PRACTICE POLICIES

EMERGENCIES: If you have an emergency, are in emergent need emotional support, or feel you may be a danger to yourself or others, Please dial 911 and/or go to your hospital emergency room and dial 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS: Please remember to cancel or reschedule 48 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 48 hours.

The standard meeting time for psychotherapy is 53 minutes. It is up to you, however, to determine the length of time of your sessions. Requests to change the 53-minute session needs to be discussed with the therapist in order for time to be scheduled in advance. This is also subject to additional fees.

A $10.00 service charge will be charged for any checks returned for any reason for special handling.

Cancellations and re-scheduled session will be subject to a full charge if NOT RECEIVED AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time.

ACCESSIBILITY: If you need to contact your 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 24 hours. Please note that Face- to-face sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick or need additional support, phone sessions are available. If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION: Client Portal Messaging  is the preferred method of contact but is not always the most appropriate. Phone calls are offered at the discretion and availability of the provider, but please be mindful that communication outside of session should be respectful of the boundaries placed by your provider.

If you and I choose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:

  1. 1. You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.

  2. 2. All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.

  3. 3. Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.

  4. 4. Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.

  5. 5. There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.

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 and a termination process if your clinician determines that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. They 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, they 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.

Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY PRACTICE NOTICE:

Your privacy is protected under HIPAA and ACA ethical standards. This means:

I will not share your information without your written permission.

The only exceptions are:

  1. 1. If a client threatens or attempts to commit suicide or otherwise conducts themselves in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm.

  2. 2. If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person.If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person.

  3. 3. If the therapist has a reasonable suspicion that a client or other named victim is the perpetrator, observer of, or actual victim of physical, emotional or sexual abuse of children under the age of 18 years.

  4. 4. Suspicions as stated above in the case of an elderly person who may be subjected to these abuses.

  5. 5. Suspected neglect of the parties named in items #3 and # 4.

  6. 6. If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.

  7. 7. If a client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.

A full HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is will be available to you in as part of your intake packet.