Welcome!

How Therapy Typically Works

Early in therapy, I typically meet with clients weekly, especially as we are getting started. Regular sessions can help establish momentum and give us the opportunity to build on the work we are doing together.

Most sessions are one hour, although session length may vary depending on your individual needs and circumstances.

Many clients work with me for several months or longer, but there is no required length of treatment. You are not committing to therapy for any particular amount of time. We will work together for as long as it feels useful to you, with regular opportunities to review your progress and consider whether anything about our work together should change.

I may also suggest between-session practices, exercises, or reflections from time to time to support the work we are doing in sessions. These are intended to help you continue working on your goals between appointments.

If you decide that you would like to end therapy, you are welcome to do so. When possible, I encourage having a final session so that we can review your progress, discuss any remaining needs, and consider whether there are next steps that would be helpful.

Telehealth

My practice is provided entirely through telehealth. You will need access to a reliable internet connection and a device that allows for both audio and video. If you are having difficulty connecting to a session because of technology or internet problems, please let me know as soon as possible.

Audio and video are generally expected to remain on during sessions. Phone calls and using other applications can interrupt video, and temporary disruptions are understandable. If there is a reason you need to turn your camera or microphone off longer than temporarily, just let me know.

Because I provide therapy through telehealth, you must be physically located in Pennsylvania for the entire session in order to receive services from me. Please let me know if you plan to be outside of Pennsylvania for an upcoming appointment so that we can determine whether the appointment needs to be rescheduled.

For privacy and confidentiality, please also make an effort to attend sessions from a private location where you can speak openly and without being overheard.

Scheduling and Being on Time

I ask that you be ready to begin your session at the scheduled time. If you are going to be more than 2–3 minutes late, please send me a quick message through the Client Portal so I know you are on your way.

I will generally wait 15 minutes for you to join the session. After 15 minutes, if I have not heard from you, I will consider the appointment a no-show.

If you arrive late, the session may need to end at the originally scheduled time rather than being extended, depending on my schedule.

Cancellations and Missed Appointments

I require at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Cancellations or reschedules with less than 24 hours' notice and no-show or missed appointments are subject to a $75 fee. This fee is not billed to insurance and is the client's responsibility.

I just want to make sure you are aware of this policy from the beginning. I understand that things occasionally come up unexpectedly, and you are always welcome to reach out if you have a question or unusual circumstance.

Communication Between Sessions

The Client Portal is the best way to reach me between sessions. You can use it for questions, letting me know about an upcoming appointment, or sharing information that you think would be helpful for our next session.

Unless I am out of the office, you can generally expect a response to messages within 24 business hours. Messages are not monitored continuously and the Client Portal should not be used for emergencies or urgent mental health concerns.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or are concerned that you may hurt yourself or someone else:

• Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

• Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department if you are in immediate danger.

• You can also contact your Pennsylvania county crisis intervention service for local crisis support. You can find your county’s service by searching “PA county crisis services” or by using the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ mental health crisis resources.

Please do not wait for a response from me if you need immediate help.

Confidentiality

What you share with me during therapy is generally confidential. I will not share information about you or our work together with other people without your permission, except in certain circumstances where disclosure is required or permitted by law.

There are a small number of exceptions to confidentiality. While they occur rarely, it is important that you are aware of them.

• Emergency or serious safety concerns: If I believe there is an immediate or serious risk of harm to you or someone else, I may need to take steps to protect safety, which can include contacting emergency services or another appropriate person. For example, if you had a medical emergency during our session, I would need to call 911 and provide them with your location so that emergency assistance could reach you.

• Suspected child abuse or neglect: As a mandated reporter, I am required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.

• Duty to warn/protect: In certain circumstances involving a serious threat of harm toward an identifiable person, I may have a legal obligation to take appropriate protective action.

• Court order: I may be required to release information if ordered to do so by a court or otherwise required by law. However, there are often ways to still protect your confidentiality while complying with the court order, depending on your specific situation.

There are also circumstances in which information may be shared as necessary for treatment, payment, health care operations, or other purposes permitted by law. For example, I may need to provide treatment information to your insurance company so that we can continue our work together.

If you have questions about confidentiality or what information may or may not be shared, please ask! I am happy to talk through how these limits apply to your particular situation. I want you to understand and feel comfortable with the privacy of your information. 

Billing and Payment

The platform you used to schedule therapy with me will also be used for billing and other administrative functions. I work with more than one platform so that I can accept a wider range of insurance plans. Please use the secure communication method provided through your platform for routine communication about scheduling, appointments, or other administrative matters.

In order for us to meet, you must have valid insurance or a self-pay arrangement, along with an active credit card on file before the session begins. Your card may be charged for applicable copays, coinsurance, deductibles, self-pay fees, cancellation fees, or other patient responsibilities.

If you are using insurance, your insurance company determines your benefits and coverage. While I will submit claims as applicable, you are ultimately responsible for understanding your insurance benefits and for any balance your insurance determines is your responsibility, including copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or services that are not covered.

If you do not wish to use your insurance for our sessions, my self-pay rate is $120 per session.

A Few Final Things

You should have received an email with the link for our session. You can join directly from that email or by logging into your Client Portal and clicking the session from your dashboard.