This document contains important information about my professional services
and business policies. Please read it carefully before your first visit.
If you have questions or concerns about any of this information, I welcome
and encourage you to discuss them with me.
What is a psychologist?
Professional Ethics and Client Rights
Confidentiality
Termination
Fees
Insurance and Managed Care
Appointments
Professional Records
Contacting Me
A psychologist has a doctoral degree in psychology (a PhD, EdD, or PsyD), requiring approximately six years of formal education and training beyond a four year college degree. Clinical and counseling psychologists have had extensive education in the psychology of human behavior and intensive training in the practice of psychotherapy. A psychologist is licensed by the State, and it is unethical and illegal for someone without the required training and licensure to refer to themselves by this title.
Sometimes there is confusion with other mental health professions. A psychiatrist is a physician (MD) who has specialized training in psychiatry and the biological bases of behavior. Some psychiatrists do provide psychotherapy. Only an MD can prescribe medications. Psychiatrists are licensed by the State. A Social Worker has a master's degree in social work (MSW, or LCSW when licensed), requiring three years of formal education and training beyond a four year college degree. A Licensed Mental Health Counselor has a master's degree in counseling or psychology and meets licensing criteria set by the state. A Registered Counselor requires little to no formal training is registered by the state. Finally, the terms counselor, therapist, and psychotherapist are non-specific and can refer to a wide range of professional levels.
I hold a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas, a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. I am licensed in the State of Washington (#1822) and accredited with the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
Psychotherapy is a complex process that may involve different experiences, approaches, and techniques, depending on the nature of the problem to be addressed. It is not like medication or a medical procedure administered to you. It calls for an active effort on your part. In order for therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on what we discuss outside the consulting office. I encourage you to make notes on your experience between sessions and bring them to our next meeting.
Therapy begins with a period of assessment. There is much I need to learn about you and the nature of the problems you are experiencing. My approach is phenomenological, which is to say, I want to understand how you experience your life-your thoughts, your feelings, your experiences, your expectations, your relationships. From there we can discuss what is, and is not, working in your life.
I suggest you consider this an assessment period as well. If you have questions about something I propose, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, we can decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need to meet your goals.
Professional Ethics and Client Rights
I am a member of the American Psychological Association, and I subscribe to the ethical code established by the professional association and the Washington State Psychology Licensing Laws. The APA and WA State Psychology Board have web sites that explain these codes and explain your rights as a client of a licensed psychologist.
In a nutshell, you have a number of rights. You have the right to full information about your psychologist's training, qualifications, and treatment philosophy, as well as an explanation of the fees for services you are receiving. You have the right to ask questions about your therapy, to refuse any course of treatment suggested by your psychologist, and to terminate therapy at any time, without penalty. You have the right to request access to your treatment records and to request a copy of those records or to request to correct those records. You also have the right to request in writing that no treatment records be maintained. You have the right to have your psychologist release appropriate information from your treatment records to another entity, provided you sign a release of information. You have the right to discuss your treatment with anyone you choose.
With the few legal exceptions described below, any and all information regarding your treatment, including the fact that you are in therapy, is confidential and will not be released to anyone without your written consent. The following are the legal exceptions to your right to confidentiality:
· If I have reason to believe that you are in imminent danger
of harming yourself or another person, I am obligated to act to prevent
that harm, including--but not limited to--informing friends or family
members, contacting police or other officials, or contacting the county
designated mental health professional.
· If I have a reasonable suspicion, based on information you provide,
that there is a child, vulnerable adult, or developmentally disabled person
being abused or neglected, I am obligated to inform the appropriate state
protective service of that information. It may be important for you to
know that if you reveal that you were abused as a child and your abuser
still has access to children, your psychologist must inform Child Protective
Services.
· If I am ordered by a court to release your records, I must release
those records.
· Under the Uniform Health Care Information Act of 1992, your psychologist
does not require written consent to confer with current, prior, or future
health care providers for purposes of continuity of care, or to confer
with a member of your immediate family. My policy is to do so only in
the event of an emergency.
The competent and ethical practice of psychology requires that your psychologist consult periodically with other licensed mental health professionals. Should your psychologist consult with a colleague regarding your treatment, he or she will omit any extraneous identifying information (name, address, employment), so that your anonymity is preserved.
Since I work with adolescents, it is important to note that an individual gains rights as a client of a psychologist at the age of thirteen years. These rights include consenting to treatment and confidentiality. Parents do not have access to what happens in therapy sessions without their adolescent's consent.
In couples work I consider the couple to be the object of treatment. Consequently, special considerations regarding confidentiality apply. From time to time I will see one of the partners individually. If you reveal something private in this situation and I consider it germane to the relationship, that information must be available to your partner for therapy to work. I will not run to your partner with the information; however, if you refuse to reveal it yourself, I will terminate the couples work.
I support your right to end your therapy when you choose. I urge you to talk with me about your thoughts of terminating. Whether your decision to terminate is a result of feeling that the issues that led you to therapy are resolved, or a feeling that treatment is stalled, my foremost desire regarding termination is for a good ending. Often, the last few weeks of therapy are quite productive, as loose ends are tied up. If you are feeling frustrated with the progress of therapy, discussing this feeling can often lead to substantial progress, or an informed referral to another professional who may be more helpful to you.
Professional Fees for service are: Initial assessment session $150
(75 minutes)
Regular session (50 minutes) $120
It is customary to pay in full, by check or cash (I cannot accept credit cards) at the beginning of each session, unless other arrangements have been made. This includes any deductible or co-pay if you choose to use your insurance or managed care benefit.
I will discuss a payment schedule and/or a reduced fee if you present me with a good case for doing so.
There may be additional charges for the following activities:
· Extended session time (in fifteen minute intervals)
· Report or letter writing
· Administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological
testing
· Travel time to locations outside the office
· Telephone conversations lasting over fifteen minutes
Court-related work is billed at the following rates:
Court/Legal Records Review $120/hour
Writing Reports for the Court $120/hour
Depositions $360/hour
Court Testimony $400/hour
If you are using insurance or managed care to pay for therapy, your rights as a client may be limited by your benefit company. That company may limit the number of sessions available to you, the length of your treatment, or your choice of psychologist. Also, insurance companies and managed care organizations usually require that your psychologist provide information about you before they pay for sessions. The information required varies by benefit company, but usually includes mental health diagnoses for which you meet criteria. Managed care companies also often request specific treatment plans and periodic progress reports, and occasionally require copies of your treatment records.
Although all insurance and managed care companies claim to keep such information confidential, I have no control over what they do with it. In some cases they may share the information with a national medical information databank. I will provide you with a copy of any report I submit if you request it.
Many managed care companies offer what is called an "out of network benefit," meaning they will pay a reduced amount to a provider who is not contracted with them. In this case you are responsible for a larger share of the cost; however, you retain your right to chose your provider and often limit the information disclosed to the managing company. If you have questions about what your particular benefit company requires, contact that company or ask me.
When you make an appointment with me, you are reserving that time for yourself. Please know that if you are late for your session, the session will end on time. If you cancel an appointment with more than 24 hours notice, this allows me time to fill the space, and you are not charged. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, you will be responsible for paying a late cancellation fee of $50 at our next session. Similarly, if you miss your session entirely without notifying me you will still be responsible for a $75 missed appointment fee, and payment will be due at the beginning of the next session.
I understand that emergencies arise and illness can come on suddenly. If you need to cancel in extreme circumstances, call me to let me know as soon as possible. We will discuss it at our next session.
The standards of my profession require that I keep treatment records. You have a number of rights regarding those records You have the right to request access to your treatment records, the right to request a copy of those records and to submit a correction to those records. (Because these are professional records, they can be upsetting. Therefore, if you wish to see your records, I recommend you review them in my presence.) You have the right to have your psychologist release appropriate information from your treatment records to another entity, provided you sign a release of information. Finally, you may request in writing that no treatment records be maintained.
I am generally not available by phone. My practice is part-time and I am employed elsewhere. You may always leave a confidential voice message for me by calling 206-718-6869. Leave a brief message, and a convenient number and times to reach you and I will return your call as soon as possible. Through the week I check messages several times each day. Calls on the weekend, holidays, and business days after 5:00PM will be returned the next business day. If you have difficulty with this arrangement, please discuss it with me.
Urgent matters and emergencies call for a different procedure. If your call concerns a life-threatening situation, dial 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency room. If it is an urgent matter and you need to speak to someone before I am typically able to return your call, dial 206-461-3222 for the 24-hour Crisis Clinic.
If I will be unavailable for an extended time, my voice mail message will provide you with the name of a colleague to contact, if necessary.
This document details much about the nature of our contract for therapy. If you have questions or concerns about anything contained herein, please discuss it with me.
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