Practice Policies

Appointments and Cancellations

Appointments may be scheduled up to eight weeks in advance. The standard meeting time for psychotherapy is 45 minutes. Sessions are typically held once a week at a mutually agreed-upon time and date, though the frequency may vary based on your needs.
No-shows imply that a client does not make it to their scheduled appointment, at the time of their appointment, without informing their therapist first.
Cancellations and re-scheduled session not made at least 24 hours in advance will be considered a late-cancel.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED $75.00 FOR A NO-SHOW OR LATE CANCELLATION. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. Please note that insurance companies and third-party payers do not reimburse for missed or late-canceled appointments.
If you are late, your appointment will still end at the scheduled time. A 10-minute grace period will be offered for clients to present to session at their regularly scheduled session. If a client is more than 10 minutes late, they may be considered a no-show.
Verified/validated emergencies can be considered to waive a no-show or late-cancellation fee, if agreed upon with me.
A $35.00 service charge will be charged for any checks returned for any reason for special handling.

Telephone Accessibility

If you need to contact us between sessions, please leave a message on our office voice mail. We are often not immediately available; however, we will attempt to return your call within 24 business hours. Please note that face-to-face sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick, or need additional support, phone sessions are available.

If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.

Social Media and Telecommunication

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, our clinicians do NOT accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). We 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.

Electronic Communication

We cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages. If you prefer to communicate via email for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, we will do so. While we may try to return messages in a timely manner, we cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.

Senate Bill 1107 (85th Texas Legislature, 2017) amended the Texas state law definition of a telemedicine medical service to mean “a health care service delivered by a physician licensed in this state, or a health professional acting under the delegation and supervision of a physician licensed in this state, and acting within the scope of the physician’s or health professional’s license to a patient at a different physical location than the physician or health professional using telecommunications or information technology.” If you and your therapist chose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:

You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.
Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.
Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.
There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.
You must show your provider a copy of your ID at the beginning of a virtual session.

Observations

Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session or a series of sessions, a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnosis, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third person consultations, but also from direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences. When using information technology in therapy services, potential risks include, but are not limited to the therapist’s inability to make visual and olfactory observations of clinically or therapeutically potentially relevant issues such as: your physical condition including deformities, apparent height and weight, body type, attractiveness relative to social and cultural norms or standards, gait and motor coordination, posture, work speed, any noteworthy mannerism or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene including appropriateness of dress, eye contact (including any changes in the previously listed issues), sex, chronological and apparent age, ethnicity, facial and body language, and congruence of language and facial or bodily expression. Potential consequences thus include the therapist not being aware of what he or she would consider important information, that you may not recognize as significant to present verbally the therapist.

Minors

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

Note to divorced parents: Payment is the responsibility of the parent that brings the child into the office for treatment regardless of the divorce decree. The divorce decree is a matter between the divorced parents and the courts, and we cannot be placed in the middle. However, we must follow the decree and therefore, require a copy of the decree, the part that relates to therapy, in our files. Please be prepared to provide this copy to us.

Termination

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. We may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you, and a termination processes if we determine that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. We will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, we will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.

Should you fail to schedule an appointment for four consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, we must consider the professional relationship discontinued.

Acknowledgement of Rights and Responsibilities

YOUR RIGHTS

To be treated with dignity and addressed in a respectful manner.
Consistent, quality care by a qualified and trained professional in a clean and safe setting.
Humane care and treatment free of abuse, neglect, humiliation, threats, or exploitation.
Privacy of your treatment and your records.
To be informed of risk, benefits, and alternatives to medications and/or therapy.
To consult with another licensed practitioner at your own expense.
To make a complaint or grievance.
The same legal rights and responsibilities as all citizens, unless otherwise indicated by law.
The right to be free from discrimination due to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Notify us immediately of any concerns, questions, or feedback you may have regarding your sessions and your care.
Keep appointments and when unable to do so for any reason, notify us with at least 24 hours’ notice prior to your appointment. You will be charged $75.00 for a no-show or late cancellation.
Pay a fee for treatment reports you request on your behalf and/or for copies of your records. The cost depends on the number of report pages.
All payments will be collected at the time of service. There is a $35.00 fee for all returned checks.
Maintain a clean and safe office environment – avoid bringing any food or drinks into the clinic.
Maintain safe settings by not bringing weapons, non-prescribed drugs, or alcohol on the premises of the clinic.
Treat your provider, office staff, and furnishings with respect and follow all posted office rules.
Maintain supervision and responsibility for your children and family while in the office.
Pay for any damages caused by the careless, reckless, or intentional behavior of you or your family members.
Provide accurate and complete information about current problems, past illnesses and treatments, and other pertinent information.
Inform us if you are receiving counseling or other therapeutic services from another clinician.
Participate in treatment decisions and follow the agreed upon plan or recommendations.
Check with us about your appointment if inclement weather is forecasted.

You may be referred to another provider for failing to follow these responsibilities.