COMMON QUERIES
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT AND WHEN ARE PAYMENTS DUE?
The clinic accepts all major credit cards, check, or cash. Credit card details will be held for each client in the event of additional fees incurred such as missed sessions or late payments. Unless prior financial arrangements have been made, payment for services is required in full at the time of visits.
HOW LONG DOES EACH SESSION TAKE?
Intake evaluations take 45-60 minutes depending on the complexity of the issues addressed. Medication management visits are up to 20 minutes long. Recurring individual psychotherapy appointments are 45-60 minutes, family/romantic partners therapy sessions are 60 minutes, and group therapy sessions may be up to 90 minutes.
WHAT IS THE MEDICATION REFILL POLICY?
Ideally, medication prescriptions should take place during visits, but mistakes and unexpected events can happen. Thus, the first request for a refill outside office hours will be honored without charge. Subsequent requests may be charged a $30 fee per refill. A refill will be provided only for one month. Further prescriptions will be provided during your next office visit.
HOW FREQUENT ARE SESSIONS?
For 20-minute medication management-only visits, expect initially to be seen every 2-4 weeks with decreased frequency expected once progress is made, spacing visits up to once every 2-3 months.
For psychotherapy visits (which may include medication management if applicable), typical frequencies range from 1-3 times weekly.
WHAT IS THE MISSED/LATE/CANCELLED APPOINTMENT POLICY?
For Medication Management-Only appointments: When an appointment is cancelled / rescheduled with at least 48 hours notice (2 business days), no fee will be charged. Visits cancelled after that or no-shows may be billed at the full fee.
For Psychotherapy appointments: As this is a treatment modality that is only effective with consistent weekly attendance, payment plans (if doing self-pay) will mostly follow a monthly to quarterly subscription-style fee for a specified number of sessions per time period. Think of it as renting a recurring time slot. Details for handling of cancellations/rescheduling will be discussed on an individual patient basis.
In consideration of other patients, sessions cannot be extended for late arrivals and full fee will be charged.
WHAT IS YOUR PRIVACY POLICY?
New York State law protects the relationship between a client and a psychiatrist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission. Exceptions include: 1) Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which it is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately. 2) If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, IÂ must notify the police and inform the intended victim. 3) If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If uncooperative, further measures without their permission will be taken that are provided by New York State law in order to ensure their safety.