*Appointments and Cancellations*Appointments are 53 minutes in length and will be based on the recommended treatment plan. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please cancel 24 hours prior to the appointment. If cancellation is not prior to 24 hours of the appointment time, there will be a $40 cancellation fee. If you arrive 15 minutes after an appointment, I reserve the right to cancel the session and charge the missed fee. Please refer to the complete cancellation fee policy for more information.

Payment of fees: You are responsible for any copay, coinsurance, and or deductible payments based on your insurance policy. Please discuss any concerns regarding your insurance, especially if your insurance policy changes in any way. Payments may be made in the form of cash, check, or money order (rendered payable to Maura Messer Counseling and Consulting). A service fee of $10 will be charged for any returned checks. With your permission, the credit card on file will be charged for the copay, coinsurance, or deductible as a convenience. Failure to pay for services rendered will result in a suspension or termination of therapeutic services. Services may resume when the client’s account is paid in full to date.

Telephone Accessibility: If you need to contact me between sessions, please leave a voice message or email. I am often not immediately available; however, I will attempt to return your call as soon as I am able. If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911, or call the Burke center at 1-800-392-8343. There is also a 988 suicide and crisis lifeline available to you, call or text 9-8-8.

Social media and Telecommunications: Due to the importance of confidentiality and minimizing dual relationships, I typically do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.

Electronic communication: I cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages. While I try to return messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.

Confidentiality: The issues you discuss in therapy are confidential and cannot be disclosed without your knowledge or written consent. However, there are some exceptions to confidentiality as mandated by State and Federal laws and are stated in my consent policy that you will review and sign prior to commencing treatment. All therapists endeavor to maintain the confidentiality of their clients and adhere to state and federal laws, and professional and ethical guidelines in maintaining the standards of confidentiality. Your records will not be sent or shown to others (except your insurance company) without a signed release from you. In such cases, I will release the minimum amount of information in order to satisfy the insurance company under the terms of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) of 1996. Please refer to my privacy policy for details. All client records are maintained and securely stored in the offices of Maura Messer Counseling and Consulting. Client records are only accessible to your therapist and Maura Messer Counseling and Consulting PLCC.

Minors: If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive, and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.

Termination: Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends upon the length and intensity of the treatment. I may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you and initiate a termination process if we determine that therapy is not effectively used or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, I will provide you with a list of qualified therapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source. Should you fail to attend, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I will make several outreach attempts prior to closing your case. You may return to therapy at a more convenient time in the future as discussed.