FAQs
Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about my practice. I encourage ALL new clients to read through this page prior to your first appointment. If you have any questions that are not addressed below, please contact me and I will respond to you as soon as possible. Email: kathryn@kathrynleugers.com or phone (614) 344-8504. Similarly if you have questions about my services or practice policies, please review the “Services” and “Forms” section of the website for additional information.
How do I get started?
The easiest and fastest way to set up an initial appointment is to go to the “Schedule Now” page on my website. Click the link to create a client account and schedule your initial appointment. You can also get to my scheduling page by going to www.therapyappointment.com, clicking “Find Your Therapist” on the top right corner, typing in “Leugers,” and clicking on my full name.
Once you have scheduled your initial appointment, please also complete the online biography (on yourself, your son or your daughter – if you are parent seeking services for your child). Lastly, please visit the Forms page on my website to review, print, and sign my policy and consent forms and bring them with you to your first appointment.
What should I bring to the initial appointment? Who should attend?
Please bring signed copies of my Consent to Psychological Services and Responsible Financial Party Agreement along with your preferred form of payment (cash, check, or credit/debit card) to your initial session. Please also read the section below that relates to your current situation.
The Consent to Psychological Services form needs to be completed by the client (a legal guardian, if the child is under 18). The Responsible Financial Agreement needs to be signed by whomever is paying for services. If you are 18 or older and another person will be paying for your psychological services, please also complete a Billing Release form and bring it with you to the initial appointment.
You are welcome to bring me a copy of any past psychological or educational reports that you believe would be helpful for me to review, as well.
If you are 18 and older and seeking services for yourself, simply follow the steps that apply to everyone in the first paragraph of this section. You are welcome to come to your initial appointment individually or to have a friend or family member accompany you.
If you are seeking services for your child who is under 18, I like to meet with one or both parents (without your son or daughter present) for the initial appointment. The goal of this appointment is to gather family history, to help you get a sense of whether I would be the right match for your child, and to discuss your goals for services. I like to take the second session to primarily meet with your son or daughter to build a connection with him or her, and understand your child’s concerns and goals for therapy or academic counseling. If you are currently separated or divorced from your child’s other parent, please thoroughly review the section that pertains to this on my Client Services and Practice Policies Statement. Again, feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions prior to the initial appointment.
If you are seeking services for your child who is 18 or older, I encourage you to involve him or her in the scheduling process. Your child will need to attend the initial appointment, if you plan to set up the client account in your child’s name. Please put both of your e-mails and contact information into your child’s client account. If you will be paying for their services, your e-mail will need to be the first e-mail on the account, so I can send you encrypted e-receipts for services. Alternatively, you are welcome to set up a client account in your name, if you would like to come in alone to the first appointment to discuss your concerns about your child and goals for services.
How does the payment process work?
I am an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies. This mean that you will be responsible for paying the full session fee at the time of each session. Some of my clients opt to solely self-pay for their appointments and others choose to use their out-of-network insurance benefits as part of their payment. If desired, I can provide you with a detailed receipt with the information you will need to submit to your insurance company.
I encourage you to review your out-of-network benefit options to determine whether to use those benefits or choose to self-pay for sessions. Each insurance plan is different, so the coverage varies according to your plan’s specific benefit package. Please also feel free to review my Payment Policy Statement on the Forms page of my website.
Below are a few questions and tips that may be helpful in clarifying your insurance benefits:
What is my deductible for “out-of-network mental health benefits?”
What are my mental health benefits once I reach my out-of-network deductible? Your insurance company may give you a response that is a percentage of your session payment rather than a dollar amount.
Will you reimburse me a specific percentage of your “usual and customary” session fee for psychologists in your network or will you reimburse me a specific percentage of Dr. Leugers’ session fee? Some insurance companies reimburse you a certain percentage of their “usual and customary” session fee for psychologists in their network. This amount can be less than the amount that I charge per session. I want you to know the specifics as you would be responsible for paying the difference between the insurance reimbursement amount and my session fee.
How long are appointments?
Each appointment is approximately 45 to 50 minutes in length. I want you to get the most out of our time together. You are welcome to arrive a bit early to relax and gather your thoughts about what you would like to address in your appointment. Occasionally, individuals or families chose to schedule a “double session,” which is 90-100 minutes. If you plan to use your insurance benefits, it is your responsibility to inquire whether your insurance will cover a double session (or two sessions in one day) prior to scheduling the appointment.
Do you offer telephone consultations and therapy appointments?
Telephone sessions are available for individuals who may not be able to attend face-to-face counseling sessions due to illness, long distance, etc… Unfortunately, insurance companies will not allow me to bill insurance for psychological services that are not face-to-face contact. Therefore, phone sessions must be self-paid. I also like to meet in-person for the initial appointment with all new clients, so we can jointly determine if phone sessions would be an appropriate session option.
Can you tell me more about your online practice management system?
I selected therapyappointment.com because of its outstanding reviews and compliance with HIPAA privacy practices. I have had many clients report that they appreciate the convenience of being able to schedule online at any time, having the option to receive appointment reminders via phone, e-mail, or text message, receiving the encrypted payment and insurance receipts, and being able to communicate via an encrypted e-mail system.