Policies
Insurance and Payment
I do not accept insurance, but I can provide full fee clients with a monthly statement (aka superbill) to submit to insurance plans for potential reimbursement. In accordance with the No Surprises Act, clients paying out-of-pocket or not using their insurance have the right to request a Good Faith Estimate, which provides an estimate of charges for non-emergency psychotherapy services. Please contact me to request an estimate.
Fees are due at the time of service and a credit or debit card must be put on file to bill for services. This prevents clients from accumulating a high balance and helps maintain a smooth rendering of services. I do not split payments; it is up to caregivers to handle the splitting of therapy fees privately. Please notify me if your card is due to expire or needs to be updated. Therapy sessions may be paused or ended due to nonpayment of fees. I offer a limited number of spots for reduced-fee clients, but I cannot guarantee their availability.
Parental Consent to Treatment
In order for me to work with your child, I require written consent from each caregiver with legal custody. In order to confirm legal custody, I may require a copy of your most recent custody agreement or other legal documents. Let me know if you are experiencing unusual parenting circumstances so we can talk about what your options are.
Divorce and Separation Noninvolvement
I do not get involved in custody disputes, mediation, or court proceedings. Therapy is meant to provide a safe space for children to process changes associated with separation and divorce. Using a child's therapy in legal proceedings breaks the child's sense of trust in the therapeutic relationship and violate's the child's right to confidentiality.
Tips to Maximize Session Benefits
Prior to each session, I recommend making sure your child has all basic needs met. This includes feeding your child, having your child use the restroom, and allowing your child some down-time to recharge before session. This will increase participation and decrease interruptions during therapy. For virtual sessions, make sure your child has access to supplies (art, toys, games, self-regulation tools) and a private, secure, and enclosed space to conduct session (such as a bedroom). Provide your child with the option of headphones for privacy. Make sure others do not interrupt session unless it's an emergency.
Parental Accompaniment Policy
A legal guardian must be present and available throughout the duration of the client session in case of emergencies, disruptions during therapy, or necessary parental involvement. Please keep this in mind when scheduling appointments.
Confidentiality
Each client has a right to confidentiality, whether that client is an adult or a small child. What does this mean? It is important that children feel safe in being open and honest during therapy, and confidentiality provides children with that protection. As your child's therapist, I will communicate with you on ways you can support your child and keep you updated on your child's progress and any pressing concerns. However, I will keep what is shared with me in the strictest confidence unless given permission by your child to share specific information. As a mandated reporter, I am legally required to break confidentiality in order to protect certain vulnerable populations. Some such exceptions include any reasonable suspicion that abuse and/or neglect has occurred to a minor (under age 18), elder (age 65 and over), or dependent adult (ages 18+); any credible threats to another person's safety (also known as Tarasoff or Duty to Warn); or a child is in danger of seriously harming themselves. See my forms or talk with me for more information on confidentiality and its limits.
48-Hour Cancellation Policy
I require at least 48-hours notice prior to the cancellation of a session. If you cancel with less than 48-hours notice or don't show up for a scheduled appointment, you will be charged the full fee for the cost of services scheduled. In certain cases, I may be able to reschedule your appointment for a different time (must be during the same calendar week) or interchange a parent/child therapy appointment if one party is unavailable; successful rescheduling will not incur a fee penalty. Please note that I may not be able to reschedule due to limited availability of time slots.