Questions about what it’s like to work together?

In-office or video counseling session (50 minutes): $150

Payment is due at the time of service via cash, check or credit card.

I am an in-network provider with Blue Cross, Optum, and Sutter Select. If I am not in-network with your insurance, we can provide you with documentation to submit to your insurance (“superbill”) for out-of-network reimbursement for our sessions.

Online/Video counseling sessions are available for clients who want to work with me and are not local, have difficulty making it to in-person sessions, are out of town, or unavailable to come to the office. This platform can be used on an on-going basis, or when convenient. All that is needed for these sessions is a computer or mobile device, high-speed internet, and a headset (standard earbuds that come with your mobile phone should work just fine).

Cancellations need to be made at least 48 hours in advance to avoid paying a fee (the fee is what would normally be paid by you or the insurance company, for the appointment). Insurance cannot be billed for missed appointments.

To ensure full commitment to therapy, we offer video, as well as afternoon and evening appointments.

In general, the privacy of all communications between a client and a therapist is protected by law, and your therapist can only release information about your work to others with your written permission. But there are a few exceptions.

• You have the right to prevent your therapist from providing any information about your treatment in most legal proceedings. However, in some legal situations, such as child custody proceedings and proceedings in which your emotional condition is an important element, a judge may order the testimony of your therapist if they determine that the issues demand it, and we must comply with that court order.

• There are some situations in which your therapist is legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if they have to reveal some information about a client’s treatment. For example, if your therapist believes that a child, elderly, or disabled person is being abused or has been abused, they are mandated to make a report to the appropriate state agency.

• If your therapist believes that a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, they are required (mandated) to take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the client. If the client threatens to harm themselves, the therapist may be obligated to seek hospitalization for the client or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection. If a similar situation occurs in the course of your work with your therapist, they will attempt to fully discuss it with you before taking any action and to involve you in the action.

• Your therapist may occasionally find it helpful to consult other professionals about a case. During a consultation, they make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of our client. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential. Ordinarily, they will not tell you about these consultations unless they believe that it is important to your work together.

Your therapist will be happy to discuss these issues with you and provide clarification.

Under the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133 - which will go into effect on January 1, 2022), health care providers need to give clients or patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

The good faith estimate (or GFE) is a notification that outlines an uninsured (or self-pay) individual’s expected charges for a scheduled or requested item or service.

Note: A Good Faith Estimate is for your awareness only. It does NOT involve you needing to make any type of commitment.

Providers and facilities must give this estimate to an uninsured (or self-pay) individual (or their authorized representative) who requests it or who schedules an item or service. The good faith estimate will also include items or services reasonably expected to be provided along with the primary item(s) or service(s), even if the individual will receive the items and services from another provider or another facility.

These requirements are applicable for good faith estimates requested on or after January 1, 2022 or for good faith estimates required to be provided in connection with items or services scheduled on or after January 1, 2022.

The Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.

The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.

If you are billed for an amount that exceeds the Good Faith Estimate by $400 you have the right to dispute the bill.

You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.

You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.

There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.

To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1-800-985-3059.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1-800-985-3059.

Keep a copy of this Good Faith Estimate in a safe place or take pictures of it. You may need it if you are billed a higher amount.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Click this link to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me. I can’t wait to hear from you.