Psychotherapy Office Policies

Office hours and appointments

I scheduled therapy sessions by appointment only. After the first appointment, an appointment card with the date and time of any subsequent appointments will be given to you. The appointment card is given as a way to verify and confirm any subsequent appointments.

Any missed appointments, without 24 hours notification will result in you being directly charged for the missed appointment. Insurance companies do not pay for missed appointments.

Phone contact

You may reach me at the following telephone numbers 617 -770 -9959 or 781 – 871-2212, which I check frequently during working hours. The best number to call is 617-770-9959 as it comes through on my computer. Please, always leave a telephone number where I can reach you as I do not always have immediate access to your number.

If you leave a message requesting a return call, I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. I try to return calls within 24 hours, however sometimes it will be several days before I return a call.

If a message is left after I leave the office, I may not retrieve it until the next day or until after the weekend. If there is an emergency which requires immediate attention and you cannot reach me please go to your local emergency room of the nearest hospital.

Cancellations, vacations and holidays

When you have agreed to meet and work with me I reserve that time for you. If you must cancel, I will attempt to schedule someone else during your hour. If I’m unable to do so, you may be charged for that hour. The more advanced notice you are able to give me, the more likely it will be that I can find someone else to take your scheduled appointment.

Group therapy clients are billed each time the group meets, regardless of whether they are present. Please note that insurance companies will not reimburse for missed appointments

When I’m going to be away for an extended period of time, such as during vacations, I will try to let you know as far ahead of time as possible. During extended absences, arrangements will be made with another licensed mental health professional for coverage. I would also appreciate advance notice of any vacation you may be taking so I may adjust
my schedule accordingly. Individual clients are not responsible for sessions missed due to announce to vacations.

I do not keep schedule appointments on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas eve or day.

Fees

My fee for an initial consultation is $125 an hour, $100 an hour for individual and couples therapy and $45 per group session.

Insurance reimbursement

I take most health insurance. However you should be aware that most insurance policies require you to authorize me to provide a clinical diagnosis and sometimes a summary of pertinent clinical information. In rare cases, they may request the entire record. This information will become part of the insurance company’s files and, in all probability some of it will be computerized and could impact future insurance coverage. There could be instances where a clinical diagnosis has a negative impact upon an individual’s attempt to get life or disability insurance. All insurance companies claim to keep such information confidential, but once it is in their hands, I have no control over how they choose to protect or use this information. At your request, I will provide you with a copy of any report that I submit.

Payments

Unless some other arrangements are agreed to, payment is expected at the time of your visit.

Indirect services

In addition to psychotherapy, there are a number of other services which I may be called upon to deliver during our work together. These might include writing reports for insurance companies, attorneys for agencies; collateral meetings with physicians, attorneys and telephone calls. These kinds of services will be treated in the same manner as any other professional service and will be billed accordingly.

Confidentiality

Massachusetts state law requires that I provide you with the following information concerning confidentiality at the initiation of our professional contact. It is important that you understand these issues as we begin our work together. Please review this material carefully so we may discuss any questions or concerns about my confidentiality policy.

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between the client and a clinical social worker, and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission. There are a number of exceptions.

In most judicial proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from testifying. However, in child custody proceedings, adoption proceedings, and proceedings in which your emotional condition is important element, a judge may require my testimony if he/she determines that resolution of the issue before him/her requires it. Testimony may also be ordered in a legal proceeding relating to a psychiatric hospitalization, and malpractice and disciplinary proceedings brought against other licensed healthcare providers, court ordered psychological evaluations and certain legal cases where the client has died.

In addition, there are circumstances when I am required to breach confidentiality without a client’s permission. This occurs if I believe a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person is being abused, in which case I must file a report with the appropriate state agency. If, in my professional judgment, I believe that a client is threatening serious harm to another, I’m required to take protective actions, which may include notifying the potential victim, notifying the police, or seeking the client’s hospitalization. If a client threatens to harm him/herself, I may be required to seek hospitalization or to contact family members or others who can provide protection.

There are several other matters concerning confidentiality:

1. I may occasionally find it helpful to consult about a case with other professionals. In these consultations, I make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of my client. The consultant is also legally bound to maintain confidentiality.

2. For patients in group therapy with me but in individual therapy with another therapist, I will communicate with the individual therapist only after a client signs a release of information form.

3. I am required to keep appropriate treatment records. Clients are entitled to receive a copy of these records, unless I believe that information would be emotionally damaging. In those instances, the copy can be given to the client appropriate designee. Clients will be charged an appropriate fee for time spent in the preparation of records.

4. If you use third-party reimbursement, I am required to provide the insurer with a clinical diagnosis, and sometimes, a treatment plan or summary. If you request it I will provide you with a copy of any report, which I submit. Massachusetts law prohibits all insurers from releasing any data about outpatient mental health care without your specific permission.

5. If a client’s account is overdue, and suitable arrangements for payments have not been agreed to, I have the option of terminating my services or using illegal means to secure payment. In most cases the only information which would be released would be the client’s name the nature of services provided in the amount due.

6. Finally, if a client is under the age of 16, please be aware that while the specific content of your therapy will remain confidential, your parents or legal guardians have a right to receive general information on how your treatment is proceeding.

While this summary of exceptions to confidentiality should prove helpful in informing you about the potential problems, it is important to note that the laws governing confidentiality are often complex and I am not an attorney. I encourage our active discussion of these issues, however, if you need more specific advice, formal legal consultation may be desirable.