FAQ's

How to Find a Therapist

Finding the right therapist takes research, patience, and intuition.
When you need and want to find a therapist –-for you, your relationship, and your child-- it is because some part of your life is in turmoil. At those times, the responsibility of finding the right person to help can be overwhelming.

Fee & Payment Options

The fee for a regular 50 minute clinical session is based on a sliding scale according to your annual net family income. The fee scale ranges from $50.00 to $130.00. The fee is calculated by multiplying your annual net family income by .0015. For example, an income of $50,000.00 would qualify for a $75.00 fee. An income of $32,000.00 or less would qualify for the minimum fee of $50.00. Payment is expected and due (in exact cash, personal check or credit/debit card) at the time of service.

Fee Agreement

Your insurance company may handle mental health benefits differently than medical benefits. I strongly recommend you call your insurance company to ask questions about mental health benefits before you decide to use insurance for psychotherapy. Many insurance plans will only pay for individual psychotherapy, not couple’s or family therapy. If you are seeing me in a couple or a family I will not tell the insurance company I am doing individual therapy. As a result, you may be refused reimbursement for treatment. Most insurance companies require a mental illness diagnosis be made in order to receive payment for therapy.

Informed Consent

I define mental health as the ability to be honest with self and others, to take responsibility for self and the tasks of life, to have a sense of humor and to engage in meaningful, satisfying relationships, work and social activities. I am willing to explore with you how your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physiology and or spirit may be helping or harming your ability to achieve mental health. If there are any areas you do not wish to explore, please tell me and we will not discuss those areas. YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR THERAPY. IT IS OKAY TO SAY “NO” TO ANY SUGGESTION AND TO ASK ME “WHY” I AM DOING WHAT I AM DOING.

Legal Matters

Please be notified, I am not a legal consultant or representative. I do not do custody evaluations or make recommendations regarding custody agreements. I do provide counseling, consultation, and psychotherapy to individuals and couples who are making changes in their lives or dealing with difficulty in a life situation.

Because I am mandated to protect the confidentiality of all my clients and their children, I shall not testify nor provide summary of sessions for the purpose of custody issues. I shall not discuss the content of any session with any legal representative. If, however, I am subpoenaed to do so or ordered to do so by a presiding judge, the fee to the party demanding such services will be $300.00 per hour for all activity related to and providing such a service including travel time, etc. Reasonable reimbursement for travel expenses is required. A retaining fee of $2100.00 must be prepaid.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The purpose of this document is to describe how health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Confidentiality: The Risks Of Using Mental Health Insurance

Confidentiality is a term that has various legal, administrative, ethical and personal meanings.  Confidentiality in health care is not absolute.  No matter what assurances you have been given, or what you would assume, your medical and mental health records are not very secure and they are not truly confidential.

Confidentiality Agreement

Many people believe that everything that is said in therapy is always kept confidential by their therapist. I am committed to keeping what you tell me private and confidential. However, some laws and careful professional practices may require me to tell others what you have said to me. Please carefully read and initial each of the following statements about some of the situations in which I cannot promise to protect your confidentiality. Changes in the laws and other circumstances out of my control may add situations to the list below that may affect your privacy.