COMMUNICATIONS

Once you have made a decision to seek assistance, the next step is to contact Dr Zuessman by phone on  (347) 277 1135 .


If Dr Zuessman is not available at that moment, leave a brief message with your name and contact phone numbers.  Your call will be returned usually that day or the following day.  You can briefly discuss your needs and goals during the first phone conversation with Dr Zuessman and together make a preliminary decision whether to proceed.


Once you arrange an appointment several forms will be sent to you by e-mail.  You will be asked to complete and return them by encrypted email prior to your first appointment.  One is an Information Form and another is a Personal Questionnaire, which helps to canvas important personal information and history.


It is very important to be aware that electronic communications, including those over the internet, email, and text are not secure.  This means that such communications could be accessed by unauthorized persons and hence can compromise your privacy and confidentiality.  For example, email passes through various servers operated by companies or persons who may have unlimited and direct access to email contents and attachments.  There is also a possibility that communications could be sent to an address erroneously.  So, although it is unlikely, there is some risk that information included in an email, including protected health information, can be intercepted and accessed by a third party.

 

Similar risks exist when participating in synchronous tele-health/virtual therapy services (e.g., via an individualized ZOOM link).  As well, it is important to note that there are experiential and therapeutic limitations of virtual therapy service -- having only two-dimensional interaction in a session.

 

The usual manner of communications with Dr Zuessman is through mobile telephone (347) 277 1135 or unencrypted email External link opens in new tab or windowDrZuessman@gmail.com . 


If you request an invoice or when transmitting other personal health information, such as a Personal Questionnaire or an Information Form, an encrypted email via Proton Mail External link opens in new tab or windowDrZuessman@protonmail.com  can be used.


CONFIDENTIALITY

As privacy and trust are very important between a client and clinician, with limited exceptions, information discussed or recorded is confidential.  Ordinarily you will be asked to give authorization in writing if information is to be provided to third parties.  However, by entering consultation or therapy with Dr Zuessman and signing consent for treatment, you are agreeing to the waiver of confidentiality in the following circumstances:

 

1.   protected health information used to provide treatment, to operate the service, and for account activities;

 

2.   de-identified information that is shared during the clinician’s own clinical supervision or peer review;

 

3.   disclosure of information to relevant persons or authorities if there is:

 

      i)                 potential of serious physical danger to yourself or someone else,

      ii)                risk of child abuse,

      iii)               information subpoenaed by a court or otherwise authorized for release by law;

 

4.   information disclosed in the context of relationship/family therapy even if occurring in an individual session (so that the therapist is not in a position of keeping secrets from others in the client unit who are also involved in therapy);

 

5.   disclosure of information to the appropriate Department of Health Professions when there is a reasonable probability that another licensed mental health service provider in may have engaged in professional misconduct.

 

While every effort to preserve a client’s privacy is made, it is important to note that clients hold the rights to the legally privileged communication and disclosures made to the clinician.  You are encouraged to discuss your concerns about confidentiality when you begin receiving consultative services and at any other time.


APPOINTMENTS AND FEES

Usual and customary fees (individual, couple, or family) are $200 per session.  The number and frequency of sessions depend on many factors, including your needs and aspirations, as well as the evaluation and diagnosis.  Sessions may occur weekly, fortnightly, or intermittently.  A ‘Good Faith Estimate’ anticipates the number and frequency of consultations, and costs during a year, which can be discussed at the initial session.  Special services (eg, personality inventories, reports, court attendance) are on a cost-per-service basis as discussed at the time arrangements are made. Customarily, payment is required at the time of consultation by Visa/MasterCard, or American Express.


Insurance typically provides coverage for some mental health services.  However, there is no guarantee that services provided at Counseling Consultation will be covered.  It is important to note that differences between health plan coverage, schedule fees for reimbursement, deductibles and co-payments will contribute to out-of-pocket costs for services.  Consult your health plan to determine what coverage applies.  Dr Zuessman does not accept insurance and is an out-of-network provider.  Upon request, you will be provided with a monthly receipt which you may submit to a health plan if you are seeking partial reimbursement, however you should clarify those details with your health insurance plan before beginning services.


A mutual commitment between client and therapist occurs when arranging a consultation.  Appointments can be scheduled as Dr Zuessman’s hours become available.  A session is approximately 50 minutes.  Only the scheduled time is available for your appointment, so please be sure to attend punctually.  You are expected to give at least 48 hours notice if you need to cancel an appointment, otherwise you will be charged for appointments not attended as that time will have been allocated to you in the schedule.

 

Dr Zuessman provides elective clinical and consultation services and offers limited appointment hours.  Please understand that appointments will be made available during those times, and crisis or emergency services when needed are available through community agencies.  One source of 24 hour telephone support in the community is National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273 8255 or chat at:  External link opens in new tab or windowwww.suicidepreventionlifeline.org .  Another source of support is the mental health emergency phone number 988.  You also may contact local mental health services, your physician, local hospital emergency room, police or phone 911 for 24 hour emergencies.


ASSESSMENT AND TESTING

Clinical assessment is usually part of an initial interview and typically includes completion of a personal questionnaire, enquiry into one's history, and review of mental state.  However, particular assessment techniques, including personality inventories, can be used to focus on understanding areas of functioning, diagnosis, or to assist in answering specific referral questions.  Assessment can involve a formal process involving administration of stimulus materials to a client by a clinician in accordance with standard procedures.  When such assessments or inventories are used, clients must complete them in a controlled setting, either under observation or in interaction with the clinician.  However, in some circumstances, assessment inventories may be administered online.

Assessment inventories most frequently involve responding ‘true’ or ‘false’ to questions by using a pencil to fill in a bubble on an answer sheet.  Sometimes questions ask the client to rate items on a number scale or to fill in a blank.  Some assessments may involve the clinician presenting stimuli that call for the client to respond by manipulating (eg, block puzzles or drawing) or by verbalizing (eg, providing information or explanation).  Depending upon the purposes and instruments selected, assessment techniques may take as little as 10 minutes or as long as several hours for the client to complete.


Once assessment materials have been administered, they are scored and profiled by the clinician.  They then interpret the results in the context of the overall clinical assessment and information about the client.  In most circumstances results are included in a written report, and an informing interview is provided to the client by the clinician to help explain the results.


As specialized assessment techniques, particularly personality inventories, involve proprietary materials, and time to administer, score, interpret, and report, appropriate fees are associated with them.  You are encouraged to discuss any questions about assessment inventories and procedures with Dr Zuessman.


OTHER SERVICES 

Dr Zuessman provides a range of professional services including:


          • Personal Consultation
          • Executive Consultation
          • Organizational Consultation
          • Counseling & Psychotherapy (adults, adolescents, families, couples, groups)
          • Psychological Assessment & Reports (cognitive functioning, mental state, personality)
          • Consultation & Advice for Physicians & Healthcare Providers
          • Legal Evaluations & Reports (criminal, civil, administrative, family, mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation, employment/fitness for duty)
          • Court Mandated Intervention
          • Service Design & Development
          • Program Evaluation
          • Professional Education / Training Workshops
          • Clinical Supervision for Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, and Professional Counselors

Further information about these services can be obtained by contacting Dr Zuessman.