Psychotherapy F.A.Q.

Office Policies

Sessions
My sessions last 50 minutes. I always start and end on time, therefore it is important to arrive on time. If you arrive late to any session for any reason whatsoever, you are choosing to forfeit that amount of time from the scheduled session. Even if you arrives 40 minutes late to a 50 minute session, you will be charged in full for that abbreviated session. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Cancellation Policy
24 hours notice is required to cancel a scheduled appointment. Otherwise, usual fees will apply. 

Fees and Insurance
Professional Fees
Individual Psychotherapy:
$130.00 per 50 min. session

Most Group Therapy/Classes:
$50.00 per class

Fees may increase periodically. I will inform you in advance of any changes in fees.

Billing and payments
You will be expected to pay for each psychotherapy session at the time it is held, unless you and I agree otherwise. Payments may be made by cash or check.

Insurance
I am currently accepting Aetna and United Behavioral Health insurance. If you are insured by another PPO or POS plan, you most likely could be reimbursed a portion of the fee. A monthly receipt can be provided upon request and may be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement of your payments.

*You may call the toll-free number on your insurance card to ask about the rate at which your fees may be reimbursed for an out-of-network psychologist, including your annual deductible

Paying privately or “out of pocket” for psychotherapy may seem costlier than using your insurance to cover the cost of psychotherapy. However, you may find that paying privately provides you certain advantages.

You should be aware that there are certain potential risks associated with filing mental health insurance claims. To meet the requirements for in-network reimbursement, the psychologist must submit an official client diagnosis and an ongoing progress report, detailed treatment plan, etc. This process requires that the therapist divulge significant personal information about the client and his or her therapy work. In addition to being added to your medical record, this information is evaluated by your insurance carrier's case manager. A case manager typically has no psychological training, and makes decisions about your approved treatment based on financial rather than mental health concerns.     

Furthermore, the diagnosis provided becomes part of your permanent medical record. This often results in the insurance company labeling the consumer with a "pre-existing condition." For example, if your therapist submits a diagnosis of "depression," this pre-existing condition can later raise your life insurance premiums or make it difficult to obtain health insurance.     
 
Paying out-of-pocket for psychotherapy, increases privacy, enables you to start quickly, when you are ready, and you get to decide how long to stay as the length of your treatment is determined mutually by you and your therapist, not by a third party.

Privacy
All the information about a client's psychotherapy is confidential, except in situations where there is a threat or danger to life, including neglect or abuse of a child or an elderly person, and in other limited circumstances as defined by law. With these exceptions, this practice’s privacy policy prohibits the release of any information concerning a client to anyone without the client's explicit and informed written authorization. Complete details regarding confidentiality are described in the Notice of Privacy Practices (hyperlink to that form) that it is furnished to each client of this practice.

After hours coverage
I am often not immediately available by telephone. Messages may be left for me at 321-536-1724. I routinely check my voice mailbox for messages during regular business hours. If you are difficult to reach, please inform me of some times when you will be available

Crisis counseling is available by telephone 24 hours a day in Brevard County by calling (321) 632-6688 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

If you experience a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room and request to be seen by a mental health professional.