Welcome New Client

It is my intention to alleviate any anxiety you may have over the counseling experience. If you have any additional questions regarding the counseling experience, our office policies, or limits of confidentiality please feel free to get clarification before continuing with counseling.

Counseling

The purpose of counseling is to help you better understand yourself and the struggles you are having, develop new skills to manage those struggles, and to improve relationships.  Counseling helps to empower you to cope with the challenges you face and to make the necessary changes to improve your life. Counseling is a growth process that moves through various stages.  It is a unique experience for each client and requires several visits through various stages. During the initial stage of counseling, you will get to know your counselor and she will get to know you; how you view yourself, your family, your significant other and how you all relate to each other. After exploring the issues that have brought you into counseling, specific goals to work on will be collaboratively agreed upon.  Next, a treatment plan outlining how those goals will be achieved will be developed together with your counselor. Last, counseling will conclude when you, or I, believe you have achieved the goals we have established. Or, when progress is not being made either of us may talk about ending counseling and possible alternatives. I encourage you to let me know about your desire to end therapy (for any reason) so that we can summarize some of what has happened in our work together, discuss suggestions for the future, and possible resources and alternatives for you.

What you can expect

Our 50 minute sessions together will involve alot of talking about your concerns, experiences, coping skills, goals, and achievements. We will work together to understand your struggles, develop goals to improve your situation, and learn new skills to get you there. Counseling is TEAM work and I will act as your coach, however, YOU will do the work. Changes can only take place if you are willing to do your part.

Benefits

Individuals, couples, and families who choose to enter counseling for whatever reasons often find significant benefits from seeking to share their struggles with a professional who is trained and devoted to guiding them through this process.  If you do your part in our sessions and at home, you will develop a clearer understanding of the circumstances leading up to your struggles, gain new skills and new perspectives to manage current difficulties, and realize enhanced personal development and greater life satisfaction.

Risks

There is no guarantee that counseling will achieve the results you want to achieve. To be successful in counseling you may experience periods of emotional discomfort, anxiety, frustration, or anger. Sometimes as we begin to make changes in our life, the people around us are not comfortable with those changes. There is a risk of challenging some familiar relationships.

How long will you need counseling?

Counseling is a unique experience for each client and requires several visits through different stages of the counseling process. I have found that clients who attend regularly and consistently achieve better results more quickly.  However, our relationship is strictly voluntary. You are free to stop counseling at any time. If you believe you have accomplished the goals we established, or feel that progress is not being made, you may want to discuss this with me prior to stopping so that we may summarize our work together, discuss alternatives, and look at future resources for you.

Confidentiality:

The information you share in psychotherapy is protected health information and is generally considered confidential by both South Carolina statute law and federal regulations. Your therapy file can be subpoenaed in South Carolina through a court order (signed by a judge) but is considered privileged in the federal court system. Keelyn N. Barrick is mandated by standards –  through Duties to Warn – to breach confidentiality if she discovers:

1) you are threatening self-harm or suicide

2) you are threatening to harm another or homicide

3) a child has been or is being abused or neglected, and/or

4) a vulnerable adult has been or is being abused or neglected

In addition, if you wish your protected health information released to another party, you must sign a specific Authorization to Release Information form.

Emergencies/Crisis/Availability

I am available by phone or appointment Monday-Friday from 9:00am -7:00pm and Saturdays as needed. I will make every attempt to answer phone messages or emails within 3 hours during office hours.

I am not accessible during evenings or Sundays. In the event of an emergency please dial 911 or call the local crisis hotline 803-898-8888 .

Payment and Insurance

Payment is due at the time of your session and can be paid with cash, a valid check, or debit/credit card. Fees are $90-$120 per session. I accept BlueCross BlueShield of SC, BlueChoice HealthPlan, Planned Administrators, the Federal Employees Program and the State Health Plan. If you have a different insurance provider, I can provide a receipt for you to submit counseling costs to your insurance company on your own. If you plan to use your health insurance policy, it may provide coverage for some of your counseling services, however, you, not your insurance company, are responsible for the full payment of the fee for which we have agreed upon.

Cancellation Policy

Scheduled appointments must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance or will be billed at the regular session fee amount. Appointments are scheduled on the hour, please be on time or your session time may be shortened.

Contract and Consent Form for telehealth:

The State of South Carolina allows counseling sessions to occur over the Internet with licensed mental health professionals. This can be accomplished using several means of electronic communication including telephones, use of video, or the internet . The tool/s clients use to connect to your counselor via the internet are at your discretion.

Security During Your Counseling Session:

For counseling sessions occurring in our professional office setting, careful attention is given to ensure your privacy. As your counselor, I want my clients to feel confident that conversations with your therapist will not be overheard by others. Just as we take all appropriate measures during an office visit to ensure your privacy, I want to do the same during electronic communications. Please be aware of and take appropriate measures to ensure privacy on your end of an electronic session. Keelyn N. Barrick Counseling, LLC disclaims responsibility for software tools used during electronic communication, the client’s physical location during electronic communication, or any outside factor that may infringe upon the client’s privacy during electronic/distance counseling.

Where and How Counseling Will Take Place:

Both parties agree to meet in a quiet, confidential and consistent location using the HIPPA compliant professional video platform of Zoom or Doxy.me or by client’s request another source.

Benefits:

Due to the nature of electronic communication, it provides a convenient and resourceful means of establishing continuity of care/services when distance prohibits such care.

Risks:

Due to the nature of electronic communication, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Because electronic therapy is a relatively new process, there is not enough research to prove it to be as effective as in-person therapy work. There is a risk of electronic interruption during a session. If such interruption occurs, therapist will contact the client by phone for further instruction.

Good Faith Estimate

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 or call 803-351-0114.