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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Are You Currently Taking New Clients?

Yes, we have convenient morning, evening and weekend sessions currently available.  Appointments can be made by leaving a phone message at  407-602-3550 or by using the email form here.

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How Much Do Sessions Cost, Will You Bill Me, and Do You Offer a Sliding Scale?

SESSION  FEES:  Counseling can easily be viewed as expensive, however, should be viewed as an investment (just as choosing and eating healthier foods from the grocery store, gym memberships, going to see a medical specialist instead as a generalist, etc.).  Costs for incurring dysfunction in your family or marriage, or unhappiness in your life can be far more expensive. For couples in a struggling marriage, the math is quite simple...costs of several counseling sessions is much cheaper than a divorce. 

 

Overtime, the outcome of your investment in counseling will far outweigh the initial costs and you will reap the benefit of your investment .  We also have special packages (see below) that can be taken advantage of.  Clients are not allowed to postpone payment, but may pay for a number of appointments in advance for a slight discount.

 

Sliding scale is offered on a limited basis to those in true financial hardship. It is expected that when your financial situation improves that your session rate will resume at full fee level.

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Costs for counseling with Art of Therapy Counseling & Consulting Group are in line with other counselors in the Daytona-Orlando areas. Taking advantage of the special packages below can make counseling with significantly more affordable.

 

SPECIAL PACKAGES:  After the initial session, and any time during the course of therapy, packages of 5 sessions paid at full fee can be purchased at a 10% discount, 10 sessions at 15% discount, and 15 sessions at 20% discount.  These discounted packages are for cash paid 45-minute sessions only, must be paid upfront, and are non-refundable.

Can You Bill My Insurance?

Can I Pay For Sessions with my
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)/
Health Savings Account (HSA)?

We do not bill you for services.  Payment is due in full at the start of each session.

 

We are on several insurance panels, however as a private practitioner, if we are not on your insurance panel, our services for your care might be covered on an out of network basis, or eligible for coverage by your FSA.  That means you pay my full fee at each session and we provide you with a receipt that you can send to your insurance carrier to file a claim for reimbursement, or send to your employer for reimbursement from your FSA or HSA.

 

Although we are on insurance panels, you may not want to use your insurance to pay for mental health counseling. 

 

To be reimbursed, we will have to diagnose you with a mental illness, which will become part of your permanent medical record.  This diagnosis may not be as private and confidential as you think, since insurance companies outsource records processing to third world countries, making your record susceptible to internet hacking. 

 

A mental illness can also have a detrimental impact on promotions should your employer discover it in a security background check. It can also be a factor in denying you other types of insurance claims, such as for auto accidents. The only way to keep a mental health diagnosis completely private is to not file for payment reimbursement.

What Forms of Payment do You Accept?

We accept cash, personal checks, debit, and credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard.  In some cases, you may also initiate a PayPal payment as late as 6 hours prior to any scheduled session.  

 

 

What if My Check Bounces or

my Credit Card is Denied?

 

Appointments will not be held when you owe for past sessions.  If your check bounces or your credit card is denied, we will notify you immediately, and you are expected to pay for that session before the next scheduled appointment. 

 

In the situation of a bounced check, we can take replacement payment in the form of cash, credit card, or PayPal payment.  You will also be charged a $35 bounced check fee.

 

When a credit card is denied it is often because of an incorrect number or an expiration date.  You will be contacted and expected to provide corrected information or a new card.

 

If a transaction with a debit card is denied, payment is possible by cash, credit card, or PayPal.

What if I Have to Reschedule

or Forget an Appointment?

We require clients to give at least 24 hours notice when they have to reschedule, except in situations of contagious illness and medical emergency.  A car accident on the way to an appointment would qualify as a medical emergency. Bronchitis, flu, or diarrhea qualify as illness, but a normal headache does not, nor does a migraine if you have gone to work on the day of the appointment.

 

Appointments are to be rescheduled by phone or e-mail, or with the online appointment scheduler.  We do not accept text messages.

 

If you forget an appointment, you are still financially obligated for it.  We require all new clients to either leave a signed, undated check on file for the amount of a session for such eventualities, or to authorize a charge on their credit card for missed and late cancelled appointments.

 

If you can reschedule for the same week, the late cancellation or missed appointment fee may be waived.

How Long are Your Sessions and
How Many Will I Need?

Sessions are typically 45 minutes for the initial session and subsequent individual and couples/family sessions and  60 - 75 minutes for all group sessions.  Sessions are usually scheduled once a week on the same day and time to facilitate consistency, accountability, and faster progress.

 

It is impossible to predict how many sessions you might need before we know your history and what issues are troubling you.  We will discuss the possibilities with you once we are working together.

 

Can I Call or Email You Between Sessions

If I Have Questions?

 

Between sessions our counselors are usually difficult to reach, but if your question is urgent you are welcomed to contact our office. We may be able to answer a quick question pertaining to an assignment we’ve outlined for you, but more general questions, or questions about issues that you haven’t yet introduced in sessions should wait for your next appointment time or you will be subject to the "quick question" fee.

 

If you have an emergency and need immediate support, please contact our office to that effect, and we’ll do our best to arrange a phone or in person session as soon as possible.  Or, we may recommend using a HIPAA online platform.

Are Sessions Confidential?

We never discuss our work with clients with friends, family, or casual social acquaintances and your identity and details you disclose in our sessions are held as a sacred trust to the extent allowed and required by law. 

 

As a mandated reporter, we are required to disclose any plans to harm others or yourself, and may be required to report any knowledge of felonies you have committed for which you were not charged.

 

As licensed providers, we are ethically obligated to consult with more experienced professionals who are similarly licensed or to get supervision for our work with clients when warranted or required by law.  In such cases, the details of your case may be discussed, although you name will be withheld.

What If I Need a Different Specialist?

We have referral and consulting arrangements with a number of colleagues in various fields, should you need assistance beyond what we can provide. When needed, we will provide you with a list of names and contact information.  We do not hesitate to refer clients to other providers when we deem that to be in their best interest.

 

At times we may determine that a particular technique that we am not credentialed to provide – such as hypnosis, biofeedback, EMDR, homeopathy, acupuncture, flower essence remedies, etc – may facilitate or expedite your progress. We have a set of trusted colleagues, one of whom we will refer you to if you need a special therapeutic technique.

 

 

Are There Issues or People You Don’t Work With?

 

Yes.  Due to the limits of my license, training and education, and professional interests, we refrain from working with court mandated individuals and sex offenders.   

 

Problems or issues that we choose not to work with at our practice would include:

  • Eating disorders

  • Domestic violence

  • Schizophrenia

  • Psychotic episodes

  • Pre-surgical gender reassignment evaluation

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