FAQ

Both in-office and telehealth sessions are available. Each session will last 50-60 minutes and typically reoccur biweekly. An arrangement may be made for sessions to occur more or less frequently, based on a client’s need and availability. Potential clients are welcome to call or email for a free consultation or to schedule their first appointment. Please see contact information listed on the contact page.

Please remember to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. Cancellations and re-scheduled session will be subject to a full charge if NOT RECEIVED AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time. If you have any concerns about the fees please feel free to discuss them with me.

The rate of each session is $125.00. Payment methods accepted include check, cash, or credit/debit card. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) that covers mental health services, that is also accepted. I am considered an out-of-network provider. Therefore, these sessions are not eligible for insurance reimbursement. A superbill is available upon request for the client to request reimbursement from their insurance provider directly.

The session content and all relevant information on the client’s treatment will be kept confidential unless the client requests in writing to have content released to a specifically named person or entity (by completing a Release of Information). Limitations to confidentiality are listed below:

• • • 1. If a client threatens or attempts to commit suicide or otherwise conducts him/her self in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm.

      2. If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person.

      3. If the therapist has a reasonable suspicion that a client or other named victim is the perpetrator, observer of, or actual victim of physical, emotional or sexual abuse of children under the age of 18 years.

      4. Suspicions as stated above in the case of an elderly person who may be subjected to these abuses.

      5. Suspected neglect of the parties named in items #3 and # 4.

      6. If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.

      7. If a client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.

If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your treatment. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.

In the event that you are out of town, sick or need additional support, phone or telehealth sessions are available. If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.

Our local crisis center is the Alachua County Crisis Center, which can be reached 24/7 at 352-264-6789. You may also call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-784-2433, if applicable to your situation. Your safety and well-being is my primary concern.

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.

Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. I may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you and a termination process if I determine that the treatment is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If treatment is terminated early for any reason or you request another provider, I will provide you with a list of qualified mental health counselors to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source. Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued.

The good faith estimate is an estimate of the charges you will accrue from a healthcare provider or facility. Keep in mind, it is just an estimate. Therefore, the actual items, services, or charges may differ from this good faith estimate. There may be additional items or services the healthcare provider recommends as part of the course of care that must be scheduled or requested separately and are not reflected in the good faith estimate.

As a client, you have a right to initiate a patient-provider dispute resolution process if the actual billed charges substantially exceed the expected charges included in the good faith estimate. The initiation of a patient-provider dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of healthcare services.

You may contact the health care provider listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.

There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.

To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call HHS at (800) 985-3059.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.

This good faith estimate is not a contract and does not require the uninsured (or self-pay) individual to obtain the items or services from any of the providers or facilities identified in the good faith estimate.