FAQs 
You may have questions about our practice or counseling. Here are common concerns. Just
click on the question of interest below.
Q. How do I make an appointment?
A. Make your appointment using our online
appointment system. Once we receive your registration information, your insurance coverage will be
verified. Intake materials should be downloaded and printed from the "New Patient" tab on our
website. These materials must be completed and brought to the first
appointment. >Back to top
Q. What if I have to cancel an appointment?
A. Cancellations can be made using the email confirmation of your appointment, or by leaving a
message at 440.942.0100. We require 24-hour notice to cancel an appointment unless a patient is ill. The advance
notice allows us to provide service to other patients waiting to be seen. >Back to top
Q. Is there a charge for a late cancellation or broken appointment?
A. We request 24-hour notice to cancel an appointment, and 48-hour notice for a "double"
appointment. This advance notice gives us adequate time to rebook an appointment with another patient. If adequate
notice of a cancellation is not given, or if an appointment is broken, we reserve the right to charge a $35
fee. In the case of "double" appointments, we reserve the right to charge a $70 fee. >Back to top
Q. What are your hours?
A. The office is open Monday and Friday from 12:00 p.m. through 9:00 p.m..
and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. The office is open on some Saturday
mornings. >Back to top
Q. How soon can I be seen?
A. A new patient is generally seen within a week. Individuals requesting a
specific counselor, seeking an evening time or a specific appointment time usually experience a longer wait for the
first appointment. >Back to top
Q. How long is an appointment?
A. Insurance coverage provides for a 45-minute appointment time. >Back to top
Q. How frequent are appointments?
A. Most patients are seen weekly until enough progress is made to reduce the frequency of
appointments. >Back to top
Q. Are my sessions and records confidential?
A. Your counseling sessions and records are confidential in accordance with state and
federal law. We are HIPAA compliant -- which means that we have taken steps to comply with certain federal laws
concerning confidentiality. We will not discuss the nature of your counseling, nor even that fact that you are in
counseling with any other part without your written permission. Your rights to confidentiality may be limited in
certain situations such as when child abuse is suspected, if you are considered an imminent suicide risk, if your
insurance carrier requests information, or if a court orders information to be released. Every effort is made to
protect your confidentiality regardless of the circumstances. >Back to top
Q. Do you prescribe medication?
A. We do not prescribe medication. However, we do coordinate care with your primary
care physician and several consulting psychiatrists when medication is recommended. >Back to top
Q. How do I contact you?
A. We can be reached by email or telephone. However, because we are seeing patients
throughout the day, we are often unable to return messages until late at night after office hours or early in the
morning. We do not ordinarily charge for brief telephone consultations. However, we do charge for calls
that are extended, outside of ordinary business hours, long distance, or require use of a cell phone.
>Back to top
Q. What are your fees?
A. The fee for an initial intake evaluation is $140. A regular appointment fee is
$110. Psychological testing, consultation, and site visits are billed on an hourly basis plus
expenses. Forensic psychological services are billed at the rate of $200 an hour. >Back to top
Q. Do you have a sliding fee schedule?
A. We do not have a sliding fee schedule. >Back to top
Q. When do you expect payment?
A. Payment in the form of copays and deductibles are due at the time of service unless
otherwise specified in our contract with your insurance company. >Back to top
Q. How often do you send statements?
A. Only as needed. All fees including copays are due at the time of service.
We do not routinely send monthly bills due to the added expense and our policy that fees are due at the time of
service. Itemized statement will be provided upon request for those on Health Savings Plans. >Back to top
Q. Do you provide court assessments?
A. We do provide court assessments and expert testimony for some forensic areas, including
family law, criminal and civil competency, violence and risk assessment, and abuse (sexual or physical).
Forensic consultation is not reimbursable by insurance, and all fees must be paid in advance. Please have your
attorney contact our office if you are seeking forensic psychological services. We typically decline to be involved
in litigation for our counseling patients. If you are a patient, and request our testimony as a fact witness,
please understand that you will be charged fees that are above and beyond your insurance
coverage. >Back to top
Q. Does counseling really help?
A. Yes, we believe that counseling helps. But there are no magical answers. A rule
of thumb: a person needs to hope enough as well as hurt enough for change. >Back to top
Q. I have a question that isn't answered in your list. Now what?
A. Go to the "Contact Us" tab and email your question.
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