Teletherapy and In-Person Therapy
I see clients in California via video call. I use a HIPPA compliant system and will send you intake and consent forms to fill out once we schedule our first session. I will send you instructions on how to use the teletherapy service and will send you a link to access the call on the morning of our appointment.
My office is located in Walnut Creek and I will see you there if you are local to the area and have been vaccinated for Covid-19. If not, it makes more sense to meet by teletherapy.
Because I do not send out paper or mailed copies of your invoice you will receive the invoice, statement, or superbill on either a weekly or monthly basis depending on your preference. These statements are sent through my secure system directly to you by email.
Email and Electronic Communication
Using email is often a quick and convenient method of communicating with me, but it has some risks that you should consider prior to using email. My email, susan@drsusanogrady.com is HIPPA compliant and encrypted. I use G-Suite to assure the highest level of email communication. If you choose to communicate confidential information with me via email it is best to do that through my client portal which is PHI compliant. Once you schedule your first appointment I’ll send you a link to your portal for future communication. If you do not send an open communication using this secure system, I will assume that you have made an informed decision and I will view it as your agreement to take the risk that email may be intercepted. Please be aware that email is never an appropriate vehicle for emergency communication.
You may also email me through the website portal located on the Contact Us page. Our website is also secured with HTTPS SSL encryption. This means that if you interact with us in responding to blog posts, or using our online forms, you are protected.
I can respond more quickly to email, as I can check email between my sessions and on weekends. I am unable to check my voice mail as frequently, so I recommend that you try email first. Please be aware that email is never an appropriate vehicle for emergency communication.
Emails are returned within 24-hours on weekdays between 9 am -6 pm. If you call after 5 pm on Friday or during weekends, I will return your call on Monday.
50-Minute Sessions
Sessions are 50-55-minutes. A double session is an hour and 45-minutes. In some situations, it is useful to have longer sessions, especially for people coming from further away, or for couples who are doing an intake combined with the Gottman Relationship Assessment feedback.
Fee
My fee is $250 per session. The fee for couples therapy double sessions is $500. The fee for the Gottman Assessment is $40.
Payment
Payment is due at the time of our session. I accept credit and HSA (health savings account) cards. If you are attending an in-person session you can pay by check or cash if you prefer. Clients will add a credit card to my secure client portal when filling out the intake and consent forms. The card is automatically charged after each session. I will send an invoice or superbill at the end of each month that reflects your sessions, payments, and required codes if you plan to submit my bill for insurance reimbursement.
Cancellation and Missed Appointments Policy
I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice for canceled appointments in advance of your session. If you do not provide notice, you are responsible for the missed appointment.
Insurance
It is important to know that if you use your mental health insurance for our treatment, it is necessary to include a psychiatric diagnosis on your claim form. Most of my clients elect not to submit to insurance to assure that our work is completely confidential. For this reason, I do not participate in managed care panels and do not accept insurance. As an out-of-network provider, some insurance plans will pay a portion of my fee. This will be sent to you directly after you submit my invoice for payment. I send invoices at the end of every month with information your insurance will need to reimburse you.
If you would like to use your insurance to cover our services, please check your benefit for mental health treatment with your insurance by calling the number listed for behavioral health located on your medical card. We recommend that you ask them the following questions to determine how much of the charges will be reimbursed.
- Do I have mental health benefits?
- What is my deductible for out-of-network providers?
- How much of my deductible has been met for the year?
- How many sessions am I allowed during the calendar year?
- Is approval or referral required from my primary care physician?
- What is the coverage for parity diagnoses such as Panic Disorder, or Major Depression?
- Where do I send claims for mental health? (Mental or Behavioral Health claims are often sent to an address other than the address on your medical card.)
Emergencies
I am not immediately available in an emergency. I will return your email and call you as soon as possible, but if you are in a life-threatening situation, please dial 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency department. Contra Costa Crisis line is available 24 hours a day at 800-833-2900.
