Professional Fees and Scheduling Appointments
Psychotherapy Fees
Please contact me to schedule an initial consultation. Our first appointment will be 80-90 minutes long; this longer time permits us to discuss your situation in-depth. During the first session I will listen to how the problem has affected you, your health, and your family. We will begin to explore past, present, and future solutions. It is also a time to sense whether we can develop a comfortable, therapeutic relationship. In addition to questioning you about your presenting concerns, I will ask you to provide intake information or history, and to sign consent to treatment forms. We will also review office policies and confidentiality issues.
Regularly scheduled individual therapy appointments are ordinarily 50 minutes long. Portions of a clinical hour, such as 30 minutes, may be scheduled with children and are billed accordingly.
Group therapy fees vary; please inquire when we discuss group membership. Groups usually span from 50 to 75 minutes, depending on the design of the group experience. Children's groups are of shorter duration, about 30 to 45 minutes, and fees are calculated according to the time and nature of the group.
Payment for professional services is the responsibility of the client. Fees are summarized in the table, “Summary of Fees for Services.” You will be expected to pay for each session when services are provided, unless we have agreed to another arrangement in advance of our appointment. Although I do not accept third party or insurance reimbursement, I can provide you with a statement that includes the necessary information for you to submit a claim directly to your insurance carrier. Usually, insurance carriers ask for information such as the date of service, your diagnosis, and the type of treatment.
Your session represents time reserved exclusively for you, so I ask that clients give a minimum of 24 hours notice for the cancellation of an appointment. You will be billed for sessions missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice. Of course, exceptions to this policy are made for emergencies.
Group Therapy Fees
Group therapy fees vary, but usually the cost is between $35 and $60 for adults. Group time may span from 75 to 90 minutes, depending on the design of the group experience. Children's groups are of shorter duration, about 30-45 minutes, and fees range from $25 to $35 depending on the nature of the group.
Evaluation Services Fees
Psychological evaluations require a substantial commitment of time, usually multiple appointments. Prior to evaluating a child, I prefer to interview the parent(s)/caregiver(s). Also, a number of behavior checklists will be distributed for parent(s) to complete at home and return. We will also talk about how to explain the evaluation to your child, so that he/she is prepared and not unduly anxious. The fee for this session is $200, due at the time of service. Payment for the remainder of the evaluation may be divided into portions, but release of the final report is not available until all fees are paid in full.
Additional hours of psychological evaluation are billed on an hourly basis. Psychological evaluation services include test administration and scoring, classroom observations, interpretation of data, report writing, communication of results to parents and referral sources, and any other consultation as needed. The total number of hours to complete a report will vary, and we will discuss an estimate at our initial visit. Face-to-face cognitive ability testing typically takes 3-4 hours. When additional concerns such as memory and/or attention are at play, more time is required for testing and interpretation of the data. Depending on the child's age, appointments will be scheduled in one to 1 1/2 hour blocks. Children vary and work at different rates, so I adjust our schedule to accommodate this. With younger children, in particular, it is usually better to meet earlier in the day when many have more energy and are better focused.
Expert Testimony Fees
If I am requested to provide expert testimony, my fees are calculated on an hourly basis for all services (unless otherwise agreed upon. Billable clinical hours include psychological evaluation services (see above), travel time, preparation time with attorneys, and direct testimony in court.
Scheduling Appointments
I check my voice mail messages several times a day and make an effort to return calls within 24 hours of receiving them. It is best if you include information about various phone numbers, times when I can most easily reach you, and the urgency of your call. Telephone calls are generally used to convey schedule information and/or report on new developments, but calls may be used sometimes to discuss therapeutic concerns. Conversations in excess of ten minutes will be charged in half hour increments and payment will be expected at the time of your next appointment. I can also be reached through email (and I try to check this nightly), but please recognize the natural limits of confidentiality when communicating via the Internet.
The best way to schedule an appointment or to learn more about my practice is to call me at 708-655-0063. Also, I will respond to email inquiries, but recommend we set up our first appointment over the telephone.