Practice Policies
APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Please remember to cancel 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the $50 fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time. Exceptions may be made at the therapist’s discretion. Rescheduling appointments is free of charge.
The standard meeting time for psychotherapy is 50 minutes. It is up to you, however, to determine the length of your sessions. Requests to change the 50-minute session need to be discussed with the therapist.
FEES AND PAYMENT
Session fee: $100 per 50-minute session
Cancellation fee: $50 (for cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice)
No-show fee: Full session fee
Payment is due at the time of service unless otherwise arranged. Accepted forms of payment: all major credit cards, HSA, FSA, and debit cards. Auto-pay is optional. Accounts must remain current. Services may be paused if balances are not maintained.
RECORDS AND DOCUMENTATION
Client records are maintained in accordance with Texas law and professional standards. Confidentiality and its legal limits are outlined in the Informed Consent. Records are stored securely. Records are retained for the legally required period(minimum of 7 years; longer for minors) Clients may request access to records, subject to legal limitations.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND AVAILABILITY
Communication outside sessions (email, text, phone) is usually for scheduling and administrative purposes only. These methods are not fully secure, and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Do not use them in emergencies. This practice does not provide 24/7 crisis services. Refer to the Informed Consent for emergency procedures. If you need to contact me between sessions, please leave a secure message or email me. I will attempt to return your call within 24 hours. If you and your therapist choose to use telehealth for some or all of your treatment, you will receive separate informed consent.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRIVACY
To protect confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries, I do not accept friend or contact requests from clients on social media. If we see each other accidentally outside of the therapy office, I will not acknowledge you first. Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me, and I do not wish to jeopardize your privacy. However, if you acknowledge me first, I will be more than happy to speak briefly with you, but I feel it is appropriate not to engage in any lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.
TERMINATION
Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. Clients have the right to discontinue therapy at any time.
Treatment may be terminated when:
Treatment goals have been met
Services are no longer clinically appropriate
Repeated cancellations or no-shows occur
Payment policies are not followed
Safety, boundary, or ethical concerns arise
When possible, termination will be discussed in advance, and referrals will be provided as appropriate. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, I will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you, or you may choose your own. Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued.
Scope of Practice
Services are provided within the scope of training, licensure, and competence. If your needs fall outside this scope, appropriate referrals will be made.
Complaints & Concerns
If you have concerns about your care, you are encouraged to discuss them directly. You also have the right to file a complaint with: Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC)www.bhec.texas.gov