Practices And Procedures Declaration

As a psychological healthcare practitioner, who holds a Masters of Education, Mental Health Counseling and, since 1992 is nationally certified as a counselor (NCC) she possesses state licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC), in the following jurisdictions: Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and the District of Columbia, and is governed by the following boards: Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, Hustin, TX 78714.

Louisiana State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Baton Range, CA. 7081

Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Atlanta, GA 30334

District of Columbia Board of Professional Counseling, Washington, DC., 20002

Relationships are important; so, the relationship we establish will be one of mutual respect and cooperation. Our mutual goal will be that you will mature enough to resolve your dilemmas and/or live with manageable distress without professional counseling. During sessions, I will provide a conducive environment, allowing for uninhibited thoughts and feelings. I will also assist in developing strategic methods by which your goals may be accomplished. Keep in mind that goal attainment depends on your willingness and determination toward self-improvement.

My expertise is facilitating individual, family, and group counseling sessions with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics, challenged by psychological discomfort from cognitive, emotional, and behavioral concerns.

My standard fee is $200 hourly per individual and family sessions, and $40.00 per group session. In addition to appointment standard fees, my practice charges this amount on a prorated basis for other professional services including, but not limited to, report writing, telephonic/text conversations, meeting attendance, and/or consultations authorized to speak with other professionals. If litigation arises, requiring my participation, you are expected to pay for professional time, even if I am compelled to testify by another party. Because litigation can be complex and difficult, my practice charges $500 per hour, a two-hour minimum, for preparation, attendance, etc., to any legal proceedings.

At the close of each session, full payment is expected. This office accepts some third-party insurance reimbursements, including Medicaid. In order to establish realistic treatment goals and priorities, it is important to evaluate the resources available to pay for treatment. I will assist as I can in facilitating your receipt of benefits to which you are entitled, including completing forms appropriately. However, you, not your insurance company, are responsible for full payment that we have agreed to. Therefore, it is very important that you are aware of what mental health services your insurance policy covers. Persons with financial needs may discuss payment arrangements by speaking directly with me. Every effort will be made to accommodate clients to ensure the help needed is received.

Appointments, both individual and family sessions, are 45 minutes in duration. Group sessions are one hour and thirty minutes. In the event an appointment needs to be changed or canceled, kindly give 24-hour notice. Keep in mind that when an appointment is made, a time slot is purchased, so no one else is entitled to it. Short notice prevents another from coming. Should you fail to give a notice or attend scheduled sessions, a full fee will be assessed ($40, $200, or $200). This is called a no-show appointment fee, which will be treated as a regular session. All after-hours and/or life-threatening emergency care should be directed to the local emergency room, preferably where there is a psychiatric unit, for thorough evaluation.

I utilize an eclectic approach to counseling that involves a variety of methods (e.g., cognitive restructuring, guided imagery, thought replacement, deep relaxation, etc.), addressing spiritual as well as emotional and physical domains. Spirituality is included because I believe that our spiritual condition often influences our emotional wellbeing. Individual, family and group sessions are modalities used to address problems of clients counseled through this office. As mentioned earlier, my specialty is children services, age 5 to 17; however, I am professionally skilled to effectively undertake any age populations enduring unmanageable stress.

By state law, I am required to adhere to a code of conduct, which is determined by the Louisiana licensing Board. A copy is available upon request. As we work together, we will learn about each other; however, it is important that a professional rather than social relationship be maintained. It is also important that you remember that our contact will be limited to sessions arranged. Should we encounter abroad, I will not openly acknowledge you as to preserve your confidentiality. I will, however, reciprocate greetings upon invitation.

Everything discussed throughout sessions will remain confidential unless:

-You provide written permission to inform someone
-Determined that you are a danger to yourself or others
-Court ordered to disclose information
-Suspected case of physical and/or sexually abuse of a child(ren) and/or elderly

-Clients are expected to follow office procedures for keeping appointments.
-Clients are expected to pay for services when rendered.
- Clients are expected to terminate counseling relationships before seeing another mental health professional for identical issues.
-Clients are expected to notify counselor of any on-going mental health relationships with other mental health providers.
-Clients are expected, if seeing another mental health professional, to obtain permission from the primary therapist before receiving services through this office.

To assure the client's physical health can withstand treatment, a complete physical examination is strongly recommended, and results are to be forwarded to this office within two weeks of treatment. Also, if consuming prescriptive medications (of any kind), submit names and dosages during first or second visit.

As part of the healing process, a certain level of discomfort should be expected, which usually indicates growth and development are occurring. This natural process should subside during the early counseling phase. If uneasiness continues, making the client dissatisfied with services, my responsibility is to work toward an appropriate solution, which may involve providing referral sources.

Signatures indicate the above declaration and procedural statement has been read and fully understood. Signature also provides consent for billing appropriate funding source Insurance/ Medicaid.