Getting Started

Typically in the first part of the initial session, I will ask that you review and sign a "consent and information form", which gives you very important information about privacy and its limits, expectations, payment and appointment policies. I also will have each client fill out a form with basic demographics and some additional personal/family history, an insurance form, as well as a form for a credit/debit card to be placed on file for payment of amounts not covered by insurance.

I work with only one insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. To be very clear, this is not the same as other versions of Blue Cross insurance. Some Blue Cross of Kansas City clients are confused, when they find that I am not in network for their particular plan and are billed the full fee for my services. Clients are responsible for payment for services at the time of service. This includes individuals who hold an insurance policy, if there are any uncovered amounts such as deductibles or copays. It is the client's responsibility to contact the insurance company to determine exact cost to the client prior to scheduling an appointment.

More than half of my clients pay out-of-pocket for all or a majority of their services. In many cases, this affords them more options for treatment, as there are no insurance-related restrictions on the frequency of sessions or the issues being treated. In other cases, it is simply due to not having insurance coverage for my services. Please note that I require payment at the time of service and cannot make any exceptions to that rule. If I need to make changes in the schedule to help you adjust the cost, please talk to me about that in advance. I would be more than happy to try to figure something out, although it should be noted that good treatment decisions will always dictate my recommendations for appointment frequency.

Clients are ultimately responsible for ensuring that they have an appointment on the calendar. I close client cases after a period of at least 60 days without scheduling. Attendance is very important, and I prefer to be flexible about rescheduling when possible. Please note that you must contact me more than 24 hours prior to the appointment time to avoid any rescheduling fees. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late without calling, the appointment will be considered a no show. If you call and are running late, I will typically suggest a reschedule if your arrival is beyond 15 minutes past scheduled appointment time. My policy is to waive the first reschedule fee for late cancels or no-shows in every 6 months of treatment. I charge a $50 reschedule fee for the second instance and the full session fee for each instance after that. All fees must be paid prior to the next upcoming appointment.