Sally Olshan, M.F.T.

Policies and Procedures

Appointments

Appointments will be scheduled with me directly weekly or episodically according to individual need. If you are unable to keep an appointment, you will be expected to cancel a minimum of 24 hours in advance. You may be charged a cancellation fee if you do not cancel in advance or if you fail to show for your appointment. Individual session length is usually 45-50 minutes.

Authorization for Treatment

Authorization for outpatient psychotherapy by an agency, HMO, PPO, or other third party payer is based on meeting criteria for medical necessity. This often means that treatment is authorized for crisis intervention, and the goal is to reduce the patient’s acute symptoms and return the person to the level of functioning they had before the crisis. This authorized treatment is structured from the first session as being problem-focused and goal-oriented.

Financial Agreement

Patients are personally responsible for payments of co-payments, coinsurance amounts, percentage shares of charges for services rendered, and/or all charges incurred if your insurance coverage terminates during the course of treatment. Payments or co-payments are due at the time of the session. A cancellation fee plus the bank charges will be added to your account for returned checks.

Emergencies

In an emergency situation as my patient, you can leave a confidential message and page me or dial 9-1-1.  A colleague will be on call whenever I am unavailable for emergencies, and their phone number will be announced on my message machine.

Parking

There are plenty of parking spaces available surrounding and in front of the building.  My suite is located on the second floor closest to the entrance on the Southeast corner of the building.

The Provider is responsible for...

Making an appointment within the week of your initial contact and within 24 hours for emergencies

Setting the fee before your first appointment

Placing a value on your time and beginning your session within 5 minutes of your appointment

Providing a safe, clean and appealing physical environment

Providing a safe, respectful and non-judgmental therapeutic environment

Providing cost-effective treatment

Continuing treatment when medically necessary or providing referrals when the therapeutic relationship can no longer continue

Patient Rights

Being treated with consideration and respect

Expecting quality service provided by a concerned and competent staff

Being provided with a clear statement of the purposes, goals, techniques, rules of procedure, and limitations as well as potential dangers of the services to be performed and all other information related to or likely to affect the on-going counseling relationship

Obtaining information about the case record and to have this information explained clearly and directly

Full, knowledgeable and responsible participation in the on-going treatment plan to the maximum feasible extent

Confidentiality and the knowledge that no information will be released without a written consent except when professional ethics and law dictate otherwise

The ability to see and discuss their charges and payment records

Refusal of any recommended services and be advised of the consequences of this action

Providing necessary information to the therapist in order to expedite treatment

Following the recommended instructions by trying certain ways to change maladaptive behaviors and attitudes

Actively participating in the treatment process by developing treatment goals

Purchase specific books which will educate them about their problem

Perform exercises on their own

Consult their primary care physician or a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation if recommended

Refrain from certain activities that are intensifying their problems

Attend meetings in the community that are relevant to their problem

Confidentiality

Although professional ethics and law dictate that whatever is said in a psychotherapy session will remain confidential and will not be shared with anyone without your written permission, the following are exceptions to this confidentiality:

When you report to your provider any knowledge of child or elder abuse, your provider may be required by law to report it to the authorities or child protective services.

When you indicate that you intend to harm yourself or anyone else, your provider must take responsible and precautionary measures to protect whomever is in danger.

Certain situations may arise when records regarding your treatment goals and progress are subpoenaed by a judge. Your provider may be compelled to surrender these written records.  This may occur when you become involved in a legal situation in which your psychological state is an issue.

If you have been referred by an agency, HMO, PPO, or other third party payer, your provider is usually required to furnish information to that agency. Your signed agreement gives them permission to request information concerning your psychological treatment in order to process payments and benefit utilization. You are authorizing direct payment of psychological/medical health to the provider for the professional services rendered.

In order to promote coordination of care, clinical information may be sent in a written report to your Primary Care Physician.

If you are under the age of 18, your parents or legal guardians have the right to be informed of your psychological condition, progress, and treatment goals.