Confidentiality
Everything you tell us in session is confidential, and you have the right to request that we not include certain information in your record. Please understand that if we are filing insurance for you, they may request records or other information, and we have to provide it as part of our contract with them. Other limitations to confidentiality include you telling us you’re a danger to yourself or someone else, which may require us to implement involuntary hospitalization or informing the authorities, or if you tell us about any child or elder abuse. We are mandatory reporters, which means that if we hear about any child or elder abuse, we are legally required to inform the authorities.
Cancellation
Due to the fact that we need to know whether we have appointment spots available in order to accommodate patients who need to be seen urgently or those on our cancellation list, we require 24 hours’ notice if you need to change a Tuesday through Friday appointment. We’re not in the office on the weekend, so if you need to cancel or reschedule a Monday appointment, please let us know by 1:00 p.m. on Friday. This gives us the chance to reach out to those who have requested ASAP appointments and to clients on the cancellation list. If you do cancel a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday appointment within 24 hours, or if you cancel a Monday appointment after 1:00 the previous Friday, your card on file will be charged $50.00 the first time. It will be charged $100.00 the second time, and a full session fee the third time and after.
Repeated cancellations:
Improvement in therapy requires commitment and consistent effort. Also, although we do keep a cancellation list, there is no guarantee open appointments will be filled, and cancellations are disruptive to the business flow of the practice. Therefore, if you cancel three appointments in a row, or if you late-cancel or no-show two appointments in a row, we reserve the right to close your file and dismiss you from the practice. New patients who miss their first two appointments will not be rescheduled.
Appointment reminders:
While technology is helpful, it is still your responsibility to keep up with your appointment times. We use an appointment reminder system, but we cannot be responsible for technical glitches or issues that prevent a reminder from reaching you. “I didn’t get a reminder” is not a valid reason for missing an appointment, and you will be charged the no-show fee.
Communication with your therapist:
Please do not email your therapist. Email is not a secure form of communication. Instead, please use the patient portal. We will try to respond to portal messages within one to two business days.
Payment:
Payment is due at the time of service, and we will charge the card on file. If you would like to use a different card or payment method, please let your provider know at the start of the appointment. Late cancellation/no-show fees are as previously stated.
Insurance/Managed Care:
Because of managed care contracts, there is a range of fees and copays. We are in-network for some insurance plans, and it’s best to call the office and inquire since each plan is different, and sometimes they farm out mental health benefits to a carrier we’re not in network with. We also see patients who are experiencing financial troubles on a sliding scale with no-interest payment plans. We can discuss your particular situation when you schedule. Please consider how lack of sleep may be impacting your health and productivity. This may be the most important investment you ever make.
Covid policies:
We are welcoming currently vaccinated patients into the office for in-session appointments. However, if you are feeling ill or have been exposed to an active COVID-19 or influenza case, we request that you keep your appointment via telehealth. Due to the increase in the Delta variant, we are going beyond the guidelines set out by the CDC and still requiring masks to be worn in public areas in the office. Otherwise, we are taking additional precautions including installing extra air filter devices in the waiting and therapy rooms, hand-washing and sanitizing, and frequent wiping down of high-touch areas.