Common use of Sessions Clause in Contracts

Sessions. Normally an evaluation will last from one to three sessions with the first session being longer. Together, it is decided if your counselor is the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals. Thereafter, if you begin counseling, usually you will schedule one 55-minute session (one appointment hour – 55 minutes face to face and 10 minutes documentation) per week at a time agreed upon, although some sessions may be longer or more frequent. Assessments may take more time. Once an appointment is scheduled you will be expected to attend and pay for that session. 24 hours advance notice of cancellation is required. Our office understands that occasionally circumstances beyond your control arise. We will work with you if that is the reason for cancellation. However, only 2 less than 24-hour cancellations will be excused in any 6-month period. It is important to note that insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for cancelled sessions. PROFESSIONAL FEES. Fees vary depending on the services provided and the credentials of the counselor. A fee schedule is provided on the Professional Disclosure Statement. In addition to weekly appointments, this office charges for other professional services you may need. Other services may include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 5 minutes, consulting with other professionals, preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may request. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require this office’s participation, you will be expected to pay for all professional time, including, but not limited to communication with any involved attorney; court testimony; and preparation; as well as any expenses or costs, such as transportation or parking. Due to difficulties associated with legal matters, this office charges a higher hourly rate for work related to legal matters. Please refer to the current fee schedule. Refer to our Litigation Related Services Policy for full details regarding involving this office in legal matters. CONTACTING YOUR COUNSELOR. Your counselor is often not immediately available by telephone. This may be because the counselor is seeing another patient or due to other work commitments. While your counselor will usually be in the office between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., your counselor will not answer the phone when with other patients. When your counselor is unavailable a secretary or voicemail will answer the telephone. Messages are monitored and your counselor will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are difficult to reach, please inform this office of some times when you will be available. If you are unable to reach your counselor and feel that the situation is an emergency, contact your family physician, psychiatrist, or the nearest emergency room and ask for the mental health person on call. If your counselor is unavailable for an extended time (for example, on a trip) you will be provided with the name of a colleague to contact, if necessary. LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY. The law protects the privacy of all communications between a patient and psychologist or counselor. In most situations, this office can only release information about your treatment to others if you sign a written authorization form that meets certain legal requirements imposed by HIPAA. PATIENT RIGHTS. HIPAA provides you with rights with regard to your Clinical Record and disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI). These rights are outlined in detail in the Notice provided to you. Please review that information and ask any questions you have. This office will be happy to discuss any of these rights with you.

Sessions. Normally Our first few sessions (4-6 sessions) will involve an evaluation will last from one to three sessions with the first session being longerof your (or your child’s) needs. TogetherDuring this time, it is decided we can both decide if your counselor is I am the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals. ThereafterIf therapy has begun, if you begin counseling, I will usually you will schedule one 5545-50 minute session (one appointment hour – 55 of 45-50 minutes face to face and 10 minutes documentationduration) per week or two at a time agreed uponwe agree on, although some sessions may be longer or more frequent. Assessments may take more time. Once an appointment hour is scheduled scheduled, you will be expected to attend and pay for that session. it unless you provide 24 hours advance notice of cancellation is required. Our office understands that occasionally circumstances beyond your control arise. We will work with you if that is the reason for cancellation. However, only 2 I charge for cancellations of less than 2424 hours notice and for no-hour cancellations will be excused in any 6-month periodshows (see Billing/Payment section below). It If you elect to use insurance, it is important to note that insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for cancelled sessions, so you will be expected to pay the entire fee, not just the coinsurance amount you might normally pay. PROFESSIONAL FEESAttending regularly, as well as starting and ending on time, are considered vital to the treatment process, therefore please consider your appointment time a priority. Fees vary depending My rate for individual sessions (45-60 minutes) is $100. Reduced fee options and payment plans may be available on the services provided and the credentials of the counselora limited basis to those in need. A fee schedule is provided on the Professional Disclosure StatementPlease speak to me for additional information. In addition to weekly appointments, I also charge this office charges amount for other professional services you may need, though I will break down the hourly cost if I work for periods of less than one hour. Emergency phone calls of less than 10 minutes are normally free. Other services may include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 5 10 minutes, consulting attendance at meetings with other professionalsprofessionals you have authorized, preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may requestrequest of me. However, if we spend more than 10 minutes in a week on the phone, if you leave more than ten minutes worth of phone messages in a week, or if I spend more than 10 minutes reading and responding to emails from you during a given week I will bill you on a prorated basis for that time. Insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for most services provided outside of the face-to-face session and it is therefore your responsibility to cover those charges. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require this office’s my participation, you will be expected to pay for all my professional timetime even if I am called to testify by another party. Because of the difficulty of legal involvement, including, but not limited I charge $300 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding. The legal and ethical guidelines for therapists indicate that a court order is required for a provider to communication with any involved attorney; court testimony; and preparation; as well as any expenses or costs, such as transportation or parking. Due to difficulties associated with legal matters, this office charges a higher hourly rate for work related to legal matters. Please refer testify and/or release records about you to the current fee schedulecourt. Refer A subpoena alone is not sufficient and I may refuse to our Litigation Related Services Policy for full details regarding involving this office appear in legal matters. CONTACTING YOUR COUNSELOR. Your counselor is often not immediately available by telephone. This may be because the counselor is seeing another patient or due to other work commitments. While your counselor will usually be in the office between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., your counselor will not answer the phone when court with other patients. When your counselor is unavailable only a secretary or voicemail will answer the telephone. Messages are monitored and your counselor will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are difficult to reach, please inform this office of some times when you will be available. If you are unable to reach your counselor and feel that the situation is an emergency, contact your family physician, psychiatrist, or the nearest emergency room and ask for the mental health person on call. If your counselor is unavailable for an extended time (for example, on a trip) you will be provided with the name of a colleague to contact, if necessary. LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY. The law protects the privacy of all communications between a patient and psychologist or counselor. In most situations, this office can only release information about your treatment to others if you sign a written authorization form that meets certain legal requirements imposed by HIPAA. PATIENT RIGHTS. HIPAA provides you with rights with regard to your Clinical Record and disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI). These rights are outlined in detail in the Notice provided to you. Please review that information and ask any questions you have. This office will be happy to discuss any of these rights with yousubpoena.