Confidentiality

Everything that is discussed here will be kept in the strictest confidence.  I will not disclose any information to anyone without your permission.  There are a few possible exceptions to this:

  • If you are paying by insurance, I am required to provide them with a diagnosis and other basic clinical information so that they may process the claim.
  • I am bound by the state’s mandatory reporting laws. This includes situations where I believe child abuse or neglect may be occurring, or if you indicate to me a serious intent to harm yourself or others. In these cases I am required to by law to take the appropriate action to prevent harm or abuse from occurring or continuing. This may include contacting state authorities, police, or the individuals themselves who may be under threat

Time of Appointments

Unless we make other arrangements, our appointments are scheduled to last 50 minutes. If a meeting starts late because I am behind schedule, we will still keep the full 50 minutes. If you arrive late we will have to end the session 50 minutes after it was scheduled to begin. The charge to you for such sessions will still be the full amount. You will not be charged a canceled appointment with 24 hours notice. You will be charged a $60.00 cancellation fee for any appointments that are canceled with less than 24 hours notice. This fee is not billable to insurance and will need to be paid directly by you.

Fees and Payments

Please contact me about my current fee. I do offer limited sliding-scale appointments based on income and ability to pay.  Payment is expected at the time of each visit. If the sessions are to be billed to insurance, please be aware that if the insurance company for some reason does not pay the claim, the responsibility for payment will fall upon you.

Many health insurance plans pay for a certain number of mental health visits, but they may only pay for services provided by in-network providers. Call your insurance company and ask if Sarah Scott Dooling, LCSW #28508, is an in-network provider. If she is not, ask your insurance company about out-of-network benefits that you can utilize for her mental health services.  Most insurance companies have deductibles, co-payments, and limited mental health coverage. I will do my best to be aware of these payments from you and keep you informed of any changes.  Please inform me right away if your health insurance changes.