6. What
about confidentiality? Can I be
absolutely sure my secrets are safe?
We guard the confidentiality of your
information with ultimate care. We
follow privacy guidelines of HIPAA. We
do not reveal your information or even
the fact that you are a client to anyone
without your written permission. When
appropriate, we ask you to sign
confidentiality release forms to
professionals with whom you’d like us to
consult or other individuals who you
want to be involved in the discussion of
your case.
There are, however, exceptions to
confidentiality. When there is a clear
and present danger to you (suicidal
threats) or someone else (homicidal
threats), or when a child or vulnerable
adult is being abused, we are required
by law to warn appropriate family
members, prospective targets of
violence, or relevant authorities.
Occasionally, our records are subpoenaed
as a part of a Court proceeding. In such
a case, we will contact you immediately.
If you do not wish your records to be
released, we will make that known to the
Court, either in writing or by
appearance in person. Usually, the Court
honors our confidentiality privilege.
However, if we are ordered to produce
the records, we must comply. If you have
put your mental health at issue in a
Court case, you are considered to have
given implied consent for the release of
your mental health records.
7. What if I miss an appointment?
As you will see in your Fees Agreement,
missed appointments or those not
cancelled on the business day prior to
your appointment are charged at the
regular fee. Exceptions to this policy
are events like sudden illnesses, family
emergencies, or violent weather. We had
to make this policy because we have
reserved that appointment time for you
and have usually denied it to a waiting
client. When you don’t come to your
appointment or cancel at the last
minute, we cannot fill that hour.
Therefore, we must ask you to pay for
that time unless you give us notice.
Also, if you are late for a scheduled
appointment, you are charged for the
entire scheduled time. On the other
hand, if for some reason we have
circumstances that prevent our being
able to give you the full 50-minute
hour, we will reduce the charge
accordingly.
Therefore, please always record your
appointment time on your calendar and
post your appointment card in a
prominent place. We’d much rather you
get the benefit of your therapy hour!!
8. Why is a therapy hour only 50
minutes?
This is standard in the mental health
industry. After your session, your
therapist must make clinical notes on
your session, schedule your next
appointment, and occasionally go to the
restroom! So, a clinical hour is 50
minutes. When we do not adhere to that,
we get behind and then you are waiting
for us beyond your appointed time.
The 50-minute hour is also the reason
that the fee for ½ hour (30 minutes) is
greater than half of the hourly fee. We
prorate the minutes for ½ hour and ¼
hour.
9. Why does the initial session cost
more?
This practice, too, is fairly standard
in the mental health industry. Your
therapist has more work to before,
during, and after the initial session.
Often, she/he consults with you, a
relative, or other referring person
before the session. She/he has to review
the information gathered in the
diagnostic session to determine and
record diagnoses and treatment plans. In
some cases, our office has to follow up
to secure records or gather/supply other
information from sources you designate.
10 .Do you charge for report
writing?
Yes. Hours we spend in review of
essential documents or report
preparation are changed at the customary
hourly rate.
11. If my spouse and I see a
therapist for counseling, then we wind
up in a divorce – can you go to court
and testify for me?
No, unless both parties agree and sign
appropriate confidentiality releases. To
testify against a client, basing an
opinion on confidential information,
would be an ethical violation (except in
unusual cases, as described in Question
6 above).
12.How
long does it take to get an appointment?
That depends on how flexible you can be
with appointment times. If you must have
late afternoon appointments, that takes
longer, as most people who work outside
the home and/or school
children/adolescents prefer those.
Normally, one of our therapists can see
you within a week. We try to accommodate
emergency appointments as soon as
possible and, if all else fails, consult
with you by phone to help you get help
promptly.
13. What are your hours?
Normally, we see clients between the 9
A.M. and 6 P.M Monday through Thursday,
and 9 A.M. to 12 noon on Friday.. In
cases of urgent need, we occasionally
see clients a little earlier or later
than that. We do not have weekend hours.
14. What if I have a emergency after
hours or on a weekend?
Dr. Smallwood leaves her mobile number
on the office voice mail. You can call
her cell if your need is truly an
emergency..
15.Where are you located?
We are at 206 S 28th Av. in Hattiesburg, MS.
Get a map to
The Hope Center.
16. How do I make an appointment?
Call our office between the hours of
8:30 A.M. and 5:30 P.M., Monday through
Thursday, and between 8:30 A.M. and 12
noon on Friday. Our number is
601-264-0890. If you get the voice mail
during those hours, we may be working
out of the office, at lunch, on the
other line, or running errands. Leave a
message and we’ll return your call as
soon as possible.
You can download the Client Forms you
need from this site. Fill them out and
bring them to your first appointment.
Or, you can plan to come about 30
minutes early to your initial
appointment to fill out the forms.
17. What if I have other questions I
need answered?
You probably will, and we want you to
ask them! If our Director of Hope Center
Services Ashley doesn’t know the answer, feel
free to ask your therapist. We never
want you to be uneasy or confused. We’re
here to help!
