POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Mindfulness Counseling Services of NY, PLLC  is a small private practice that provides outpatient and teletherapy services to individuals, couples,  adults, and adolescents.  We specialize in helping people suffering from anxiety, depression PTSD, trauma, grief and loss, and chronic stress. Our goal is to help clients understand how, their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are impacting their lives. With the use of faith-based therapy, evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness meditation, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and problem-solving therapy, we help clients identify and change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, create healthier relationships with others, and find greater fulfillment in life.  Our services are tailored to meet the individual needs of each client through an empowering and supportive approach. No matter the challenge you may be facing, our team of counselors will work with you to identify and utilize your strengths to create helpful solutions. Together we will help you develop the skills necessary to lead a life that is meaningful and satisfying. Our commitment to our clients is our number one priority, so reach out today for a better tomorrow.

 

Services Offered

We aim to respond to all messages within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Messages received over the weekend will be addressed on Monday. Please note that we do not guarantee 24-hour crisis support. If you face an urgent situation and your therapist is unavailable, reach out to your local hotline, visit the nearest hospital emergency room, or dial 911.

 

Initial Appointment, Diagnosis, and Counseling Process

Initial assessments take place during the first appointment. These appointments are used to learn more about you as a person, some of the challenges that led you to make an appointment, your intended goals, and to determine the best course of care. We ask that you submit the intake forms at least 48 hours before your initial appointment, in order for your therapist to have time to review the documentation.

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A diagnosis will be given for each client being seen before the 4th visit, just as with a visit to a medical doctor. If ongoing counseling is recommended, and the therapist and client decide to work together, we will diligently work to provide the best therapeutic care possible. The therapist and client will create a treatment plan that addresses both long-term and short-term goals in order to best meet the needs of why the client came in for therapy. Therapy sessions are commonly set for once per week, for approximately 50 minutes.

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For the counseling process to be successful, your commitment to the process is essential. This commitment includes regular attendance, active participation, and completion of the process through the planned termination of counseling services. Homework may be used between sessions to help enhance your growth process. You may initially begin to find some relief from symptoms, and it may be tempting to terminate. However, this initial relief is often temporary if counseling is stopped abruptly. Because all therapists want to see you have the greatest growth possible during the time you are here, we will work with you to plan a successful wrap-up. This is an important part of the counseling process, and we highly encourage you to honor your own work by not neglecting this phase.

 

Rates and Insurance

The current fees are as follows:

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Initial Intake Appointment: $175

Individual Therapy Sessions: $150

Couples Therapy Sessions: $200

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We are in-network with Beacon, Emblem Health (HIP-HMO, GHI), Empire NYSHIP, MVP, Cigna, Aetna, Oxford, and United Health Care. If your insurance is out-of-network, we can provide a Super-bill for your sessions, which you can use to seek reimbursement from your insurance company, including a diagnosis. Complimentary 15-minute phone consultations are available, provided they are not overused. Phone sessions are priced identically to in-office sessions.

 

Payment is due at the time of service. For your convenience, we accept FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), HSA (Health Savings Accounts), and major credit cards. Our automated payment system ensures swift and secure transactions, automatically charging your card on the day of service. This eliminates the need for reminders or concerns about missed deadlines. To guarantee service provision, all payments must be made at the time of checkout.

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Canceled or Missed Appointments

To uphold the quality of our counseling services, we avoid overbooking. A 24-hour cancellation notice is required, and appointments not canceled within this timeframe will incur a $50 late cancellation fee. If you're over 15 minutes late to your scheduled appointment, rescheduling for another day may be necessary, and the cancellation fee will apply. These fees are due immediately.

 

Please be aware that failing to notify your therapist about two or more missed appointments may lead to termination of services. In case of inclement weather, as determined by the local school district, the cancellation fee could be waived. To benefit from this waiver, you must inform the therapist before your appointment that you cannot attend due to weather conditions. You are financially responsible for the time reserved with your therapist, as it's allocated exclusively for you. Arriving late may result in a shortened session.

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Confidentiality

We must uphold legal and ethical standards by ensuring confidentiality. Your information will not be disclosed to external parties without written consent, except in the following instances: if you pose a risk to yourself or others through threats or attempted suicide; if we become aware of actual or suspected abuse involving children, the elderly, or vulnerable individuals (as mandated by New York State reporters); or if we receive a valid subpoena accompanied by a court order to release records.

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If your therapist undergoes clinical supervision, they will inform you about the process. When attending with family members, the therapist will clarify expectations and limitations regarding confidentiality. We will diligently address any disclosure needs for your confidential information and gladly answer any inquiries about confidentiality exceptions.

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Should we encounter each other unexpectedly outside the therapy office, I will not initiate contact to respect your privacy and confidentiality. If you approach me first, I would gladly engage in a brief conversation but deem it appropriate to avoid lengthy discussions in public or outside the therapy setting.

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Social Media Policy

To safeguard your confidentiality and our mutual privacy, we abstain from engaging with current or former clients on social networking platforms. Our therapists do not accept friend or contact requests on personal accounts from clients via sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We will not respond to friend requests or messages on these platforms. Additionally, we refrain from soliciting or responding to client testimonials, ratings, or evaluations on websites to maintain confidentiality. We encourage you to address any concerns regarding our sessions directly during therapy, ensuring effective communication.

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Kindly refrain from using text messages or emails for discussing clinical matters, as these methods lack secure communication and may result in untimely responses or unclear interpretations. To reach your therapist between sessions, please dial their number. Use texts and emails solely for scheduling, rescheduling, or canceling appointments.

 

Termination & Transfer Plans

Concluding relationships can be challenging, making a well-defined termination process essential for achieving closure. The appropriate duration of this process depends on the treatment's length and intensity. Should I determine that the psychotherapy is ineffective or there are outstanding payments, I may discontinue treatment following a thorough conversation and implementation of the termination process.

 

I will not end the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and examining the reasons and objectives of termination. If therapy concludes for any reason, or if you prefer another therapist, I will supply you with a list of qualified psychotherapists for your treatment. You are also free to select someone independently or from an alternative referral source.

 

If you miss scheduling appointments for three consecutive weeks without prior arrangements, for legal and ethical reasons, our professional relationship will be considered discontinued. In case of a therapist's incapacitation, death, or departure from Mindfulness Counseling Services of NY, PLLC during your care, your records will be retained, and a new therapist will be provided. If you wish to transfer care outside our practice, you can sign a release of records, and we will share an extract of your file, including initial intake and recent progress notes, with the new provider. Our standard policy is to release records directly to another provider, with any exceptions arranged by the designee.

 

Minors

If you're aged 12-17, the law may grant your parents the right to access your treatment records unless your therapist finds compelling reasons to deny them. Nonetheless, your parents are always entitled to specific details: current physical and mental condition, diagnosis, treatment needs, services provided, and required services. Your therapist will discuss the matter with you, if possible, and address any concerns you may have regarding the information to be shared.

 

Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

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Notice of Privacy Policies and Clients' Rights

For more information see: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html