The privacy of communications between a patient and a psychologist or therapist is safeguarded by the law. Generally, we can only disclose information about your treatment to others if you provide written consent through a Release of Information form that meets the legal requirements set by HIPAA. Occasionally, we may find it beneficial to consult with other healthcare and mental health professionals regarding a case. During these consultations, we take great care to protect the client’s identity, and the professionals involved are also bound by confidentiality obligations. Unless we deem it necessary for our work together, we will not inform you about these consultations. However, all consultations will be documented in your clinical record.

There are circumstances where we may be permitted or required to disclose information without your consent or authorization. They include:

1. Involvement in a court proceeding: If information about our professional services is requested in a legal matter, such information is protected by the psychologist-client privilege law. We cannot disclose any information without your written authorization or a court order. If you are engaged in or considering litigation, it is advisable to consult your attorney to determine if a court would compel us to disclose information.
2. Government health oversight activities: If a government agency requests information for health oversight purposes, we are obligated to provide it.
3. Client complaint or lawsuit: If a client files a complaint or lawsuit against us, we may disclose relevant information in order to defend our practice.
4. Workers’ compensation claims: If a client files a workers’ compensation claim, we are required to submit a report to the Workers’ Compensation Division.

There are legal obligations that may require us to take actions we believe are necessary to protect you or others from harm, which may involve disclosing some information about your treatment. These situations include:

1. Communication of self-harm or suicide intent: If you express an intent to harm or kill yourself, we may be obligated to seek hospitalization for your safety or contact family members or others who can provide support and protection.
2. Child abuse or neglect: If we have reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected, or if we witness circumstances that could reasonably lead to abuse or neglect, the law requires us to file a report with the appropriate governmental agency. Once a report is filed, we may be required to provide additional information.
3. Mistreatment of at-risk adults: If we have reasonable cause to believe that an at-risk adult is being mistreated, self-neglected, or financially exploited, the law requires us to file a report with the appropriate governmental agency. Once a report is filed, we may be required to provide additional information.
4. Serious threat of physical violence: If you communicate a serious threat of imminent physical violence against a specific person or persons, we must make an effort to notify the individuals at risk, inform law enforcement, and/or take other necessary actions, including seeking hospitalization if deemed necessary.
5. Serious threat to national security: If you disclose a serious threat to national security, we are obligated to make an effort to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency.
6. Reporting concerning behavior of a healthcare provider: If you inform us about the behavior of another named health or mental health care provider, such as engaging in sexual contact with a patient (including yourself) or being impaired in practice due to cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or health issues, the law requires us to report this to their licensing board at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. We would inform you before taking this step.

If you and your partner participate in couples’ therapy, it’s important to note that individual sessions with the therapist as part of the therapy are considered part of the couples’ therapy. Consequently, any information shared in those individual sessions may be discussed in joint sessions. Please refrain from disclosing anything you wish to keep confidential from your partner. Your therapist will remind you of this policy before starting individual sessions.

While this summary provides an overview of exceptions to confidentiality, it is crucial that we address any questions or concerns you may have now or in the future. Confidentiality laws can be intricate, and our therapists are not legal professionals. In situations requiring specific advice, it may be necessary to seek formal legal counsel.

To avoid a cancellation or no-show fee, you may cancel or reschedule your appointment within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment time. It’s important to note that many insurance companies do not provide payment for missed sessions.

Psychotherapy, Group Therapy, or In-Home Sessions:

To reschedule or cancel an appointment, we require notice within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. The client will be responsible for the entire fee if an appointment is cancelled less than 24 hours of the appointment time, unless alternative arrangements have been discussed with your provider. Your provider will wait 15 minutes after your scheduled appointment, at which time the appointment will be considered a “no-show” and you will be charged for the entire session.

We understand that life is busy; therefore, every client/family is entitled to one complimentary missed appointment per calendar year, regardless of the number of appointments during that period. Any subsequent late cancellations or no-shows will be subject to the aforementioned policy without exceptions.

We understand that this policy may seem stringent, but it allows us to avoid making subjective judgments about what constitutes an “emergency” for different individuals. The only exception applies to inclement weather: Late cancellations will not incur charges on days when Poudre School District, Colorado State University, or the client’s local school district closes due to weather conditions. However, in such cases, the client
and the provider may agree to conduct the session via Telehealth rather than in person.

Psychological Assessment Appointments:
Psychological Assessment appointments are in high demand and take a significant amount of time for the provider to be prepared to conduct the assessments. Therefore, we require a minimum of 48 hours or 2 business days’ notice to reschedule or cancel an appointment for psychological assessment. This allows us sufficient time to offer the appointment to another individual. Failure to provide notice will result in the following
fees, unless alternative arrangements have been discussed:

• Cancellations (within 48 hours or 2 business days of the appointment) or no- shows (no prior communication): $200

The practice of individuals licensed or registered in the field of psychotherapy is overseen by the Mental Health Licensing Section of the Division of Registrations. You can contact the regulatory boards at the following address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, Colorado 80202, (303) 894-7800.

A Registered Psychotherapist is a psychotherapist included in the State’s database and is authorized by law to practice psychotherapy in Colorado. However, they are not licensed by the state and are not required to fulfill standardized educational or testing criteria to obtain registration.

For a Certified Addiction Counselor I (CAC I), a high school diploma or equivalent is necessary, along with completing required training hours and acquiring 1,000 hours of supervised experience.

To become a Certified Addiction Counselor II (CAC II), a high school diploma or equivalent is required, in addition to meeting the CAC I requirements, completing additional mandatory training hours, obtaining an extra 2,000 hours of supervised experience, and passing a national exam.

For a Certified Addiction Counselor III (CAC III), a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health is necessary. The individual must also fulfill the CAC II requirements, complete additional mandatory training hours, gain an extra 2,000 hours of supervised experience, and pass a national exam.

A Licensed Addiction Counselor must hold a clinical master’s degree, meet the CAC III requirements, and pass a national exam.

A Licensed Social Worker should possess a master’s degree from a graduate school of social work and pass a social work examination.

To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, an individual must hold a master’s or doctorate degree from a graduate school of social work, practice as a social worker for a minimum of two years, and pass a social work examination.

Please refer to the table provided at the end of this page for detailed information on the educational and training requirements specific to the different types of mental health professionals practicing at our agency.

List therapists and licensure

To maintain professional boundaries and ensure client confidentiality, our providers do not typically accept friend or contact requests or engage in communication attempts with current or former clients via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and others. Adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites may compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of your therapeutic relationship.

With regard to recording (audio/video):
Recording sessions without the prior knowledge and expressed consent of your provider is considered unacceptable at our clinic. Such recordings can compromise client confidentiality and hinder the therapeutic process and relationship. If it is discovered that a session has been recorded without your clinician’s knowledge or consent, appropriate actions will be taken, including possible termination and referral from our agency.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one (1) business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non- emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

The Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created.

The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows me to dispute (appeal) the bill.

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may dispute the bill.

You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate.

You may ask your health care provider to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.

You may start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.

There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on the Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.

If you have questions or need additional information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, you may visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call HHS at (800) 368-1019. You may also use this contact information to learn more or initiate the dispute process.

The appropriateness of conducting therapeutic services with clients who appear to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by our providers. Should a provider determine that a client’s condition is not conducive to safe or productive therapeutic work, they reserve the right to refuse services at that time and charge a late cancellation fee. Additionally, our providers may assess a client’s ability to safely travel home from sessions. If a client is deemed unsafe to drive, our providers will work with them to create a safety plan for alternative transportation. In situations where a client refuses to engage
in safe travel planning and is considered a threat to themselves or others by operating a vehicle, our providers reserve the right to break confidentiality by notifying the police to address public safety concerns. It’s important to note that our providers are not liable for client travel decisions, and their assessment of client safety is based on visible and verbal indicators of intoxication or incapacitation.

In situations involving divorce, custody litigation, or court involvement, it’s essential to understand that therapists do not make recommendations for the court concerning custody or parenting issues, nor do they testify in court regarding opinions on litigation-related matters. Only court-appointed experts, investigators, or evaluators can provide recommendations to the court regarding disputed parental responsibilities and parenting plans. However, our staff is available to provide letters to jurisdictions upon request, verifying your attendance and participation in treatment. If you choose to call your provider to testify, our fee for any testimony or court-related activity is $300/hour or any portion thereof for non-expedited requests, and $400/hour or any portion thereof for expedited requests, including travel time to and from the proceedings.