Practice Policies

APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS:

  • In the case that you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, 24-hour advanced notice is required.

  • No-shows will be billed for the full scheduled session.

  • You will not be charged for your first late cancellation or reschedule (less than 24-hour notice). Subsequent late cancellations or reschedules will be billed for the full scheduled session.

  • If you show up late for your appointment, you will be able to complete the remainder of your scheduled session and the full scheduled session fee will be charged.

BUSINESS PRACTICE & OFFICE SHARING AGREEMENT:

I am in private practice as a sole practitioner with my own independent business. The other professionals in the building have their own practices and we simply share the office space. Referrals can be made upon request to the other providers, but they operate independently and will have different policies and practices than I do.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The session content and all relevant materials to the client’s treatment will be held confidential unless the client requests in writing to have all or portions of such content released to a specifically named person/persons. The only time confidentiality may be broken is if one or more of the following exceptions/conditions apply:

  • If you and/or your child/teen pose a physical danger to yourself or others.

  • If you and/or your child/teen discloses he or she has been physically or sexually abused, or experienced neglect or has witnessed domestic violence.

Occasionally I may need to consult with other professionals in their areas of expertise in order to provide the best treatment for you. Information about you may be shared in this context without using your name.

If we see each other accidentally outside of the therapy office, I will not acknowledge you first. Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me, and I do not wish to jeopardize your privacy. However, if you acknowledge me first, I will be more than happy to speak briefly with you, but feel it appropriate not to engage in any lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.

CRISIS SERVICES:

I do not offer services outside of my normal therapy hours, and am thus not available for support outside of scheduled therapy sessions. I check my voicemail several times per day within working hours, and when available I am willing to schedule urgent appointments as needed and if time allows. In the event that I am not available or you are experiencing a crisis outside of office hours, please call 911. For specific mental health crisis support contact the Mind Springs Health Crisis Hotline at 1-888-207-4004.

FEES & PAYMENT:

Payment for services is due in full at the time of service. Accepted forms of payment include check, cash, or credit card (most major credit cards accepted). If you do not pay by cash or check at the time of service, your credit card on file will be billed automatically according to my fee schedule.

FEE SCHEDULE:

  • New Client Evaluations (75 minutes): $180

  • Follow-up Sessions (50 minutes): $150

OTHER CHARGES:

  • Phone calls that last more than 10 minutes will be billed at the hourly rate of $150.

  • Extensive email exchanges, consultations, and letter or report writing may all be charged at the hourly rate.

  • Court reports and appearances will be billed at the hourly rate.

INSURANCE:

I do not currently participate in any insurance plans. An out-of-network statement will be provided to you upon request so that you may initiate the reimbursement process through your insurance company if you choose. Please note that reimbursement amounts vary among insurance plans and only apply to plans with out-of-network benefits.

MINORS:

If you are under the age of 18, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION:

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.

TELEPHONE ACCESSIBILITY:

If you need to contact me between sessions, please leave a message on my voicemail. I am often not immediately available; however, I will attempt to return your call within two business days.

TERMINATION:

Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. I may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you if I determine that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, I will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.