Please read all of the following information about my policies. The information below is subject to change.

PAYMENTS

Fees: My rate is $200 per 60-minute session. Please request my rates for longer services.

Payments: Payments are accepted via Stripe and due at the time of service. Partnership Health Plan payments are billed directly to insurance.

Insurance: I am a Medi-Cal provider for Partnership Health Plan of California. I do not take other insurances but can provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement for other panels, if requested. Many health plans will reimburse their members for out-of-network psychotherapy services. If you are using out-of-network benefits you are responsible for making the full payment for each session and seeking reimbursement from your insurance provider. Please check with your insurance provider to see what services are covered for full or partial reimbursement. Though I do not directly bill out-of-network insurances I can supply receipts of service rendered or a monthly superbill to those who wish to submit these to their insurance company. You are responsible for payments not covered by your insurance plan.

MediCare: I have opted-out of MediCare, which means that I cannot bill Medicare for services and clients who work with me cannot submit reimbursements from Medicare.

Good Faith Estimate: In compliance with the No Surprises Act (HR 133), you have the right to ask for and receive a “Good Faith Estimate” outlining how much my therapy will cost. The estimate would include details of expected services, codes, and charges. Since the length of treatment is highly variable depending on the depth of your concerns and ongoing life circumstances the estimate would show the per-session costs for one to 52 sessions, as the estimate is valid for 12 months. The standard psychotherapy plan includes once per week or every other week sessions. My out-of-pocket rate is $180 per hour and treatment may take between 1-52 sessions per year. If you receive a bill that is $400 more than the estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

APPOINTMENTS

I strive to accommodate and work with you under all circumstances. Your understanding and cooperation with my appointment policies are greatly appreciated.

Cancellation Policy: I understand that plans can change, which is why I kindly request that you give me at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. This allows me to offer your slot to someone else who may be in need of my services. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged a $50 fee. To ensure I receive your cancellation in time, please cancel by text or email to avoid any unnecessary charges. Please keep in mind that insurance policies typically do not cover the cost of missed appointments or late cancellations and you may be responsible for covering the cost of the missed session.

Late Arrivals: Your time is valuable, and so is mine. If you're running late, please give me a call/text/email to let me know. I'll wait for you for up to 15 minutes past your scheduled time. After this grace period the session will be considered missed and result in an automatic cancellation of your session. It's important to note that arriving late won't extend your session; it will still end at the scheduled time.

No Show/Frequent Cancelations: Life can sometimes be unpredictable, but consistent attendance is crucial for effective therapy. Should you miss your appointment without notifying me in advance ("no-show"), the full session fee will be charged. I recognize that emergencies can occur, and in such instances, the fee may be waived at my discretion.

It's important to note that repeatedly missing appointments or frequently cancelling them can signal that the timing might not be right for you to engage in therapy, or perhaps, my therapeutic approach may not align with your current needs. If there are two instances of no-shows or late cancellations, it prompts a necessary conversation between us. During this discussion, we'll explore whether it might be beneficial for you to be referred to another therapist or to consider taking a pause from counseling.

My goal is to support you in the best way possible, and sometimes, that means making adjustments to ensure you receive the care that aligns with your current life situation.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Additional Services: Requests for letters, reports, phone calls longer than 15 minutes, or mandated court appearances will result in additional fees. Some services may also require time to thoughtfully construct or carry out, so I request at least 2 weeks notice.

ESA Letters: I do not provide Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters.

COMMUNICATION

Confidentiality:  As a mental health professional I am bound by law to protect the privacy of your identity and the contents of what you share in session. There are a few conditions that require or allow me to break confidentiality, they are:

  • I must report any disclosure or reasonable suspicion that you have a serious intent to harm yourself (e.g. actively suicidal patients)

  • I must report any serious threat to harm another specific person (e.g. assault, kill) [domestic violence is not reportable unless as part of the neglect or abuse of minor children or elders]

  • I must report any disclosure or reasonable suspicion of abuse toward a minor (under 18), an elder (65+), or a dependent adult (this includes disclosure of a sexual assault if you are under 18)

  • I must report any disclosure of viewing, downloading, producing, owning, or accessing any and all forms of child pornography [AB1775]

  • I must turn over records of your treatment if requested by court-ordered subpoena

  • I may discuss your treatment in order to coordinate services with another provider, with your written consent

  • I may discuss your case in consultation with peer professionals without disclosing any identifying information

  • (If you are using insurance) I may be required to grant your insurance company access to your records, as a condition of their payment

Medical Records: A summary of treatment is completed at the end of each session. These notes and any clinically relevant information transmitted via e-mail, text message, or voicemail, become part of your medical record. These records are maintained for 7 years from the date of termination, or until a minor’s 25th birthday.

Communication:  I recommend you do not communicate confidential or private information via text or email. If you communicate confidential or private information via SMS (text) or e-mail, I will assume that you have made an informed decision and will view it as your agreement to take the risk that such communication may be intercepted. Email communication should be limited to information pertaining to scheduling or modifying appointments and should never be used for emergencies. Email and text communication containing clinically relevant information will become part of your medical record. I am using HIPAA-compliant e-mail and telephone platforms. If you are concerned about private communication please request my secure messaging option.

Social Media Policy: I do not accept nor respond to social media requests from current or former clients on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms. Connecting on social media sites can compromise your confidentiality and blur the boundaries of our professional relationship. Social media is not a good way to contact me as I do not check these sites frequently and communication via social messaging is not secure.

I do not view your online information, including but not limited to Google searches, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, SnapChat, or personal blogs.  If there is something in your online content you wish me to see, please bring it to our sessions and we will review it together.

No Recording: I do not grant permission to be recorded during sessions. California is a two party consent state where both parties to a conversation must consent to the recording of that conversation.

Grievances: If at any point you have concerns or feel dissatisfied with any aspect of our sessions, I warmly invite you and formally request you to share these feelings with me. Together, we can explore ways to address and resolve any issues, ensuring that your therapy experience is as positive and productive as possible. In the event that you wish to seek guidance or resolution outside of our discussions, please know that the Board of Behavioral Sciences is available to assist. They are equipped to handle complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. You can reach out to them online at www.bbs.ca.gov, or by phone at (916) 574-7830, should you feel the need. Tara D’Orazio, LMFT 86801 exp. 11/30/2026