Policies & Practice

Effective Date: 6/16/2026


Important: Please Read Carefully and in Full

Affirmations and Gratitude Counseling, LLC is committed to providing ethical, compassionate, and professional mental health services. The following policies and practice standards outline how services are delivered, client rights and responsibilities, and important administrative information. Affirmations and Gratitude Counseling, LLC reserves the right to update policies as needed. Clients will be notified of significant changes.

1. Practice Philosophy

Affirmations and Gratitude Counseling provides client-centered, strengths-based therapy focused on emotional well-being, personal growth, and resilience. Services are delivered with respect for each client’s unique background, values, and goals.

2. Scope of Services

Services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Individual therapy

  • Child and adolescent therapy

  • Couples therapy

  • Telehealth and in-person sessions (as available)

Services are provided within the scope of licensure and professional competence.

3. Appointments & Scheduling

  • The standard session time for individual psychotherapy is 53-60 minutes.

  • Couples therapy sessions are 45–50 minutes.

  • Coaching sessions are 40 minutes.

  • Requests to modify session length must be discussed and scheduled in advance with the therapist.

  • Clients are expected to arrive on time to maximize the full session.

4. Cancellations, Late Cancellations, No-Shows, and Late Arrivals

24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to do so will result in the full session fee.

Late Cancellations

Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice are considered late cancellations and will be charged an $80 fee.

No-Shows

A no-show occurs when a client does not attend a scheduled appointment without providing the required advance notice. Because missed appointments prevent that time from being offered to another client, the full session fee will be charged for all no-show appointments.

Please Note:

Therapists are not legally or ethically responsible for sending courtesy check-ins to ensure a client attends a scheduled appointment. Clients are responsible for keeping track of their scheduled appointments and attending as agreed. If you are unable to attend, you are responsible for providing timely notice to cancel or reschedule in accordance with the practice’s cancellation policy.

Late Arrival

  • A 10-minute grace period is provided.

  • Arrivals more than 15 minutes late will be considered a no-show and charged accordingly.

  • Session time will not be extended due to late arrival, and time lost may be deducted from the session.

5. Fees & Payment

  • Fees are due at the time of service.

  • Accepted payment methods include credit/debit card and approved electronic payments.

  • Clients are responsible for all fees not covered by insurance, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.

  • A $10 service charge will be applied for returned checks or special payment handling.

  • Failure to pay an outstanding balance does not eliminate the client’s financial responsibility for services already provided.

Court/Legal Action for Unpaid Fees: If an account remains delinquent and reasonable efforts to obtain payment have been unsuccessful, the practice reserves the right to pursue lawful remedies to recover unpaid fees, which may include referral to a collection agency or filing a claim in court, when appropriate and permitted by law.

6. Insurance & Payment

Affirmations and Gratitude Counseling accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) for individual therapy services for children, adolescents, and women. Private pay is also accepted for individual therapy.

Couples Therapy (Private Pay Only)

Couples therapy is offered on a private pay only basis and is not billed through insurance.

  • Initial Intake Session: $185

  • Follow-Up Sessions:$180 per session

Payment is due at the time of service. Clients are responsible for verifying insurance benefits and understanding coverage, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Coaching Policy (Private Pay Only)

.Coaching sessions are 40 minutes in length. The initial coaching session is $155, and follow-up sessions are $150 each. Coaching services are offered on a private-pay basis only and are not billable through insurance. Because coaching is not psychotherapy or mental health treatment, services are available to clients in all 50 states.

7. Communication Between Sessions Policies

If you need to contact your therapist between sessions, please send a text or email. Responses are typically returned within 24 hours when possible.

Phone clinical communication outside of scheduled sessions that exceeds 10 minutes may be billed as follows:

  • Up to 10 minutes: No charge

  • 11–20 minutes: $40

  • 21–40 minutes: $80

  • 45+ minutes: Full session fee

Administrative communication (scheduling, billing, etc.) is not subject to these fees.

For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

8. Electronic Communication & Telecommunication

Email, text, and voicemail are not fully secure.

  • Clients should not use electronic communication for clinical emergencies or therapeutic content requiring immediate attention.

  • Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed for electronic communications.

Telehealth services are provided through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. Clients must ensure:

  • A private, confidential space

  • No driving or moving vehicle participation

  • Stable technology connection when possible

9. Social Media & Boundaries

To protect confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries, the therapist does not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social media platforms.

This is intended to preserve therapeutic integrity and prevent dual relationships.

10. Confidentiality

Client confidentiality is protected under HIPAA and applicable state and federal laws.

Confidentiality may only be broken when:

  • There is a risk of harm to self or others

  • Suspected child, elder, or vulnerable adult abuse or neglect

  • Court order or legal requirement

  • Written client authorization is provided

11. Client Responsibilities

Clients are expected to:

  • Attend sessions on time

  • Participate actively in treatment

  • Provide accurate and updated information

  • Communicate changes in contact, insurance, or emergency details

12. Therapist Responsibilities

The therapist agrees to:

  • Provide ethical, competent care

  • Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries

  • Engage in ongoing training and supervision

  • Practice within the scope of licensure

13. Emergency & Crisis Policy

Affirmations and Gratitude Counseling does not provide crisis or emergency services.

In an emergency:

  • Call 911

  • Go to the nearest emergency room

  • Call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

15. Termination of Services

Therapy may be terminated when:

  • Treatment goals are met

  • Client requests termination

  • Client transfers care

  • Clinical need changes or higher/lower level of care is required

  • Financial or insurance barriers prevent continuation

  • Repeated no-shows or lack of engagement occur

  • Therapist determines therapy is no longer clinically appropriate

14. Couples Therapy Policy

Couples therapy focuses on communication, relational patterns, and emotional connection.

Key policies:

  • The relationship is the client, not either individual

  • The therapist remains neutral and does not take sides

  • Written consent required for release of information

  • No-secrets policy applies within the treatment context. Information shared individually with the therapist that is relevant to the therapeutic process may be brought into joint sessions when appropriate. The therapist cannot agree to keep secrets from one partner that could significantly affect the goals or progress of couples therapy.

  • Both partners are expected to attend sessions.

  • Late arrival (15 minutes) will result in cancellation and a full fee charge

Couples therapy may not be appropriate in cases of:

  • Active domestic violence

  • Severe untreated mental illness

  • Active substance abuse

  • High-risk safety concerns

  • Unaddressed affairs that cannot be safely processed in therapy.

15. Coaching

Coaching is focused on personal and professional growth and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or emergency/crisis services.

  • Clients are expected to arrive on time. Sessions will end at the scheduled time, regardless of late arrival.

  • Virtual sessions should be attended from a quiet, private location that supports confidentiality and minimizes interruptions.

  • Late arrival (15 minutes) will result in cancellation and a full fee charge.