Policies & Disclaimers
Before we start...
Cancellations/No Shows
My Appointment Policy
Book Early: My schedule fills up fast, so please schedule appointments in advance.
Be on time: I work best with motivated patients who can keep their appointments. Please note that frequent cancellations may result in discharge from the practice.
Cancellation & Fees
48-Hour Notice Required: If you cancel with less than 48 hours' notice, the full fee for the appointment will be charged.
Insurance Note: This fee is not covered by insurance and cannot be submitted for reimbursement.
How I Help You Avoid Fees
Reminders: I will send you a text or email 72 hours before your appointment so you have plenty of time to cancel or reschedule.
Flexibility: If we can reschedule your appointment for the same week, I will waive the cancellation fee.
After hours/Emergencies.
How to Contact Me
My hours: I am available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
In an emergency: My practice is not equipped for emergency care. If you are having an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away.
After an emergency: Once you are safe, give me a call (or have the ER doctor call) so we can talk about next steps.
For everything else:
I check my email and messages often. So, for non-urgent things like medication refills or questions, please feel free to send me a message. I will reply as soon as I can.
Remaining In Care
Staying an Active Patient
Monthly Visits: To remain an active patient in my practice, I ask that you come in for an appointment every month.
Three-Month Rule: If I haven't seen you in the office for three months, I will consider you an inactive patient. I will assume you have either finished treatment or are seeking care elsewhere
Payment & Billing
How to Pay: I accept debit and credit cards ( insurance too!)
Card on File Required: To schedule an appointment, I require you to keep an active card on file.
When You're Billed: Your card is charged the day of your appointment. You will receive your invoice immediately after payment.
Fee Updates
Annual Increases: To keep up with inflation, fees are subject to a small increase each year.
Heads Up: I will always let you know well in advance before any fee change takes effect.
Safety (Driving) During Sessions
For your safety, telehealth sessions cannot be conducted while you are actively driving. If you are driving, we will need to reschedule.
Late Arrival
The work we do together requires your full presence for the entire session. I design each session length to give us enough time to make real progress.
If you are running late:
Please let me know as soon as you can.
If you arrive more than 10 minutes late without notifying me, I may ask you to reschedule so I can give you the proper attention you need.
Please note:
You will still be charged for the missed session.
This fee is not covered by insurance and cannot be submitted.
Discharge
How the Discharge Process Works
Our work together may end for a few different reasons:
You decide you'd like to work with someone else.
I feel you would be better served by another provider.
What You Can Expect:
We'll Talk First: I will always discuss the reasons with you before we end.
Referrals Provided: If you ask, I will give you a list of other qualified providers.
Smooth Transition: If needed, I will extend the discharge process based on your treatment needs. This includes providing emergency support for a limited time after notification.
Other Reasons for Discharge:
Ongoing issues may also lead to discharge, such as:
Failure to pay for treatment
Missing sessions regularly
Not communicating respectfully or in a timely manner
My Commitment to You:
Even in these cases, I will make every reasonable effort to reach you and provide referrals before I consider our relationship ended.
Confidentiality
What's Protected
The law protects our relationship. I cannot share your information without your written permission.
Exceptions: When I Must Act
Abuse: If I suspect child, dependent adult, or elder abuse, I am required by law to report it immediately.
Harm to Others: If you threaten serious bodily harm to someone, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
Harm to Self: If you intend to harm yourself, I will first work with you to ensure your safety. If you don't cooperate, I will take further measures allowed by law to keep you safe.
Child Exploitation: If you disclose accessing or creating sexual content involving a child, I must report it.
Legal Proceedings: If you introduce your emotional condition into a legal case.
Court Order: If a court orders the release of your records.
Minor: If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.
More Info:
For details on how your health information is used and how to access it, please read our notice of privacy policy [here].
Technology
Social Media Policy
To keep our relationship clear and your information private, I do not connect with current or former clients on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). It helps maintain healthy boundaries and protects your confidentiality. Happy to discuss this more in session.
Email & Text Communication
Please know that email and text are not completely confidential methods of communication.
I'm happy to use them for:
Scheduling or canceling appointments
I cannot use them for:
Discussing therapy content
Emergencies (please call 911 instead)
I'll do my best to reply quickly, but I can't guarantee an immediate response.
Telehealth (Telemedicine) Info
If we use technology for some of our sessions, here's what to expect:
Your rights:
You can change your mind about telehealth at any time
Your information is still private and protected
You can access your records
I won't share your info without permission
The benefits:
More convenient access
Saves travel time and cost
Helps with continuity of care
The limits:
In person, I pick up on things like body language, physical condition, grooming, and eye contact. Over video, I might miss some of these cues. If there's something you think I should know, please bring it up.
Starting Therapy- Benefits & Risks
What to Know About Therapy
The Risks:
Therapy isn't always easy. It can bring up uncomfortable feelings like sadness, anger, anxiety, or frustration. That's normal—it means we're doing the work.
The Benefits:
People who stick with therapy often experience less distress, better relationships, more self-awareness, and practical skills for managing stress. Many find real solutions to the problems that brought them in.
What I Need From You:
There are no guarantees, but the more effort you put in—both in session and between sessions—the more you'll get out of it.
Getting Started
In our first few sessions, I'll do a thorough evaluation to understand your needs. Then I'll share my initial impressions and we'll create a treatment plan together. Most importantly, you'll get a feel for whether I'm the right person for you.
If you ever have questions about how I work, please ask. If something doesn't feel right, I'm happy to help you find someone else for a second opinion.
Your Records
I keep brief records of our work together—things like goals, progress, topics discussed, and billing. This is standard practice.
You have the right to:
Request a copy of your file (except in rare safety situations)
Have me send your file to another provider
My advice:
Because records can be confusing or upsetting to read on your own, I recommend we review them together or have another professional help you interpret them.
If I ever need to deny access to your records, you have the right to have that decision reviewed. We'll talk through it if that happens.
Notice of Privacy Policy
For information on how your health information is being used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information, read our notice of privacy policy here.