Terms / FAQ

Informed Consent

Expectations

Psychotherapy is a working cooperative relationship between you and your therapist. Each member of this cooperative relationship has certain responsibilities. Your therapist will contribute their knowledge, expertise, and clinical skills. You, as the client, have the responsibility to bring an attitude of collaboration and a commitment to the therapeutic process. While there are no guarantees regarding the outcome of the treatment, your commitment may increase the likelihood of a satisfactory experience.

As a client in psychotherapy, you have certain rights and responsibilities that are important for you to understand. There are also legal limitations to those rights that you should be aware of. I, as your therapist, have corresponding responsibilities to you. These rights and responsibilities are described in the following sections.

Please note that psychotherapy is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, are in crisis, or need immediate help, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Benefits and risks of psychotherapy

Psychotherapy has both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process of psychotherapy often requires discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life. However, psychotherapy has been shown to have benefits for individuals who undertake it. Therapy often leads to a significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress and resolutions to specific problems.

Note that there are no guarantees about what will happen. Psychotherapy requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions.

The first few sessions

The first few sessions typically involve a comprehensive evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some initial impressions of what our work might include. At that point, we will discuss your treatment goals and create an initial treatment plan. You should evaluate this information and make your own assessment about whether you feel comfortable working with me. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise.

Appointments and Cancellations

Appointments are scheduled in advance on google calendar or calendly.com, at a frequency we agree on, based on your goals, treatment needs, and our mutual availability. Payments for each appointment will be made through Headway or Alma by debit or credit card or ACH transfer.

You may cancel appointments in advance without charge, as long as I receive notice far enough in advance. Since we are reserving a time especially for you, please make any schedule changes 24 hours before your appointment time to avoid incurring a $50 cancellation fee.

Contacting Me

My preferred method of contact is emailing. You assume the risk of a H I am often not immediately available. I do not answer my phone or emails when I am with clients or otherwise unavailable. At these times, you may leave an email or a message on my confidential voicemail and I will return your call once I’ve reviewed your chart, but it may take a day or two for non-urgent matters. I will make every attempt to inform you in advance of planned absences. If I need to cancel an appointment at the last-minute, I will reach out as soon as possible and reschedule. If you are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, are in crisis, or need immediate help, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Discharge Process

There are several reasons why we may eventually end our professional relationship. You may decide you would prefer to work with a different provider, I may reach the conclusion that your are not benefitting from treatment, or you may accomplish your treatment goals. Regardless of the case, I will first discuss with you the reasons for discharging, and if you request, provide you with a list of other qualified providers. I will also extend the discharge process length if necessary based on your treatment needs, including continuing to provide emergency support for a limited time after you have been notified of the end of our treatment relationship.

Please note that ongoing failure to pay for treatment, attend sessions, or communicate with me in a respectful and timely manner can also result in discharge from my practice. In these instances, to ensure you have continued access to care, I will still make every reasonable effort to get in touch with you and provide referrals to a new provider before I consider our relationship ended.

Additional Consents

I understand that I am eligible to receive a range of services from my provider. The type and extent of services that I receive will be determined following an initial assessment and thorough discussion with me. The goal of the assessment process is to determine the best course of treatment for me. Typically, treatment is provided over the course of several weeks.

I understand that I have the right to ask questions throughout the course of treatment and may request an outside consultation. (I also understand that my provider may provide me with additional information about specific treatment issues and treatment methods on an as-needed basis during the course of treatment and that I have the right to consent to or refuse such treatment). I understand that I can expect regular review of treatment to determine whether treatment goals are being met. I agree to be actively involved in the treatment and in the review process. No promises have been made as to the results of this treatment or of any procedures utilized within it. I further understand that I may stop treatment at any time, but agree to discuss this decision first with my provider.

I am aware that I must authorize my provider, in writing, to release information about my treatment but that confidentiality can be broken under certain circumstances of danger to myself or others. I understand that once information is released to insurance companies or any other third party, that my provider cannot guarantee that it will remain confidential. When consent is provided for services, all information is kept confidential, except in the following circumstances:

• When there is risk of imminent danger to myself or to another person, my provider is ethically bound to take necessary steps to prevent such danger.

• When there is suspicion that a child or elder is being sexually or physically abused, or is at risk of such abuse, my provider is legally required to take steps to protect the child, and to inform the proper authorities.

• When a valid court order is issued for medical records, my provider is bound by law to comply with such requests.

Appointment Availability:

Appointments are completed on a first come first serve basis. Clients who require weekly accommodations may submit for recurring appointments.

Mondays and Wednesdays:

9:00am cst to 11:00am central standard time

2:30pm cst to 6:30pm central standard time

Tuesdays: 

1:30pm cst to 6:30pm cst

Thursdays and Fridays:

10:00am cst to 3:00pm cst

Payment Options

Texas: Aetna, Optum, Cigna, United Healthcare (UHC), Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Anthem BCBS, Oscar Health, Oxford, Quest Behavioral Health, Carelon Behavioral Health

Colorado: Aetna, Optum, Cigna, United Healthcare (UHC), Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Anthem BCBS, Oscar Health, Oxford, Quest Behavioral Health, Carelon Behavioral Health

Self-pay: $115 per session

Self-pay: Sliding scale options is available in limited slots and currently holds a wait list

For any other questions, email me at reneemerazlpc@gmail.com