Kevin P. Geis, PhD, LLC
 
   

  I've Gone to a 'Semi-Retired' Model

(August 26, 2024 and beyond.....)

 

      Tuesdays:       (Telehealth: 1:00 - 3:15 pm)

                              (In-office: 3:30 - 8:15 pm)

      Wednesdays: (Telehealth/RemoteVisits: 10 am - 3 pm)

                              (In-office:  3:30 - 8:15 pm)       

      Thursdays:    (Telehealth: 1:00 - 3:15 pm; 4:45 -7:00 pm)

                              (In-office:  3:30 - 4:30 pm)                     

Closed:  Mondays & Fridays             ​

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I am pleased to have you visiting my information site.  It is my goal to provide you with the fundamental ingredients to begin a mutually designed treatment relationship geared for success.  To accomplish this, I offer you a description of my practice procedures and expectations.  In return, I will provide you my commitment to services honored in respect, focus, and professionalism worthy of your selection to work with me.

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*************      Please review this Getting Started section in it's entirety.  I will be requesting signature       **********

*************                 acknowledging your Informed Consent to the procedures provided below.                    **********

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Details to Consider:​

In-Office Sessions:  Setting and Stipulations

My new office location is housed within the HeadStart School at the Sergeant Shriver Center.  Therefore, necessary stipulations will be followed to comply with their gracious agreement to provide me a workable space to conduct my services.  Those stipulations include;

(1) no in-person business will be conducted before 3:30pm or while students are present in the building. 

(2) No individual(s) accompanying a client will be present inside the facility unsupervised.  This means parents,

     guardians, or escorts who are not participating in the office session will have to wait outside the building. 

(3) If the bathroom must be used, I will escort you.  

(4) During cold weather season, there will be a self-contained hallway for use as a waiting room.   In the event of an

     emergency those waiting in this designated hallway and those in my office will exit through different doors but

     will easily be able to join up outside. 

(5) To attempt making this as seamless as possible, Ill be staggering arrival times by 15 minute increments. 

      Please wait in your car.  I will come to greet you and escort you to my office. 

(6) No flexibility/alterations will be considered. 

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Insurance

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Before we can proceed it will be necessary for you to contact your insurance carrier, FIRST, to investigate how your policy handles my in-network, or out-of-network, provider status:  In many cases it is a reasonable arrangement; however it is an arrangement you should have a clear understanding before we begin.   

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I am a participating provider with 3 insurance companies:  BlueCross and BlueShield (including BlueChoice and QUEST products), United HealthCare, & Maryland Medicaid. (My Medicaid caseload is currently FULL.  Please check back in a few weeks).

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​The other insurance carriers (Aetna, Cigna, etc) can have reasonable "Out of Network" benefits, depending on your policy.  It will be important for you to contact your insurance company to investigate how they will handle my out of network status (particularly regarding "pre-certification/Pre-authorization", how much of my fees will they cover, annual deductibles, & copayment amounts). 

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​Costs

My total costs, if insurance will not be assisting with expenses, are $200 (each) for the first two separately scheduled consultations; the first being parent(s)-only (60-90minutes) and the second with the child (60mins).  All subsequent sessions (38-60minutes) are $150 each.  Sessions between 16-37mins are $75.

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Time is sensitive in mental health service and therefore charging for phone, text, and email time, that requires up to 10 minutes or more, is part of my professional service policy. The prorated amount is $25 per 10 minute increments.

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Payment is preferred on the day of service; best if before session begins to maximize time seen. 

A monthly billing option is also available via secured text/email attachment or conventional mailings. Payments are expected within the billing month.  I use Square to Tap-To-Pay payment cards and Stripe when entering card information manually.

 

**Any outstanding balance (beyond 90 days) will be subject to a 10% monthly interest rate.   Incremental amounts that fit your budget are accepted and no interest will be charged during any month that some partial payment is made toward your balance.

 

Limitations with My Schedule

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I currently have just a couple in-office openings.  I have more TeleHealth/Videocall appointments available, before 3:30pm, for parent consultations and college students. 

 

I schedule parent meetings first to gather impressions, historical information, and hopes regarding my involvement.  These initial parent meetings usually last 60-90 minutes and can be conveniently conducted via videocall.  A separate single 60 minute consultation with your child will be scheduled to assess their ability to connect interpersonally.  I often use playing activities, including online/electronic collaborative problem-solving games, that match appropriate age demands to assist this process.  Following these two consultations a treatment plan is mutually designed.

 

Ongoing appointments are often scheduled on an "every other week" rotation.  I work diligently toward finding a recurring appointment slot that reduces schedule burdens as quickly as my schedule allows. 

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I have again been approved for the 2024-25 academic year, through a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), with the Washington County Board of Education to enter school buildings to work with clients during the school day.  This option is available to those clients whose parents provide signed authorization to communicate with the counseling department and principal of the school for scheduling, available space, and the exchanging of pertinent mental health information, if ever necessary. 

*This MOU form is available at the bottom of the "Necessary Forms to Review and Complete" page*

 

Communication and Security Procedures

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Texting ("Google Chatting") and/or Emailing.    I use texting/emailing in several convenient ways. 

.  I use templates to communicate office procedures and instructions (sort of like an electronic office staff).  It is possible you are visiting here from a pre-designed template recommending you review this site before we begin a therapeutic relationship. 

.  I use texting/emailing to schedule appointments and exchange brief information. 

.  I use texting/emailing to send monthly billing statements and receive payment card information to process cards manually. 

.  I use texting/emailing to receive attachments, such as the introductory forms to be completed before we begin our work together. 

.  I use texting/emailing to receive updates throughout the week in the event something is on your mind you do not want to forget for an upcoming scheduled appointment.  I might reply, but in most cases these texts are saved for upcoming sessions.

.  Lastly; I use the VideoCalling feature on my texting/emailing application for all scheduled TeleHealth sessions.

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​What I DO NOT use texting/emailing for is to conduct therapeutic sessions or provide emergency exchanges outside our scheduled appointments.  Calling 911 or going to your nearest emergency room are designated for those situations.

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Risks and Benefits

Therapy for Children and adolescents can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of one’s life, your child may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness. Working through difficult emotions can sometimes lead to an increase in difficult behaviors before they are able to utilize new skills or fully integrate their experiences. On the other hand, therapy has been shown to have benefits for individuals who go through it. Therapy can lead to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress and improved self-esteem. But there are no guarantees on how a child or adolescent will respond.

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Confidentiality

Therapist who work with children and adolescents have the difficult task of protecting their right to privacy while at the same time respecting the parent's or guardian's right to information. Therapy is most effective when
a trusting relationship exists with their therapist.  Privacy is especially important in securing and maintaining that trust. In my practice, I will involve parents in the process through periodic consultations/updating.  However, to ensure a child’s privacy I will not provide detailed information regarding what the child shared unless the child provides consent.  Instead, general themes, ideas, recommendations, as well as support and encouragement will be provided. That being said, my goal is to encourage your child or adolescent to inform you about each session themselves.  Additional circumstances regarding confidentiality are provided in the Notice of Privacy Practices pamphlet found in the Necessary Forms to Review and Complete tab.

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Revoking Consent

Both you and your child or adolescent may end the therapeutic relationship at any time, without penalty or prejudice. While free to discontinue services at any time, it is preferable to have a closing session or phone/video call, to ensure the child or adolescent understands that counseling is ending and to provide an appropriate closure to the experience.

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​Please let me know if you have any additional questions. 

 

I look forward to working with you.  DrGeis.

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