Taproot Therapy Policies and Procedures
Welcome to Taproot Therapy. This page contains important information about our professional services and business policies. Please read it carefully, and let us know if you have any questions.
Psychotherapy Services
Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the therapist and the client, and the particular problems you bring forward. There are many different methods your therapist may use to support you and the problem you address. Psychotherapy is not a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for an active effort on your part. In order for psychotherapy to be successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home.
Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it, including better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But there are no guarantees on what you will experience.
Therapy involves a large commitment to time, money, and energy, so you should feel very comfortable with the therapist you select. If you have any questions about the practice and procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubt persists, your therapist will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional.
If at any time your therapist feels unable to provide you with services, or that the therapist is practicing outside of his or her scope of practice, Taproot Therapy will find adequate referrals for you to continue services with another provider.
Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it, including better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But there are no guarantees on what you will experience.
Therapy involves a large commitment to time, money, and energy, so you should feel very comfortable with the therapist you select. If you have any questions about the practice and procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubt persists, your therapist will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional.
If at any time your therapist feels unable to provide you with services, or that the therapist is practicing outside of his or her scope of practice, Taproot Therapy will find adequate referrals for you to continue services with another provider.
Meetings and Scheduling
We will schedule one 45-60 minute session per week, or biweekly, at a time we agree on. Once an appointment time is agreed upon, you will be expected to pay for it unless you provide 48-hours advance notice of cancellation (unless we both agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control). These missed sessions are not covered by insurance. The cost for missed sessions is $100.
If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, you can do so on your Patient Portal. This Portal will be emailed to you upon scheduling your first session.
After two consecutive late-cancels (under 48-hours) or no-show appointments, Taproot Therapy has the right to terminate treatment.
If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, you can do so on your Patient Portal. This Portal will be emailed to you upon scheduling your first session.
After two consecutive late-cancels (under 48-hours) or no-show appointments, Taproot Therapy has the right to terminate treatment.
Professional Fees
The fee for your session is due at the time of our session. We only accept payments via credit card, cash (at the time of the session), or bank transfers. In addition to weekly appointments, Taproot Therapy charges this amount for other professional services you may need, though your therapist will break down the hourly cost if he or she works for periods of less than an hour. You will be expected to pay for each session at the start of session, unless we agree otherwise. If your account has not been paid for more than 30 days and arrangements for payments have not been agreed upon, Taproot Therapy the option of using legal means to secure payment. If such legal action is required, its costs will be included in the balance or claim.
Taproot Therapy, LCSW, PLLC requires a credit card on file which will only be charged if you miss a session, or if payments for sessions are overdue by 30 days.
Taproot Therapy, LCSW, PLLC requires a credit card on file which will only be charged if you miss a session, or if payments for sessions are overdue by 30 days.
Contacting Us
Therapists are available during business hours. Therapists not often immediately available by phone. Therapists will not answer the phone if he or she is with another client. You can call or email your therapist, and your therapist will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are unable to reach your therapist, you can contact our executive assistant at [email protected].
If it is as emergency, or you can’t wait for a therapist to return your call, contact your family physician or the nearest emergency room.
Note: Therapists do not communicate via text message. Please do not text your therapist. Therapists only communicate via phone calls or email. Texting is not a secure, HIPAA compliant service, therefore we do not text in order to protect your privacy.
If it is as emergency, or you can’t wait for a therapist to return your call, contact your family physician or the nearest emergency room.
Note: Therapists do not communicate via text message. Please do not text your therapist. Therapists only communicate via phone calls or email. Texting is not a secure, HIPAA compliant service, therefore we do not text in order to protect your privacy.
Confidentiality
In general, the privacy of all communications between a client and psychotherapist is protected by law, and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission. There are a few exceptions.
In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent your therapist from providing any information about your treatment. In some proceedings, a judge may order therapist testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it.
There are some situations in which therapists are legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if therapists have to reveal some information regarding a client’s treatment. If a therapist believes a client is threatening serious bodily harm to themselves or another, the therapist may be required to take protective actions. These actions include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the client. The therapist may also contact family members who can provide protection.
These situations have rarely occurred in my practice. If a situation arises, the therapist will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.
For more information, visit whatishipaa.org for information regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent your therapist from providing any information about your treatment. In some proceedings, a judge may order therapist testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it.
There are some situations in which therapists are legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if therapists have to reveal some information regarding a client’s treatment. If a therapist believes a client is threatening serious bodily harm to themselves or another, the therapist may be required to take protective actions. These actions include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the client. The therapist may also contact family members who can provide protection.
These situations have rarely occurred in my practice. If a situation arises, the therapist will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.
For more information, visit whatishipaa.org for information regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
