PRACTICE POLICIES

APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS

Please remember to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance. Sessions canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged the full session fee.

Sessions are typically 50 minutes. If you need a different session length, please discuss this with me in advance so we can plan accordingly.

If you are late to a session, the session will still end at the scheduled time and you may lose part of your session.

A service charge of $10 will be applied for any returned payments.

TELEPHONE ACCESSIBILITY

If you need to reach me between sessions, you may leave a voicemail. I am not always immediately available, but I will do my best to return your call within 24 business hours.

Please note that:

  • Phone calls are only for brief communication.

  • I do not provide therapy by phone unless previously arranged.

  • If you are experiencing a true emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION

To protect your privacy and maintain a healthy therapeutic relationship, I do not accept friend requests, follow requests, or private messages from clients on any social media platform. This includes Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and similar sites. Clients are welcome to view or follow my public professional social media accounts. To protect your confidentiality, I do not follow clients back or engage in direct messaging or interactions on these platforms.

If you have questions about how to maintain online boundaries, feel free to ask and we can discuss it in session.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

I cannot guarantee the confidentiality of any electronic communication (such as email or text messages). These methods should be used only for:

  • Scheduling

  • Basic questions

  • Administrative matters

Please do not use text or email to discuss sensitive therapeutic content or emergencies.

Telehealth Notice

We will conduct sessions through SimplePractice, which is a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. Please note:

  1. Confidentiality protections apply fully to telehealth.

  2. You may withdraw your consent for telehealth at any time.

  3. I may request that you move to a private space if your environment is not confidential.

  4. I may end a session if the connection or environment compromises your privacy or safety.

Risks & Benefits of Telehealth

Telehealth has benefits such as:

  • Flexible access to care

  • Reduced travel time

  • Increased convenience

Telehealth also has limitations, including:

  • Potential technical difficulties

  • Limited ability to observe certain non-verbal cues

  • Occasional disruptions due to internet connection

If a session cannot continue due to technical issues, we will attempt to reconnect or reschedule as needed.

If a session must end early due to technical difficulties or circumstances on my end, I will reschedule the remaining time at no additional cost or adjust the fee accordingly. If a session ends early due to client needs, circumstances, or technical difficulties on the client’s end, the full session fee applies.

Telehealth Expectations

To ensure high-quality, ethical, and safe therapy services, all clients are required to meet the following telehealth expectations:

  • You must be in a private, confidential space for the entire session.
    (Examples: bedroom, office, parked car with engine off and windows closed.)

  • Your camera must remain on unless previously discussed or agreed upon in advance.
    This helps with safety assessment, rapport, and therapeutic connection.

  • You may not participate in session while driving or engaging in any activity that compromises safety, privacy, or focus.

  • You must remain stationary during session.
    Walking around, cooking, cleaning, or multitasking is not permitted.

  • If your environment is not private or safe, I may ask you to relocate or reschedule the session.

·         If there’s a connection failure, we will attempt to reconnect using SimplePractice — either by refreshing the link or switching to another device (such as moving from laptop to phone) as long as video can be maintained. Sessions cannot continue via audio-only phone call.

Required Intake Paperwork

All required intake paperwork — including but not limited to consent forms, policies, billing authorization, and telehealth policies — must be completed before your first scheduled session. These documents set essential expectations around confidentiality, payment, scheduling, and telehealth.

TERMINATION

Ending therapy can be an important part of the process. We will discuss termination together to ensure a healthy and supportive transition.

I may recommend ending therapy if:

  • You are not benefiting from treatment

  • Goals have been met

  • You repeatedly miss sessions

  • You are not complying with practice policies

If therapy ends or you request a new provider, I will offer referrals to other qualified psychotherapists.

If you do not schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks without prior arrangement, for legal and ethical reasons, I may consider the therapeutic relationship discontinued.