Information & Policies
WELCOME
We are honored that you are considering us for psychotherapy. It is our desire to provide you with the best care possible. Individual counseling, marriage counseling and family counseling are relational processes and we recognize that policies can feel impersonal. We want to reassure you that we have developed them with you in mind. We encourage you to read them and ask us any questions you might have.
APPOINTMENTS
We work with a select number of clients at a given time because of the limited number of appointments we have available. We generally schedule weekly (“standing”) appointments with clients. Depending on the circumstances, frequency of sessions may increase or decrease. New clients and clients returning to therapy will be seen for an initial consultation. An initial consultation is allotted 45-60 minutes, depending upon the case. Ongoing sessions are typically 45 minutes for individuals and 60 minute for couples and families.
CANCELLATIONS
The scheduling of an appointment does involve a reservation of time specifically for you. We request advance notice and/or the rescheduling of a cancelled appointment if you cannot attend the scheduled time. You will be charged for a late cancellation in accordance with our cancellation/ no show policy.
FEES AND FINANCIAL AGREEMENT
Our standard fee is $210 per 45-minute session and $280 per 60-minute session. Our office accepts cash, check and credit card payment for services. Full payment is expected at the time of service. Established clients may arrange to pay in full once per month. Should your ability to enter into therapy or to continue treatment be affected by our fee, please discuss this with us. At times solutions can be found so you can work with us. If this is not possible, we can assist you in finding a therapist who can work with your financial situation through our wide base of colleagues.
INSURANCE
Though we are not contracted as “in network” providers, many PPO plans will cover a portion of your therapy with us through your “out of network” benefit. We will furnish you with a statement that you may submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. We are not on any HMO panels. Plans vary and it is important that you check your coverage carefully. Questions to ask your insurance company to help determine if our services are covered are: What are my outpatient mental health benefits? What is my deductible? What is my out of network benefit? How many therapy sessions or what dollar amount does my plan cover? If needed, we can assist you in this process.
COMMUNICATION
To simplify communication, we have chosen to use phone communication exclusively. At this time, we do not use email for ongoing communication. You can contact us at 949-475-5400. You may leave a confidential message for Michael at ext. 3 or for Morag at ext. 4. In the event that you need to contact your therapist in between your regular appointments, ten minutes per week is provided gratis. After the first ten minutes, there will be a pro-rated charge per the agreed upon session fee. We check our messages regularly. Any call received after 5pm will be returned the next business day. Calls from prospective clients and calls related to appointment scheduling may be returned by our assistant. Our FAX number is 949-475-5470. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please go to your local emergency room or call 911.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU
The therapeutic relationship is a confidential one. Your confidentiality will be maintained in compliance with our legal and ethical standards. The information you share in therapy will not be communicated to others without your consent except where disclosure is required by law.
We look forward to providing you with competent and compassionate care. We consider the work of therapy to be a privilege. If you have additional questions, please feel free to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us personally.
