological Services, LLC

Evidence-Based Psychology Services

Our Mission

Expertise in Evidence Based Treatments

Personalized Treatment Plans

Compassionate and Non-Judgmental Environment

Our Approach

Meet your provider, Dr. Tracie Goodness, PhD

Training

Biography

Biography

Biography

Biography

Biography

Frequently Asked Questions

Goodness Psychological Services, LLC

Blog

are you ready to take the first step?

Contact me here to schedule a free 15 minute phone call. Please do not include Personal Health Information (PHI).

Goodness Psychological Services, LLC

Hours