F.A.Q. Frequently Asked Questions you may have about Therapy.

Confidentiality:

Q: How do you handle confidentiality?

A: "Confidentiality" is a big word for little ears, so we use age-appropriate language to explain our obligation and commitment to privacy and priviledged communication. Parents are also given a Notice of Privacy Practices fully explaining confidentiality and all that implies.

Basically, all records are for documentation and personal review, and are never shared with anyone, unless permission has been granted to do so or legally required. At times, collaboration with other professionals is necessary to provide the best treatment, and it is standard practice to share only the relevant information, without personal or distinguishing data.

There are certain circumstances in which confidentiality must be broken and are as follows:

• The child discloses something that indicates the possibility of abuse, neglect or a situation in which the child could be harmed.
• The child indicates he/she has intentions of harming him/herself or others.
• The court issues a subpoena for a trial requiring documentation of therapy sessions.
• A release of information is requested by the parent and/or child.

 

We are bound by legal and ethical obligations to protect your privacy and rights as clients, and it is our commitment to you to uphold the highest level of confidentiality with your records. After all, the records do belong to you, the client.

In working with children, confidentiality sometimes gets a little tricky. Parents often want to know what is happening in the play room and what the child is expressing during therapy. You need to know that our responsibility is to protect the rights of the child we are working with, which requires that the specifics of the sessions cannot be discussed with the parents.

That does not mean that parents are left out of the therapy process, nor imply that you will not be informed of what the focus of the sessions is. We are free to discuss broad themes and general areas of concern during parent consultations, but not what is said or done as part of the play. Thanks for helping us keep your child's rights protected!

 

Insurance:

Q: Do you accept insurance?

A: Not at this time. We have chosen to be a fee-for-service operation because we feel that we are able to give far superior client care when we are free from relying on Managed Care involvement. We've made this decision for the following reasons...

First, we respect the privacy of our clients. Even though all providers must comply with HIPAA regulations, when you see a behavioral health provider and use your insurance, your information and mental health history are stored in your insurance company's databases. These records are viewable by individuals whom you did not authorize to view your records. Further, your records can be requested under certain circumstances without your explicit consent. By not relying on Managed Care involvement, we are able to keep your records far more confidential than your insurance company. There are very few circumstances where we are required to release records. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us. See the confidentiality FAQ for more detail.

Second, Managed Care companies often do not understand the unique needs of providing therapy to children and their families. It often takes long periods of time to receive reimbursement and/or get approved for therapy. This creates undue stress and frustration on the part of the client and the therapist. By not relying on Managed Care reimbursements for our revenue, we are able to provide exceptional care at reasonable rates.

Third, Managed Care companies influence client care. Behavioral health providers are forced to label their clients with DSM codes in order to be reimbursed. We are focused on encouraging healthy, well-balanced child behavior, not diagnosing a child with a mental disorder. Further, Managed Care "encourages" terminating therapy after 16-18 weeks, regardless of the progress of the client. We feel that termination should depend on the child's true progress. This could be more or less than 18 weeks, but we feel the decision to continue care belongs to the parents and the child... not the insurance company.

Nothing is more important than the mental well-being and happiness of your children. We ensure that you get the care and attention that you deserve. We are able to achieve our goals more effectively when we are not restricted by Managed Care contracts.

You have the option of independently submitting a "Super Bill" to your insurance provider for out-of-network reimbursement if you wish to do so and your insurance policy allows it. You may feel free to discuss this option with us at any time.