FAQ’s/Fees

How Long do Sessions Last?

The feeling of being stuck is usually what brings most people to counseling. Sometimes people feel stuck in a dissatisfying career, relationship, mood, thought pattern, or destructive patterns of behavior. A counselor is able to offer a new approach and help get you unstuck! They are objective, non-judgmental and offer a caring perspective to help you to accomplish your goals. The goal is to help you conquer your life journey and finally enjoy a renewed energy to face life’s challenges.

The initial counseling intake is generally 60-90 minutes. Counseling sessions after your initial session last approximately 45 minutes. At times your therapist may recommend 90-minute sessions for Unconscious Resilience Therapy® or for DBT or Family Sessions.

Most sessions take place weekly, depending on your concerns. However, sessions may be scheduled more or less frequently. The number of sessions needed varies with each person and problem, which will be discussed during the initial sessions. However, it is also important to do your own reflection and work in between sessions. For counseling to “work”, whether it be therapy or personal coaching, you must be an active participant, both in and outside of sessions.

Counseling is a process that takes courage, patience, and an open mind. As licensed therapists and certified career counselors, we are committed to providing an experience that is solution-focused on your goals.

Do You Accept Insurance?

Although Inner Acceptance Therapy is considered out of network with insurance, we do offer additional solutions for clients wishing to utilize their insurance benefits. Through our partnership with Headway as our third-party billing provider, we have a select set of therapists who you can choose from who may accept your insurance. Our providers are not in network with Medicare or Medicaid at this time.

Give us a call at 832-543-3002 to inquire if your insurance is accepted.

You can request a statement of services that may be used to submit to your insurance company towards your out-of-network mental health benefits.

Questions to ask your insurance company:

Do you reimburse for out of network mental health services?
What is my deductible?
Do you require pre-approval of services before you will reimburse?
What mental health services (codes) do you cover/not cover?
What is the allowable amount? *If they say they can’t tell you this, that’s not true. It is against the law for them to withhold this information from you.

Although we may not participate or accept your current health insurance, we do offer sliding scale payment options and payment plans (except for legal matters). Most insurance companies like to cap clients out after so many sessions depending on their diagnosis, and there are times where people may need more than the allotted sessions, which is why we chose not to participate with certain insurance companies. There is no time limit on healing in our opinion.

We always work with our clients who may have an income or funding issue. Give us a call and we can work directly with your unique situation.

What is Your Cancellation Policy?

We require at least a 24-hour notice of your cancellation or you are charged the full session fee. Otherwise, failure to provide the appropriate notice will result in our standard fee for service to be debited on the day of your appointment. Give us a call so we can work with you on rescheduling.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you are unable to attend an appointment, we require you to provide at least 24 hours advanced notice to our office by phone at 832-543-3002.

Since we are unable to use this time for another client, please note that you will be billed for the entire cost of your scheduled appointment if it is not timely canceled. For cancellations made with less than 24-hour notice or a scheduled appointment that is completely missed, you will be billed directly upfront on the day of your scheduled appointment with the credit card that we have on file.

If you are 15 minutes late to your appointment, you will be rescheduled and charged the full session fee.

Your therapists’ full fee is listed on the Good Faith Estimate that is provided to you in your initial account paperwork. Those fees range anywhere from $125-$255 depending on which therapist you meet with.

WE DO NOT OFFER REFUNDS

DISPUTES

Any and all billing disputes for LifeSpring Counseling & Wellness PLLC, Inner Acceptance Therapy for missed appointments, or appointments canceled with less than a 24-hour notice, will not be accepted.

Credit card information will be kept on file and will be processed on the morning of your appointment.

NON-REFUNDABLE DOWN PAYMENTS

If you have made a 50% down payment for your appointment and do not show to your appointment, this down payment is non-refundable.

What if I’m Experiencing an Emergency?

In case of an emergency, you can call any of the following emergency numbers: 911, United Way Crisis Hotline (713) 228-1505, Kingwood Pines Hospital (281) 404-1001, Cypress Creek Hospital (281) 586-7600, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room for assistance. We also have other emergency resources listed under the “Links & Resources” section of our website.

What Are Your Fees?

Our fees range depending on the provider, but are within the FAIR pricing standards of the Healthcare Bluebook. Initial sessions are longer in length and at a higher cost while subsequent sessions are for 45-minutes unless other arrangements have been made with your provider. Search for Individual Psychotherapy or Family Psychotherapy in the bluebook.

Our Rates

Please call us for more details

We offer discounts for Teachers, Veterans, First Responders, College Students, and Seniors

Advanced Counselors II

Advanced Counselors I

Advanced Associate Counselors under Supervision

Associate Level Counselors under Supervision

Graduate Student Interns

Our Rates for DBT Skills Classes (Coming Soon!)

Psychological Testing/Evaluations:

Legal Fees (Non-Clinical Fees) and/or Consultation Fees with another practitioner for your case/treatment

These fees are charged for custody, court, or treatment-related matters. If our counselors are requested to be a part of any court-related matter, these fees are applicable. If our counselors are requested to consult with an attorney or with another medical or psychiatric provider, these fees are applicable.

Legal Matters (hourly) $330 an hour to include but not limited to the following:

Form Completion $65-$155 (7-10 business days for completion)
Consultation fees with LPC-S or Counseling Advisors (rate is subject to the fee of the expert/supervisor).
Reviewing the case/files/transcripts/decrees/records
Conversations or email responses with attorney(s)
Non-Clinical Conversations or email responses with client(s)
Completion of paperwork
Special evaluations
Travel time to the courthouse
Consultations with outside professionals

**You are responsible for the cost of the outside professional’s fees at their cost.

Legal Fees Retainer

For all legal cases and matters, our office requires a minimum of $2000.00 retainer upfront prior to proceeding. You will receive an itemized invoice for charges on a weekly basis. Any unused retainer funds will be reimbursed back to you.

Disclaimer for Legal Fees

We try to work with our clients, so please call us first because we do not want money to be the reason why you decide not to come to therapy. We are very flexible with our clients who may be experiencing financial hardship.

Good Faith Estimate

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises

Notice of Privacy Practices

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE

This notice went into effect on February 20, 2020.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.

Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:

For my use in treating you.
For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.

For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.

For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.

Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

For workers’ compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
10 Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.

Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.

The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.

The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost based fee for doing so.

The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.

The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

Acknowledgement of Receipt of Privacy Notice

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. By checking the box below, you are acknowledging that you have received a copy of HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

Grievances:

If you are displeased with what is happening in therapy, I hope that you will discuss your concerns with me so we can attempt to redirect and explore different methods for your treatment goals. I will also work to ensure you are referred to a different practitioner as mentioned above if needed to continue your therapy. I am always open to feedback and take it very seriously with care and respect. If you believe that I was unwilling to listen or respond appropriately, you can file a complaint with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors by mail at Complaints Management and Investigative Section, P.O. Box 141369, Austin, Texas 78714-1369 or call 1-800-942-5540. Our Notice of Patients Rights and Informed Consent is subject to change. If we change our notice, you may obtain a copy of the revised notice by contacting us via email at info@inneractnow.com.