Services

                          Common questions about policies of my practice

      What is your cancellation policy?

   An appointment is a commitment to our work and a contract between us. You can expect our sessions to      run for about 55 minutes. I strive to be on time for our appointments, but it is not unusual for me to run a       few (usually no more than 5) minutes behind schedule. There will be times that I may need to cancel an       appointment, usually due to illness or a family emergency. In that case I will make every effort to       reschedule as soon as possible.

I am choosing to remove cancellation fee from my policies which is connected to trust that we both value each other’s time and if needed, will cancel with as much notice as possible.

I reserve the right to reinstate cancellation fee, if frequent missed appointments become an issue (a separate notice would be sent to clients). Client who frequently cancel/ miss appointments may lose their regular appointment spot and be moved to cancelation list.

What is typical length of the session and your fees?

Two types of sessions typically billed to insurance are 45 minute session (which in reality is anywhere from 38-52 minutes) and 60 minute session which is (52 minutes and above). For private pay clients fees for those sessions are $100 for 45 minutes and $130 for an hour. Since I schedule my sessions "on the hour" my goal is to wrap up in 55 minutes for the hour long session to ensure that next client is seen on time. 

What should I know if I am using insurance?

You are responsible for knowing your coverage and for payment of any fees not covered by insurance. I can let you know if I accept your insurance but please call your carrier to verify what coverage you have for mental health services and what copay or deductible you may have.  You may pay by cash, credit card, or check and may arrange for a payment plan with the billing office if you choose. Please notify me of any changes in your health plan status or your address. 

What should I know about confidentiality?

All information you share with me is held in confidence and I can share it with others (with the exception of your health plan, if you are using insurance) only by you giving me your written consent. There are three exceptions to this policy:

1. If a client is involved in a court case, clinical records and/or therapist testimony may be subpoenaed.

2. Vermont state law mandates that a mental health professional who reasonably suspects that any child, elder or member of a vulnerable population has been abused or neglected must report abuse or neglect to the Department for Children and Families or Adult Protective Services for possible investigation.

3. If a therapist has reasonable cause to believe that a client may inflict harm upon him or herself or another or another’s property, the therapist is bound ethically and legally to do whatever is necessary to protect human life and/or property.

Do you consult about your work with other therapists?

I do engage in consultation with other mental health professionals on regular basis. Efforts are made to protect any identifiable information when consulting with other professionals unless the professional is a member of your treatment team and there is a signed release in place.

Will you accept my friend request on social media?

 The code of ethics for my profession prohibits me from responding to friend requests on any social media sites. That goes for current and former clients. 

What should I know about telehealth sessions?

Telemedicine involves the use of video and audio communication technology to conduct your therapy session at a distance. When providing telemedicine services, a secure connection and special videoconferencing technology are used that complies with federal health privacy laws. 

The benefits of telemedicine include, but are not limited to, improved access to care, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs. I also find telehealth care as effective as in person therapy for most of my clients. 

Possible risks of telehealth include technical difficulties such as interruptions and unauthorized access. There is the possibility that our video or audio connection may not work or that it may stop working during our appointment. In very rare instances, the security of our online connection could fail and cause a breach of your confidential information. It is also important to note that accessing therapy online has special risks. Meeting by video rather than in person could cause me to miss gestures, cues, or other important non-verbal information during your session. If you are in crisis, I may not be able to intervene as effectively as I could in person. And, there is the chance that if you need immediate crisis support I might not be familiar with resources available to you in your location. Any of these factors could impact your quality of care. In the State of Vermont, it is against state law for either the therapist or the client to make a recording of a telemedicine session. All other laws and regulations which apply to in-person therapy sessions will also apply to any sessions conducted online. Some insurance plans cover telehealth: please contact your insurance company to verify your coverage.