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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
1. PurposeCentered is committed to providing consistent, high-quality clinical care and to supporting each client's treatment goals. Reliable attendance is a core part of effective therapy: missed or late sessions can disrupt clinical progress, limit appointment access for other clients, and affect the therapeutic relationship. This policy establishes clear, consistent expectations for scheduling, cancellations, late arrivals, and no-shows, and describes how Centered upholds its ethical obligations to clients when attendance concerns arise.Grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics, including Standard 1.01 (Commitment to Clients), 1.03 (Informed Consent), 1.15 (Interruption of Services), 1.16 (Referral for Services), and 1.17 (Termination of Services).2. Scheduling & Confirmation• Appointments are scheduled directly with your clinician or Centered's front-office team, by phone, secure client portal, or in person.• Clients will receive a reminder (by text, email, or phone, per the communication preference on file) in advance of each scheduled session.• It is the client's responsibility to confirm and keep track of scheduled appointment times, even if a reminder is not received due to a technical issue.3. Cancellation NoticeCentered requires at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. This allows the appointment time to be offered to another client who may be waiting for care.• Cancellations may be made by phone, secure message through the client portal, or email, and are confirmed once acknowledged by Centered staff.• Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice are considered late cancellations and are treated the same as a no-show for the purposes of this policy, except where the exceptions in Section 8 apply.4. Late ArrivalsClients arriving late will be seen for the remainder of their scheduled time whenever possible; sessions will not be extended beyond the original end time out of respect for the next client's appointment. A client who is more than 15 minutes late without prior notice may be treated as a no-show at the clinician's discretion, particularly if there is insufficient time remaining to conduct a clinically meaningful session.5. No-Shows and Missed-Appointment Fees• A "no-show" is an appointment the client does not attend and does not cancel with at least 24 hours' notice.• A missed-appointment fee of $75 may be charged for a no-show or late cancellation. This fee is the client's responsibility and is not billed to insurance, consistent with most payer contracts.• Fees, if any, will be disclosed in writing and reviewed with the client during intake as part of informed consent, before they are ever applied.NASW Standard 1.13 (Payment for Services) and 1.03 (Informed Consent) require that fee practices be reasonable, clearly explained, and understood by the client in advance.6. Pattern of Missed AppointmentsOccasional missed sessions happen. When attendance issues become a pattern (generally two or more missed or late-cancelled sessions within a short period), Centered will take the following steps before any decision is made about continuing services:• The clinician will reach out directly to the client (by phone and/or secure message) to check in, understand any barriers to attendance, and problem-solve around scheduling, transportation, telehealth access, or other obstacles.• The clinician will document each missed appointment and each outreach attempt in the client's clinical record.• The clinician will consult with a clinical supervisor or director, as needed, before making any decision about the client's continued care.This reflects NASW Standard 1.01 (Commitment to Clients) and the ethical expectation that social workers make active, documented efforts to reconnect with clients before considering any change in the course of treatment.7. Continuity of Care & Non-AbandonmentCentered does not discontinue services abruptly. If ongoing non-attendance means that continuing outpatient treatment is no longer appropriate or effective, Centered will:• Notify the client in writing of the concern and the possible need to end or transfer care.• Make reasonable efforts to reach the client and discuss options before any termination decision is finalized.• Provide referrals to at least one appropriate alternative provider or level of care, and assist with the transfer of records upon the client's written consent.• Avoid abrupt or precipitous termination except where continuing to hold an open, unused appointment slot would be clinically inappropriate or would prevent other clients from accessing care.This section directly implements NASW Standard 1.15 (Interruption of Services), 1.16 (Referral for Services), and 1.17 (Termination of Services), which prohibit abandoning a client still in need of services and require reasonable continuity-of-care planning.8. Telehealth AppointmentsTelehealth sessions are held to the same attendance, cancellation, and notice standards as in-person appointments. Clients are responsible for ensuring a private, stable connection at the time of their session. Technical difficulties on the platform side (not attributable to the client) are not counted as a late cancellation or no-show, and the clinician will document the circumstances and offer to reschedule promptly.9. ExceptionsCentered recognizes that some circumstances are outside a client's control. Fees may be waived and attendance history adjusted, at clinical or administrative discretion, for documented emergencies, sudden illness or hospitalization, severe weather, bereavement, or safety concerns (including situations involving intimate partner violence or crisis). Clients are encouraged to communicate these circumstances as soon as possible.10. Documentation & ConfidentialityAttendance records, cancellation notices, and outreach efforts are documented in the client's clinical record and are protected under the same confidentiality standards that apply to all clinical information, consistent with NASW Standard 3.04 (Client Records) and applicable state and federal law (including HIPAA).11. Client AcknowledgmentI have received, read, and understand Centered's Client Session Attendance, Cancellation & No-Show Policy, including the notice requirements, fee structure, and continuity-of-care commitments described above.
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