Appointments:

• Appointments are 50 minutes. This is necessary as I schedule my sessions on the hour and must allot time to return calls, take notes, etc. If I start the session late, I will be responsible for ensuring that we have fifty minutes together.
• Sessions take place at an agreed upon time (or times) each week. Your specific time is held for you from week to week. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please cancel as soon as possible. If you do not cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment time, you will be charged in full for the missed session. The only exceptions to this missed-fee charge is if I am able to fill the time with another patient or if we can find a time that is mutually acceptable within the week to make up for the missed session.

Fees:

• My fee is $225– $275 per session.
• If you prefer that I bill you on a monthly basis, this can be arranged after the first month of treatment has been completed. In this case, I will present you with a statement on the last session of the month. You may opt to pay me at that time or you may pay me by the next session.
• I do accept Venmo. I do not accept credit cards.
• If you pay by check, I appreciate it if you could make the check out in advance so that it does not interfere with the time we have allotted for therapy.
• Returned check fees are your responsibility.

Insurance:

• If your ability to make a commitment to treatment is contingent upon reimbursement from your insurance company, it is recommended that you obtain approval prior to initiating therapy. As I am not on any insurance panels, there will likely be a different level of reimbursement.
• I am not a signatory to Medicare.
• It is your responsibility to file claims. I will provide you with the proper monthly statements upon request.
• I do not accept assignment of benefits to me.

Financial responsibility for therapy:

It is important that you consider your ability to pay for a course of treatment. Unlike most medical procedures, it is difficult to estimate the total cost. We can discuss the scope of treatment at our first consultation and this may give you a sense of the overall costs. I do not accept payment from a third party such as insurance companies or a benefactor so will expect that I will receive payment directly from you and that you have assessed adequately your ability to afford treatment.

Confidentiality:

Communication between you and your therapist, by law, is both privileged and confidential. This means that I cannot discuss your case orally or in writing, except with professional consultants or, if applicable, your primary physician and/or prescribing psychiatrist.

However, there are three mandated exceptions. I have a legal obligation or ability to break confidentiality under the following circumstances:

a. If there is a reason to believe there is an occurrence of child, elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect.
b. If there is reason to believe that you have serious intent to harm someone else’s person or property by a violent act you may commit.
c. If you introduce your emotional condition into a legal proceeding, or your therapist is subpoenaed in legal proceeding.

Please be aware that one of the primary conditions for effective psychotherapy is the assurance that whatever you say to me, or however I may assess your psychological material, is kept strictly confidential. Therefore, I will always do all that is legally possible to not release subpoenaed records or testify as a witness. Please also understand that any time you sign a release of information form (say, for your insurance company) that I, when demanded of, will only respond with evidence of attendance and payment. At the most, I will provide a “summary of treatment” report. This will only be done if absolutely necessary and with your full knowledge and approval. There will be a charge for this service, which, in most cases, you would be responsible for.

Availability and Emergencies:

• Therapy sessions are limited to scheduled meetings. Therapy by phone, unless prescheduled, is not practiced. I will always do my best to return calls made before 6 PM the same business day.
• After regular business hours, on weekends and national holidays, you may contact me by leaving a message on my voicemail or texting me to the same number. In case of a true emergency, you should leave a message and then call 911. In most cases, if requested, I will return the call the next time I am in the office. You should be aware that, even though I am reachable by voicemail or text, there are limitations. It is your responsibility to devise a plan with me if you need more emergent care.

Patient Rights and Responsibilities:

• You have the right to end your therapy at any time, for whatever reason and without any obligation except for fees incurred for scheduled appointments. However, I ask that you always discuss your desire to terminate our work within our session and allow us to have at least one session after that to properly terminate.
• You also have the right to question any aspect of your treatment and to expect that I will work with you to meet your needs for adjunctive or alternative treatment. You also have the right to expect that I will maintain professional and ethical boundaries by not entering into other personal, financial, or professional relationships with you, which could compromise the therapeutic relationship.