You've Got Questions...We've Got Answers
Where is your office?
Alexis works at a private practice located in Baldwin Park called Charis Counseling Center, LLC. CHARIS (pronounced “CARE-us”) is a counseling center in Orlando, Florida staffed with caring counselors who provide help to clients with a wide range of needs. The word CHARIS is Greek for grace. Grace is an unmerited (undeserved) favor (support, act of kindness). Alexis works alongside seven other highly competent therapists within the field each specializing in key areas. The Charis website is www.charisorlando.com.
What are your office hours?
Counseling opportunities are provided Monday through Saturday in mornings, afternoons, and evenings.
If you wish to speak with the office assistant, you may call our desk at (407) 894-5202 between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If we are away from the desk, please leave a message with a return phone number.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Payment is due prior to each session. You may pay by cash, check, or credit card (AMEX, Visa, or MasterCard).
Do you work with insurance companies?
We counsel on a fee-for-service basis and currently do not accept third-party payments. We do provide our clients with insurance-ready receipts that can be submitted to insurance companies for reimbursement based upon their out-of-network benefits. Check with your insurance provider to determine the specifics of your mental/behavioral health coverage/reimbursement.
What about missed appointments?
In consideration of our staff and other clients, we ask for at least 24-hour, business day (Monday - Friday), notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Therefore, if an appointment is scheduled for Monday at 10:00A we ask that you call our office before 10:00A on the Friday before the scheduled session. Full payment is required for missed appointments or late cancellations.
What do I do in the case of an emergency and I cannot get a hold of my therapist?
If at any time you become emotionally distressed or are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, please call 911 for assistance. We do not provide on-call or emergency services at this time.
Is my information confidential?
With the exception of certain specific exceptions, described below, you have the absolute right to the confidentiality of your therapy. We cannot and will not tell anyone else what you have disclosed in the therpeutic setting or even that you are in therapy without your prior written permission.
We will always act in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy standards that govern our profession so as to protect your privacy even if you do release your therapist in writing to share information about yourself.
By filling out a Release of Information you may direct your therapist to share information with whomever you choose and you can change your mind and revoke that permission at any time. You may request anyone you wish to attend a therapy session with you.
What does confidentiality in counseling really mean?
Confidentiality means that information about you is never released to others without your written permission. Everything said in therapy is confidential and will not be disclosed except when reporting is required or permitted by the HIPAA Privacy Standard or Florida state law. Exceptions to confidentiality include the following:
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suspected abuse of a child, developmentally disabled person, or a dependent adult;
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potential suicidal behavior;
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threatened harm to another, which may include knowledge that the client is HIV positive when there is an unwillingness to inform individuals with whom the client is intimately involved; and
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when required by compulsory process
Information may also be disclosed if you sign a written authorization or in the event that you file a complaint against your counselor. Payment by check, bank, or credit card allows bank employees to view names of CHARIS clients. If you have caller identification on your phone, the name of the agency may appear on the monitor.
In keeping with generally accepted standards of practice, supervision, and consultation may be made regarding the management of your treatment with other mental health professionals, including other counselors in the center, who are bound by the same rules of confidentiality.
In some situations cell phones may be used by counselors to contact clients. Please note that e-mail is NOT a confidential means of communication.
How much do sessions cost?
Fees are established at a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern rate of $100 per session. When testing/assessments are incorporated into the therapeutic goals the change is fee schedule will be discussed as needed. It is also understood that we are all experiencing difficult economic times which have caused us to cut back in many areas. Therefore, if cost is an issue please discuss the options will the office assistant when calling in to schedule an appointment.
You may also e-mail me at alexis@chariscounselingcenter.com to request a scholarship application.
Scholarship applications are one-page documents that can be filled out and either faxed, e-mailed, mailed, or dropped by the main office to be reviewed and potentially approved at a lower rate based upon the information provided. You will receive a phone call and/or e-mail within 24-hours as to whether or not we were able to approve the application.
Do you have a record-keeping policy?
Alexis keeps very brief records, noting only that you have been here, what interventions happened in session, and the topics we discussed. You have the right to request that I correct any errors in your file. You have the right to request that I make a copy of your file available to any other health care provider at your written request. I maintain your records in a secure location that cannot be accessed by anyone else.
Do you have to diagnosis me with something?
Diagnoses are technical terms that describe the nature of your issues and information about whether they may require short or long-term intervention. Therapists' will discuss any diagnoses with you. All of the diagnoses come from the DSM-V.
Do I have any other rights that I need to be aware of?
You have the right to ask questions about anything that happens in therapy. Therapists' are always willing to discuss why they have chosen certain techniques and alternatives that might work better. You can ask your therapist about their training for working with your concerns, and can request that they refer you to someone else if you decide they are not the right therapist for you. You are free to leave therapy at any time.