Office Policies

Sessions take place in my Santa Cruz office. Once you have scheduled an appointment with me you will come to my office on Mission Street in Santa Cruz (directions). I'll come to the waiting room to meet you at our appointed time.
If we're doing a phone session we will make specific agreements about how that will work.

Each session lasts 90 minutes and my "reduced for the recession" fee is $125. I also provide "50 minute hour" sessions for $100. I will request that you pay the fee at the beginning of our session so we don't need to leave time for payment at the end of the session. You can pay by cash, credit card, or check at the time of the session.

When you come in for your first session and we are seated in my office I will ask you to sign a form with the policies listed below on it. Please read them ahead of time and let me know if you have any questions.

Office Policies

• I. LMFT SCOPE OF PRACTICE
  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists may work with individuals, couples, or groups wherein interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments. The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, the use of applied psychotherapeutic techniques and hypnotherapeutic techniques, to enable individuals to mature and grow within marriage and the family.
• II. CONFIDENTIALITY
  Confidentiality is strictly held. Only a written release or a court order will enable an exchange of any information regarding treatment to a third party. The occasions under which confidentiality is broken, as required by law, are as follows: a) Child abuse; b) Elder abuse; c) Dependent adult abuse; d) Danger to self; e) Danger to others.
• III. AVAILABILITY
  I do my best to return phone calls quickly. However, if you are ever to have an emergency where you need immediate care you are advised to call 911 in addition to leaving a message for me. I cannot guarantee my availability during an emergency.
• IV. PAYMENT Payment for treatment is due at the beginning of each session by cash or check unless other arrangements are made in advance. Session fees cover an 80 minute session. You will be given reasonable notice of any fee increases. Cash, checks, or Visa/MasterCard are acceptable as payment for my fee. However, a $30 service charge will be assessed for checks returned for insufficient funds, in addition to the expectation of an immediate full payment of the regular fee. The fee and service charge must be paid before the next appointment can be scheduled.
• V. CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULING
  A 48 hour notice by phone and email (to insure the message is received) is required for cancellations or rescheduling. The full fee is charged for late cancellations and for missed appointments without notice. This policy is necessary because if you miss an appointment without notice or cancel an appointment without informing me at least 48 hours ahead of time, I am unable to utilize that time for another client who may have wanted that appointment. Therefore, I must ask that you take responsibility for compensating my time. It is important to note that insurance plans do not pay for missed appointments and the patient is responsible for full payment.
• VI. OTHER FEES
  Collateral contacts and court preparation will be charged at my customary hourly rate on the quarter hour. This includes patient phone contact exceeding 10 minutes. Court required time in testimony, deposition, travel, and preparation will be charged at my customary hourly rate and paid prior to the court date. Time spent preparing, copying and mailing records will also be billed at my hourly rate.