What to Expect
Client Rights and HIPPA Notice of Confidentiality
One of our schedulers or therapists will be in touch with you within 24 hours.
The scheduler will ask you several questions.
- Are you planning to use insurance?
What insurance do you have? There are a few companies we do not accept.
Also, our therapists accept different types of insurance based on their licensing. Our insurance specialist can answer more specific questions you may have.
- Tell us a little about what you are seeking help for.
Unless you are requesting a specific therapist (which you can do depending on the therapist availability), we Iike to ensure a good fit between you and the therapist you will see. Also, we want to be sure that your needs are within our scope of practice.
- Your availability. Each of our therapists has a slightly different schedule.
Once these questions have been answered and we have chosen a date and time for your intake appointment, the scheduler or therapist will send you access to several platforms.
Spruce.
Spruce is an app for your phone or computer that allows for hippa secure communication directly to your therapist. Texting through the spruce app is the best way to reach your therapist for any questions, concerns or to change an appointment time. This is also the platform we use for telehealth if that is what is decided. For convenience if the weather becomes bad, you and your therapist may meet by telehealth as needed.
Therapy Notes.
This is the patient portal where you will fill our several forms, a client information and contact form, and insurance form. The HIPPA form and telehealth forms will be posted also for your review but you can sign these once you come in. The portal can also be accessed at any time for direct payment if you would like.
The day of your appointment.
Come on into the waiting room and have a seat. Help yourself to coffee or water. Your therapist will come get you when it is time for your appointment.
First appointment.
The first appointment with your therapist is called an intake. First, the therapist will go over some of the paperwork and have you sign it. You may be asked to complete a few screeners to help us gain information to help guide treatment and to provide a diagnosis for the insurance company.
Additional paperwork that may be completed is a credit card authorization form, and release of information for any party you feel would be helpful for us to communicate with, such as a previous therapist or meds provider.
You will be asked if you would like us to coordinate with your doctor, your primary care physician or meds provider. You will simply check yes or no on the hippa form. This can be changed at any time.
Your therapist will ask other questions about your symptoms, family history, etc at the intake appointment.
Subsequent appointments.
At the first or second appointment with your therapist, you and the therapist will decide together on a treatment plan, or goals for your therapy. What do you hope to get out of therapy? What would you like to change? How will you know when therapy is complete?
At Ethos, we believe strongly in client self determination. Your therapy journey is unique to you. We want you to feel you are making progress, that you are getting to talk about what you would like to, that you can trust your therapist and the process. If at any time you have questions or concerns, you are strongly encouraged to discuss those issues with your therapist. Our therapists are completely open to feedback and value your input. If you feel your concerns are not being addressed, please contact Clinical Director, Diane Clark, [email protected]. If you prefer to talk by phone or in person, that can be arranged.
