New Clients
How to Get Started
You may choose to contact me via phone or email. When doing so, please be sure to leave times and days that are best to reach you, as well as both home and cell numbers if you have them. I return phone calls Monday-Thursday and make a good faith effort to return all calls within 24-36 hours of receiving them. For initial inquiries, I am able to contact you in the evening if you are not accessible by phone during the day.
Policies
Office Hours and Days
I currently see clients on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, and have both daytime and evening hours available for appointments.
Appointments
For your initial appointment please download the new patient paperwork, and fill out prior to our meeting. If you are a couple please download and fill out two copies of this, one for each of you. Please bring this paperwork with you to your first session. If for some reason you are unable to access these forms online, please let me know and plan to come to your first session 5-10 minutes early to allow time to fill out paperwork. You may have a seat in my waiting room (at the top of the stairs on the second floor to your left) and I will bring paperwork out to you prior to our meeting. All individual sessions are 50 minutes in length. Couples sessions vary in time from 75-90 minutes.
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to keep an appointment I require that you give a minimum of 24 hours notice. If prior notice is not given you will be charged the full rate of the session.
Privacy
My practice is HIPAA compliant. This means I adhere to "The Privacy Rule", a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which governs the protection of your healthcare information. More information regarding my Privacy Policy can be found in your intake paperwork, on the page titled "Notice of Privacy Practices".
Crisis
Since I am not always accessible by phone or email, please contact your local crisis services immediately if you are in a crisis. At the following numbers you will be able to reach a clinician 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Northampton Crisis Services (413) 586-5555
- Greenfield Crisis Services (413) 774-5422
- Westfield Crisis Services (413) 568-6386
Insurance
I am currently contracted with a number of insurance panels. If I’m not contracted with your insurance, I may still be able to bill your insurance if you have a PPO (Preferred Provider Plan) that allows you out-of-network benefits. Once we decide to set up an appointment, I will gather your insurance information and have my billing service check the status of your benefits. I will then follow-up with you and we can discuss your options.
For clients who do not have health insurance I am happy to talk with you and discuss my fees and payment options.
Payment
All fees, co-pays and deductibles are collected at the time of service. Payments can be made in cash or check form.