If I bring my Child for Counseling...

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Children and teens deserve assurance that their feelings and experiences will be respected and held private - just as adults do.  For this reason, I do not make a practice of reporting detailed therapeutic content to parents or caregivers.

However, you will be invited to participate in the process of setting goals for your child in therapy, and I am happy to provide you with updates on your child's general engagement in session and overall progress towards goals.

When appropriate, I invite parents and caregivers into session so that they can learn of their child's strengths, struggles, feelings, and needs directly. My goal is not to become your child's new best friend or confidant nor to “fix” them, but to create a space where he/she can openly process experiences and honestly explore attitudes and values.

If I have reason to believe that your child's safety is in danger, I am required to share pertinent information with the appropriate individual, usually the parent or guardian.

Additional Information:

Additionally, state law and professional ethics statutes require therapists to maintain confidentiality. There may be times you wish for your therapist to share information or give an update to someone (e.g., your physician, attorney, social worker, teacher, etc.). In this case, your therapist will have you sign a Release of Information, giving them permission to share this information. 

Note: There are some limitations to confidentiality:

• If you are a minor, you have a limited right to privacy because your parents may have access to your records. However, if your therapist believes sharing this information will be harmful to you, confidentiality will be maintained to the limits of the law.

• Any maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults (including physical abuse, sexual abuse or neglect) must be reported.

• Any imminent danger to yourself or others must be reported.

• Any information that is ordered or directed by Court Order to conform to state or federal law, rules or regulations must be allowed.

• Any information requested by the licensing board as is pertinent to a disciplinary proceeding involving a provider must be allowed.

Helpful Questions to Ask:

• Is the therapist I want to see In-Network (in my health insurance network)?
• What is my deductible (what I have to pay before my insurance starts paying) for in-network mental health benefits?
• How much is my co-payment (my cost-sharing portion of the bill) for mental health services?
• Does my plan limit how many therapy sessions are allowed per year?
• What is the policy year (i.e., Jan 1 – Dec 31)?
• Does my policy cover 60-minute sessions? 
• Does my policy cover telehealth (if this is a service you would prefer)?

If the therapist you want to see is not in your insurance network, you may want to find out if they are an “Out-Of-Network” provider for you. Some insurance companies will still allow you to see this therapist, but they may require you to pay a higher co-insurance/portion of the bill. In this case, you will want to ask:

• Does my insurance company allow Out-Of-Network (OON) Mental Health Benefits?
• If so, how much does my insurance pay for an OON provider? This is usually a percent (i.e., 70%). 
• Does my OON payment count toward my deductible? If so, what is my OON deductible? Is it different than my in-network deductible?
• Does my OON payment count toward my deductible?
• Is approval required from my primary care physician (i.e., pre-authorization)? 

If you decide to see an Out-Of-Network therapist, you will be responsible for the portion of the bill the insurance company does not pay. The process works like this: you have a therapy session and pay for the session in full at the end of the session. Your therapist gives you a SuperBill as a receipt for your payment. You send the SuperBill to your insurance company and they reimburse you according to their Out-Of-Network rate. For example, if you have Out-Of-Network benefits at 70%, you will pay for 100% of the therapy session cost and get reimbursed 70% of that payment by your insurance company.

Note: Whether you use in-network or out-of-network benefits, any cost not covered by your insurance is your responsibility. 

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Some people choose not to use insurance at all, using a direct pay option. In this case, you would pay for the session with HSA, cash, check or credit card. Your therapist may offer a reduced day-of-service rate.

Good Faith Estimate

If you are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program (uninsured individuals), or are enrolled but not seeking to file a claim with your plan or coverage (self-pay individuals), you may request a good faith estimate of the expected charges you may be billed for.