Policies, etc.

At our first meeting, I will provide a printed copy of these policies. We will discuss and answer any questions you have.

 

 

INSURANCE AND PAYMENT

 

I accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield, HealthPartners, UCare, and Medicare insurance, as an in-network provider. If you have health insurance with a different company, it may cover some portion of my fee as an out-of-network provider. In many cases I can still submit claims electronically for you, and at minimum I can provide a statement that you can submit to your insurer. A similar statement can be provided for Health Spending Account or Flexible Spending Account reimbursement.

 

I accept cash, check, and electronic payment for your payment portion. 

  

 

CANCELLATIONS

 

Missed or canceled sessions will be charged unless there is a full 24-hour advance notice. Note that insurance does not pay for missed sessions, so the responsibility will be yours.

 

 

DURATION AND FREQUENCY OF TREATMENT

 

There is no standard length of treatment. I ordinarily conduct 55 minute sessions. The duration and frequency of meeting is based on your individual needs, as discussed and assessed together on an ongoing basis. Typically we will meet once weekly.

 

 

VACATIONS

 

Please let me know of any planned absences in advance, as you know this. I will do the same for you.

 

 

PHONE CALLS

 

Feel free to call my office phone. I will return your call soon. There is no charge for brief phone calls; however, I generally do not conduct psychotherapy by phone so if you need more time we can schedule an additional session or additional session time.

 

 

INTERNET POLICY

 

Email should be used only for quick administrative issues such as scheduling. Email is not confidential, so please do not use it for disclosure of therapeutic material or concerns. Instead, use my voice mail which is confidential. I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on social media sites. Both email and social media sites can compromise your confidentiality and the therapy boundaries. I do not search for clients on the internet; the exception to this would be in a crisis, if I think someone may be in danger. If you find my listing on a business review site, know that it is not a request for testimonial. Many sites automatically add listings regardless of whether the business added itself. It is unethical for psychologists to solicit testimony from clients. You have the right to express yourself. Due to confidentiality, I cannot respond. I would encourage you to bring any feelings or reactions to our work directly to me.

 

 

RISKS AND BENEFITS

 

It has been demonstrated that psychotherapy is of benefit to most people, but there is no guaranteed outcome. Risks include unexpected reactions that may be quite uncomfortable. You should keep me informed of your general emotional state and any reactions you have to the therapy. Expected benefits can include resolution of the specific concerns that brought you to therapy, improved relationships, lessening of depression and anxiety, and increased understanding, management and acceptance of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

 

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

All information about you and your therapy is confidential, and will not be revealed to anyone without your written permission, with some limited exceptions. If I am billing your insurance company for your sessions, I provide diagnostic and procedure codes. They may on occasion request additional information from me, which I would discuss with you. The law dictates the following limitations to confidentiality:

(1) Where there is serious concern that a client is likely to hurt her/himself or another person if protective measures are not taken.

(2) By law, abuse of a child or vulnerable adult must be reported.

(3) As required by law, such as a court order.

In all of the instances listed above, I will attempt to minimize the amount of information provided.

 

In addition, I occasionally find it helpful to consult other clinical professionals about a case. During any consultation, I do not reveal the identity of my clients. The consultant is also legally bound to confidentiality. If you do not object, I will only tell you about these consultations if I believe that it is important to our work together.