Practice policies

The psychotherapy process

Psychotherapy is a collaborative process between patient and psychologist. It asks for active participation and provides an opportunity to understand more deeply the difficulties you are experiencing, explore patterns that may no longer serve you, develop new capacities, and consider changes in your life and relationships.

The course and outcome of psychotherapy vary from person to person and depend on many factors, including the concerns being addressed and circumstances in your life. Therapy can sometimes bring difficult feelings or choices into greater focus, and changes that are helpful to one person may affect important relationships with others. For these reasons, psychotherapy cannot guarantee a particular outcome.

Appointments and cancellations

In addition to regular office hours I offer early morning and evening appointments.

Because appointments are reserved specifically for you, I ask for at least 72 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Sessions cancelled with less than 72 hours' notice are generally charged unless I am able to fill the appointment.

If you expect to be late, please let me know. I am usually unable to extend a session beyond its scheduled ending time because another patient may be scheduled afterward.

Contact between sessions

I ask that non-urgent clinical questions generally be brought into our sessions, where there is adequate time and privacy to address them thoughtfully.

I make every effort to respond to telephone and email messages within 24–48 hours during the regular work week. If you have not heard from me within 48 hours, please contact me again, as I may not have received your original message.

My practice does not provide continuous crisis or emergency coverage.

Illness and teletherapy

If illness prevents an in-person appointment, we may be able to meet by teletherapy when clinically appropriate. My usual cancellation policy applies when a scheduled session cannot be held and I am unable to fill the appointment.

Confidentiality

The confidentiality of the relationship between patient and psychologist is fundamental to psychotherapy and is protected by law, with certain exceptions.

The circumstances in which a psychologist may or must disclose confidential information are described more fully in my informed-consent materials. These include certain situations involving danger to yourself or another person and suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult.

We will discuss confidentiality and its limits at the beginning of treatment, and I encourage you to ask questions about it at any time.

Coordination of care

At times it may be helpful for me to communicate with other professionals who have been involved in your care or to obtain relevant treatment records. When appropriate, we can discuss this together and I will obtain the necessary authorization before requesting or releasing confidential information, except where disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Fees and payment

Current fees and payment arrangements will be discussed before treatment begins and are included in my practice information and informed-consent materials.

Payment is expected according to the arrangements established at the beginning of treatment. Longer couples and family sessions are prorated according to the agreed-upon fee structure.