Deborah Sinek PhD LLC

Psychotherapy is a type of guided self-help. Time and effort outside of our sessions will be necessary to get the results you want in a timely manner. In addition, psychotherapy can be stressful or upsetting at times. If you are questioning whether now is the time to tackle a problem, we should discuss this. Therapy works best when you are motivated and have some time to devote to the process beyond the time we’re meeting.

Emergency procedures: I (Dr. Sinek) will not answer phone calls while in session with clients, but you may leave a message on my confidential voice mail. Always use my cell number for urgent calls. I try to answer all calls as soon as possible, but if I have not responded within a reasonable time, please try again (especially if your call is urgent!). Do not hesitate to seek help in an emergency situation by calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room.

Fees and Payment: My fees are designed so that you can afford to come and I can afford to stay in practice. Fees cover my time with you as well as activities on your behalf such as research, record-keeping, and contacts with your physician or insurance company. Payment is required for each session. If I am an “out-of-network” provider, or if you intend to pay fee-for-service, payment is due, by check or cash, at each session. I can usually file insurance claims for out-of-network plans as a courtesy, but if I can’t, I will provide you with a monthly statement which you can submit for reimbursement. If I am an “in-network” provider for your insurance, I will file claims with your insurance agency. You will be responsible for deductibles, copays, and any other portion of the session fee not covered by your insurance policy. If you default on your bill, I may turn over your account to a collections agency. You may be charged interest on balances due over 30 days and would be responsible for the cost of collections or any legal fees. Therefore, if you cannot pay when billed, please make arrangements with me personally to avoid that unpleasant situation. Please note that some insurance companies require that you phone them for pre-authorization before your first session. Usually this is only a formality, but

if you do not do so personally, they may legally refuse to pay! 

Appointments: Sessions are around 45-55 minutes long. I strive to begin all appointments on time, which means I will end them on time, in order to be ready for my next appointment. If you arrive late for an appointment, we will have less time to work. If you need to cancel an appointment, I require 24 hours’ notice. Failure to provide this notice will result in a $50 broken appointment fee. I will waive this fee only in cases where the broken appointment was due to circumstances which both you and I would define as an emergency or otherwise unpredictable and unavoidable. For my part, if I ever miss or cancel a session without 24 hours’ notice, for a reason that you and I would not consider an emergency or otherwise unpredictable and unavoidable, your next session will be at no charge to you.

Confidentiality: In general, information you share with me is protected by professional ethics and state law and will not be shared with anyone else without your written permission. Exceptions are as follows: 1) if your insurance company or Employee Assistance Program may require information about your health, diagnosis, and course of treatment 2) where there is danger of physical harm to yourself or someone else 3) when physical abuse or neglect of a minor child, elderly person, or handicapped person is revealed 4) in legal cases, your clinical records or therapist may be subpoenaed. A separate Notice of Privacy Practices will be provided to you. It covers confidentiality matters in more detail. Please read it carefully.

Email/text contact: If I receive an email from you, it implies that you consent to that form of communication. Existing clients should use my secure portal for messages. In my replies to you, I will avoid including any personal/clinical information unless your email to me directly solicits it. I will avoid protracted or lengthy email exchanges in favor of saving my thoughts for in-person appointments; however, if you have some material to send that you think will be helpful in our work together, feel free to send it to me, if you are comfortable doing so via email.