The following are the Terms and Conditions (the “Agreement”) which govern your access and use of our online platform(s) through which therapy may be provided (collectively the “Platform”). The Platform may be provided or be accessible via multiple websites or applications whether owned and/or operated by us or by third parties, including, without limitation, the website southendpsych.com and its related apps.

By accessing or using the Platform, you are entering into this Agreement. You should read this Agreement carefully before starting to use the Platform. If you do not agree to be bound to any term of this Agreement, you must not access the Platform.

When the terms “we”, “us”, “our” or similar are used in this Agreement, they refer to any company that owns and operates the Platform (the “Company”).

• Psychotherapy:
  • Psychotherapy, or talk-therapy, is a powerful treatment for many mental complaints. It offers benefits of improved interpersonal relationships, stress reduction, and a deeper insight into one’s own life, values, goals, and development. It requires a great deal of motivation, discipline and work on both parties for a therapeutic relationship to be an effective one. Clients will have varying success depending on the severity of their complaints, their capacity for introspection, and their motivation to apply what is learned outside of sessions.
  • At your initial visit, we will conduct a thorough review of your current complaints and of your background. By the end of the initial visit we will offer our preliminary impressions, and we will discuss your treatment options. Sometimes, psychotherapy alone will suffice. Oftentimes, however, a combination of psychotherapy and medication management are optimal. One of the most important curative aspects of a therapeutic relationship is the goodness-of-fit between therapist and client, so, the initial visit is also your opportunity to determine for yourself if we are the right therapist for you. If you feel that we are not well matched to your needs, we would be happy to provide you referrals to other mental health professionals.
• Medication Management:
  • Medications may be indicated when your symptoms are not responsive to psychotherapy alone. When a mental illness markedly impacts your ability to work, maintain interpersonal relationships, or properly care for your basic needs, medication may offer much needed relief. If it is agreed that medications are indicated, we will discuss with you all of the medication options that are available to treat your current condition. [Please note: per applicable local state laws, we may require an in-person consultation with you at one of our facilities prior to initiation of any Psychostimulants or Benzodiazepines.] We will present information in language that you can understand. You will learn how the medication works, its dosage, frequency, its expected benefits, possible side effects, drug interactions, and any withdrawal effects that you may experience if you stop taking the medication abruptly. By the end of the discussion you will have all the information you need to make a rational decision as to which medication is right for you. By signing this consent, it will serve as your acknowledgment and that you have fully consented to any medications your Prescriber will prescribe now and going forward.
  • You may already be receiving psychotherapy from another therapist and are referred to us for medication management. In this case we will make a strong effort to coordinate care with your therapist (with your consent, of course). We believe communication between mental health professionals is key to providing effective care.
  • Not everyone is a good candidate for medication management. Such treatment requires strict adherence to dosage and frequency, close follow-up, and sometimes regular blood tests. Your ability to adhere to medication treatment will be taken into consideration in making the decision to start such treatment. Overall, we are a strong proponent of the bio-psycho-social model of medical treatment. Treatment that considers your biological status, genetics, your psychological development, and social issues together will yield the best chance for success in achieving your goals.
• Frequency & Duration of Visits:
  • At your initial 45 – 60 minute visit, we will decide together the structure of your clinical treatment. If medications are prescribed, or changed, we prefer to conduct a 15 -20 minute follow-up visit at a time to be agreed upon between you and the Prescriber on our team who is treating you. This is necessary to ensure proper administration and minimize any side effects you may experience. If your symptoms improve, the pacing for follow-up visits can adjusted accordingly per agreement with your Prescriber.
• Insurance Policy:
  • For insurance patients, the fees and allocated time are as determined by your individual insurance company, and CO-PAY are due at the time of scheduling your visit
  • Patients on Controlled Substances (Benzodiazepine’s and Psycho-Stimulants Medication) will have to be evaluated by provider every 2 weeks while in treatment for in order to ensure adequate use, explore potential side effect profiles, evaluate efficacy and monitor compliance under the Controlled Substance Agreement.
  • Many insurance companies have limitations on the number and frequency of visits, and the types of medications that will be covered. Occasionally, certain forms of treatment or large numbers of sessions require a prior authorization. If this is the case, we may need to provide information about your diagnosis, history, and treatment plan to your insurance company. Once this information is provided, it will be subject to the privacy policies of the insurance provider and is out of our control.
• Cancellations & No-Shows:
  • If you must cancel or reschedule an appointment, we require at least 48-hour notice. Cancellations that occur with less than 24-hour notice or failure to show to an appointment will be charged the full fee for the session.
    
• Medical Records:
  • We are required by law to keep complete medical records. All of our medical records will be electronic, encrypted and password-protected.  Any written records including the initial consent forms, letters, and outside medical records will be kept secured. You are entitled to review your medical record at any time unless we feel that by viewing your records your emotional or physical well-being will be jeopardized. If you wish to view your records, we recommend that we review them together to minimize any confusion or misinterpretation of medical terms.
    
• Telepsychiatry:
  • Tele-practice is providing service that is not “in-person” and is facilitated through the use of technology. Such technology may include but is not limited to telephone, telefax, e-mail, internet, or video-conference. It is considered a mode of practice and the same standards that apply to all forms of practice in mental health would apply to tele-practice.
  • There may be times when a session needs to take place virtually on our Platform. Please be advised that your insurance will be billed via the allowable coding, and the charges may appear as telemedicine, Telepsychiatry, tele-practice or regular office visit. 
  • If your insurance does not cover the payments for Telepsychiatry, you will have 14 days to satisfy the invoice.