Your first session gives you the opportunity to determine if you feel comfortable working with me and to ask any questions you might have. A good fit is important for successful psychotherapy, so if you don't feel that am a good fit with you, please feel comfortable to let me know—I will not take it personally. Likewise, I will let you know if I don't think I am the appropriate resource for you.
Prior to our first meeting, please complete the Personal History Form. Please Note: if you are coming in for couples counseling please complete the Couples Counseling Form instead of the Personal History Form. The Personal History Form can be completed and submitted online or you can download it to bring to our first session. During this first session, I will need to gather additional information about you and your current situation and by the end of this session, I will give you a preliminary idea about my impressions and my recommendations for how we might proceed with treatment. Because counseling involves a professional relationship, we need to agree on the terms of our work together. This is spelled out in the Client Information and Consent for Services (click here to download PDF version) and the Georgia Notice Forms. Please bring in the signed signature page which represents your understanding of and agreement to these terms.
Professional relationships are also characterized by payment or compensation for services. My standard fee is $125 per session. This fee may vary based on whether you will be using insurance to pay for therapy (see below) or have a compelling reason to renegotiate the fee (please talk to me about this prior to our first session). I accept cash, check, and some credit cards for payment.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any of this.
If you will be using insurance, it is very important that you contact your
provider to determine what your benefits and copay are for behavioral
health services. This is especially true if your plan requires you
to get pre-authorization before the initial session. You will be held responsible for any fees not covered by your insurance plan. Using insurance requires that I submit a psychiatric diagnosis and generally involves managed care, meaning that the insurance companies are trying to control their costs while providing you "medically necessary" benefits. This may translate into limiting how many sessions or what they will pay for.
Also, please keep in mind that insurance plans can be confusing and the mental health
benefits are not always with the same company as the health benefits. In
some cases, you can determine this by looking at the back of your
insurance card.
Please contact (if using insurance): Your insurance provider to determine your benefits, copay, session limits and any pre-authorization (if required).
Please bring with you: Signed Signature Page (indicating you have read and agree to the Consent for Service) Personal History Form (if you did not complete online version) Your insurance card. Your drivers license or other official identification card. Payment for the session or copay.
