Scheduling An Appointment

Our first session is 75 minutes in length (1-1/2 full session). The first time we meet there is a lot to talk about and the longer session allows time for that. It provides a good foundation for our work together.

Subsequent sessions are either 50 or 75 minutes, depending on circumstances and preferences. Most clients are seen once or twice a week in the beginning; then as circumstances stabilize, once a week is customary.

The length of time you are in counseling depends on the nature of the problem and your goals for therapy. Some people have a very specific problem that can be worked through in a set course of counseling. For others, counseling is an on-going learning process and they choose to participate in counseling for a longer period.

Fees

Payment options

All fees are due at the beginning of each session. You may pay me with a check or cash at the time we meet.

Cancellation/
Late Attendance Policy

If you need to cancel an appointment it is important that you contact me as early as possible.  In order to avoid a charge for a missed appointment, please provide at least 48 hours notice of your cancellation.

If my schedule allows, we may be able to reschedule your appointment during that same week or have a phone session instead to eliminate the missed session fee. 

Please note that in the case of a late arrival, appointments will still end at their scheduled time.

Managed Care/Insurance

Depending on your particular health insurance policy, you may be eligible for mental health benefits. I am accepted by most insurance companies as an out-of-network provider. While fees are due in full at the time of our session, I will gladly provide you with the standard health insurance claim form and complete my part in order to support you in submitting your claim for reimbursement.

I made the decision not to work as an in-network provider with insurance and managed care organizations due to concerns regarding the micro-management of the therapy by the insurance company and in particular, client privacy concerns.

Even as an out-of-network provider I am required to provide the insurance company with a clinical diagnosis. Sometimes I am required to provide additional clinical information or (very rarely) copies of the entire record. While this amounts to significantly less disclosure of your personal information than if I were an in-network provider, nevertheless this information will be handled by numerous clerical staff before your claim is complete.  It will become part of the insurance company files and will no doubt be stored in a computer.  

Though all insurance companies claim to keep such (even minimal) information confidential, I have no control over what they do with it once it is in their hands. It is also possible that once such information is in the system it may be shared with the newly developed national medical information databank. My concern is that legal or illegal access to this confidential client information is almost impossible to safeguard.

Forms

So that our time together can be spent most productively, please download and review the following form (in PDF format) prior to our first meeting.

New Client Intake Form – This form should take about 15 minutes to complete at your convenience so you can bring it completed to your first appointment, saving session time for our work together.

I’m looking forward to our work together...

Feel free to give me a call at 425-501-8894

 
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