Office Policy of Don Elium, MA MFT

Phone 925 256-8282 Don@DonElium.com

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Don Elium, MA MFT, practices individual and couple counseling in his office in Walnut Creek, CA, San Francisco Bay Area

He also works by PHONE as well as through VIDEOCAM Online with those in the United States and Internationally.

•50 Minute Sessions

Each session will end promptly at the end of fifty minutes. A double session (two 50 minute sessions in a row= 100 minutes, one hour and forty minutes of time) as well as two session or more per week can be arraigned at your request when needed.

• Payment

If paying by check please write it before the session and make check payable to  Don Elium, MA MFT.  Hand the payment---cash, check, credit or debit card---to me to start our session. Payment in full is expected.  You will receive a bill that can be submitted to your insurance company for their payment to you.  A $10 charge for the first check returned by the bank.  If a second check is returned, subsequent payments must be money order, cash or credit or debit card.

•  Fee

Cash, Check, Credit and Debit Cards Accepted. If one returns to psychotherapy, upon completion, 30 days from date of ending, the fee remains the same. If after 30 days, the fee will change to the current rate of that time. For current fee schedule please click here and send email "fee request" in subject line. Thanks.

• Directions

For Directions, Click Here or email Don for directions to Office: Don@DonElium.com

•  Rescheduling? 24 hour notice

If you call less than 24 hours and request to reschedule for any reason, you will be charged for the missed session.  If I call you less than 24 hours and  ask that you reschedule (or any reason), there is no charge for that session and no charge for the following.  PLEASE CALL as soon as possible to give us time to make changes. I will do the same. This reduces scheduling issues/extra phone calls and makes our therapy sessions a priority and focused on the needs you are coming to address.

•  Late?  20 minute waiting period

If you are late, I will stay twenty minutes before assuming you are not coming.  If you arrive within twenty minutes, the remainder of the fifty minutes will be your session.  If you do not come, there will be a charge.  Please add the payment to your next session fee, or mail it to me at 2168 Norris Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.

If I am late, please wait twenty minutes before assuming I am not coming.

When you leave, please leave a voice mail message for me as soon as you can.  If I am not there within twenty minutes, there is no charge for that session nor the following one. This is a very rare event, but can happen.

On occasion the prior session to yours may run over time. I will come out to the balcony (or the front window of the office during rain) and alert you at your scheduled time if this is the case.  When we start you will receive your full time.

•  Emergencies

I am not immediately available in an emergency. I will return your call as soon as I can. Please know your emergency resources in your area as well in your personal network of friends, churches, and organizations. When you call, please tell me clearly that this is an emergency and leave your phone number twice (2 times)  If you are in crisis, you can schedule an additional session during the week.  If immediate attention is required, Contra Costa Crisis line is available 24 hours a day at 800.833.2900, for medical emergencies or police, dial 911. Note the following point regarding returning phone calls.

•  Phone Calls Returned Weekdays

Phone calls are returned each weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm.  Phone calls received after 4 pm on Friday, will be returned the following Monday before noon.  For Holidays, the phone message will list special changes when they are applicable.

•  Phone and Email

For scheduling matters, phone or email is okay. Please make sure that the email address you use is okay to contain confidential psychotherapy communications.

•  Confidentiality and Exceptions

All information in psychotherapy sessions is strictly confidential unless there is a signed release from the client.

Exceptions are 1) Report of child abuse or 2) Report of elder abuse.  Licensed marriage and family therapists are required by California State Law to report these situations to Child Protective Services. More information available upon request. 3) Intent to harm self or other.  Immediate report to the appropriate police department, and in the case of threat to harm other, a call to the intended victim (if possible), is required by California State Law. 4) A direct court order from a sitting Judge (not a lawyer). No permission is required to break confidentiality under these four conditions 5) written permission from client to talk with designated person, persons, organizations.

•  Don Elium, MA MFT

I am Licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor Lic. #MFC28381 and a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist.

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