Fees for Service and related policy

Although fees for service are subject to change without notice, it is my practice to give current clients (those currently involved in an ongoing therapy , evaluation, or consultation) 30 days notice of any proposed fee changes.  At present, and since April 01, 2011. the charge for a single therapy session (of 45 to 50 minutes duration) is $200 (My hourly fee for all services is $267 per hour, while a traditional service session is less than an actual clock hour). Payment for any sort of service, for example, psychotherapy, psychological consultation and/or review, is due at the time the service is rendered or the product (report, correspondence, etc.) is produced or delivered . Payment will be accepted in the form of cash or check only. Credit cards and/or third party deferred payments (insurance reimbursement) are not acceptable.   A full fee will be charged for any missed appointment for which less than 24 hours advanced notice of cancellation has been given. Time spent in telephone consultation (other than simple appointment time confirmation) will be billed at the usual hourly rate, on a prorated basis.

Rationale:  Just like a grocery store, an attorney, or an automobile mechanic, my goal is to provide service and to stay in business (so that I may continue to provide service). Receipt of payment for my service is vital my being able to stay in business. If I am not paid for my professional time, I cannot remain in business. When you go to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread, you are expected to pay for the bread before you leave the store. The same concept applies to purchasing my professional time. If you agree to buy my professional time (that is, set an appointment with me), I cannot sell that time to someone else. If you decide to cancel the appointment, and give me at least 24 hours advanced notice, I have at least a 24 hour period during which I may sell that time to someone else.  If I am not given adequate notice of cancellation, I have no hope of making any money for my professional time which was reserved specifically and exclusively for you. You must agree to pay for that time, unless you have given the required 24 hours of advanced cancellation notice. Think of it as buying a ticket to a movie and then opting to miss the movie in favor of another event. The theater will not refund your money simply because you did not show up for the movie at the appointed ticket time. I may be a little more flexible than the movie theater, in that, should you miss an appointment due to a medical emergency or a car accident en route to an appointment with me, I will most likely forgive the charge. Failing verifiable evidence of a significant emergency situation that could not have been foreseen, you will have to pay for the time that has been reserved for you, if you do not show up for the appointment or give the required 24 hours cancellation notice. Understand that you are agreeing to pay for any appointment you make with me, regardless of whether or not you keep the appointment; and that payment for any missed appointment must be made before any further service is rendered.
Although of little or no immediate financial benefit to you, I have done many many years of discounted and pro bono work. I have also spent many unpaid hours dealing with insurance companies and third-party payers. I no longer "accept insurance" for a myriad of reasons, most of which boil down to my being scandalized by the insurance industry's demonstrated criminal practices and my (and my clients) being consistently shortchanged by their arbitrary and often inhumane "rules and regulations". Since I am now in a fee-for-service business, I no longer am wasting valuable time dealing with medical insurance companies. However, if you knowingly consent to the implications of using applicable medical insurance for your own personal reimbursement of fees paid for my services, I will (although morally begrudgingly) assist you in filing of your insurance claims.  Discussion of the possible consequences of such a decision will be essential to your providing “informed” consent and not simply consenting to losing your privacy and running the risk of a lifetime medical/psychiatric diagnosis which could later cost you employment opportunities and/or loss of requisite security clearance for certain occupations.

Because of my many years of having offered discounts and doing pro bono work, I no longer feel morally or otherwise obliged to discount nor put my services “on sale”. This means that if you wish to avail yourself of my services, then you must comply with my financial policy, and you must pay as you go. Please do not ask me if I accept insurance of any kind, or if you qualify for a sliding fee scale. The answer to such questions will invariably be "No". Save us both some time and frustration simply by avoiding such questions; and be prepared to pay for my time if you wish to make use of it. If this simple, business policy is not acceptable to you, then you will want to look elsewhere for service.