What to Expect | North Star Jackson

Making that first phone call and starting therapy can be very scary. It is sometimes difficult to tell your story and talk with someone openly, especially if there are past hurts from others whom you trusted. Change can be scary as well. Knowing what to expect can help.

Making an Appointment

When you contact me to make an appointment, I will gather some basic information and answer any initial questions you may have. We will discuss whether to meet in person or via telehealth. I will typically schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient for you and send you paperwork to complete before the first session.

Information I will ask you when you call:

Your Name

Your Address

Your Date of Birth

The Reason You are Seeking Counseling

Your Insurance or Payment Information

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The Therapy Process

During your first appointment, we will talk about why you are seeking services and review some paperwork. We will begin to review your personal history, and I will ask you a lot of questions about yourself. This helps me get to know you and how I can help you. At the end of this process, which can take between 1-3 sessions, we will typically discuss your goals for therapy and then discuss options for how to best work toward them. On rare occasion, you may be referred for other services that better fit your needs.

Therapy sessions are usually weekly at first, between 45-60 minutes. However, depending on your needs, I may agree to meet with you more or less frequently. I do often give "homework", with your consent, designed to help you make progress toward your goals between sessions.

You will need to complete some paperwork before your first session to get started.

For more information on what to expect, you can review the

Informed Consent for Treatment Form and Telehealth Consent Form here:

Consent for Treatment Form

Telehealth Consent Form

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Privacy

Maintaining confidentiality is one of the most important factors in therapy services. You can be assured that I take your privacy and right to confidentiality seriously. Except for a few rare circumstances in which I am required by law and ethics to break confidentiality, I will not release any information about you without your written authorization. For more information regarding my privacy policies, you may review my Consent for Treatment Form or Telehealth Consent Form above or my HIPAA Policy here:

HIPAA Policy

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Payment

Insurance

I participate as an in-network provider with a limited number of insurance companies. I will submit claims on your behalf with those companies. It is your responsibility to pay any deductible, copay, or co-insurance as required by your insurance carrier.

If I am out of network with your insurance company, I can still see you and provide therapy using your insurance if you have out of network benefits. I can provide a receipt you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. However, you may have a higher out-of-pocket expense. All payments, including copays and deductibles are due at the time of service unless prior arrangements have been made.

Insurance companies I currently participate with include: Blue Cross and Blue Shield; HAP; Blue Cross Complete; PPO, POS, and Traditional Insurance Plans that are out of network for other insurances

Self-Pay

Some people decide that they would rather not use their insurance to pay for sessions for a variety of reasons. Some people prefer the privacy of not sharing information with their insurance company, and some people prefer to not have to depend on their insurance company for approval for payment. Additionally, there are some services that insurance companies do not approve.

Should you decide to choose to pay for sessions out-of-pocket, you will receive a good faith estimate, with potential costs and services outlined in detail. I can give you a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please call for current fee information.

The "No Surprises Act"

Based on a new law starting January 2022, 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 don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services, including psychotherapy services.

Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 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. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.

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